Regenerative agriculture. The role of mills and food producers in sustainable supply chain
Full details
| Authors & editors | |
| Publisher | Milling & Grain |
| Year of publication | 2023 June |
| Languages | |
| Medium | Digital |
| Edition | 1 |
| Topics | |
| Tags | |
| Scope & content | By Matthew Guinness, Head of MRV Solutions, Agreena There is growing acknowledgement across both the farming industry and the scientific community of the potential for regenerative agriculture and soil conservation principles in creating a more sustainable global grain industry. With increasing adoption of key practices such as reduced tillage and cover crop establishment, there is now clear evidence that farmers can maintain yields in the long run whilst improving soil health and resilience. And now that pioneering regenerative farmers have shown what’s possible, the rest of the industry is taking note – particularly of their bottom lines. But if regenerative agriculture is to go truly mainstream, global grain supply chains need to demonstrate that farmers will benefit from the positive ecosystem outcomes they generate – improved biodiversity, soil preservation, carbon sequestration and water quality – and help to mitigate the implementation risks that come with system change and the “regenerative transition”. Thus, regenerative agriculture implementation can become not so much a leap of faith as a hard-nosed commercial imperative for farmers looking to enhance their livelihoods. The fact that the benefits from soil conservation practices are so multifaceted is both an obvious benefit and a less obvious challenge with regenerative agriculture adoption; the costs of implementation are borne entirely by farmers whereas the benefits – widespread as they are – accrue to a wide range of stakeholders. It would radically increase take-up of key practices among growers if they could (i) socialise some of the costs / risks, for example through capital support or insurance for regenerative agriculture implementation; and (ii) privatise some of the benefits to farmers, such as through financial incentives for clean water, healthy soil and thriving ecosystems. Read about: Practises to drive change The need for MRV Sytems A positive future ahead! |
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