Benefits and Critiques of Regenerative Agriculture
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10 May 2021. Regenerative Agriculture vs. Agroecology: nomenclature hype or principle divergence? (a) A decade of CSA: what are the achievements, the challenges and the bottlenecks? (b) What practical implications for smallholder farmers, agriculture and the environment? Presentation by : Ken Giller Professor of Plant Production Systems – Wageningen University & Research.
![10/05/2021
2
Regenerative Agriculture in the News
Diana Martin, the Director of Communications of the
Rodale Institute, cautioned
“It’s [Regenerative Agriculture] the new buzzword.
There is a danger of it getting greenwashed”
The origins of Regenerative Agriculture
Robert Rodale (1983) defined RA as “one that, at
increasing levels of productivity, increases our land
and soil biological production base. It has a high level
of built-in economic and biological stability. It has
minimal to no impact on the environment beyond the
farm or field boundaries. It produces foodstuffs free
from biocides. It provides for the productive
contribution of increasingly large numbers of people
during a transition to minimal reliance on non-
renewable resources”
Dick Harwood (1983) “Regenerative Agriculture
requires national-level planning but a high degree of
local and regional self-reliance to close nutrient-flow
loops”
Regenerative Agriculture Practices](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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Benefits and Critiques of Regenerative Agriculture
- 1. 10/05/2021 1 The Framing of Farming: Regenerative Agriculture Ken Giller, Plant Production Systems Regenerative Agriculture in the News § jjkjkjk Regenerative Agriculture gained popularity With NGOs ● The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, GreenPeace, Friends of the Earth Multi-national companies ● Danone, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Patagonia, Unilever, Nestlé, Pepsico, the World Council for Sustainable Business Development Charitable foundations ● IKEA Foundation Farmers ● particularly livestock farmers in the USA, Australia, New Zealand
- 2. 10/05/2021 2 Regenerative Agriculture in the News Diana Martin, the Director of Communications of the Rodale Institute, cautioned “It’s [Regenerative Agriculture] the new buzzword. There is a danger of it getting greenwashed” The origins of Regenerative Agriculture Robert Rodale (1983) defined RA as “one that, at increasing levels of productivity, increases our land and soil biological production base. It has a high level of built-in economic and biological stability. It has minimal to no impact on the environment beyond the farm or field boundaries. It produces foodstuffs free from biocides. It provides for the productive contribution of increasingly large numbers of people during a transition to minimal reliance on non- renewable resources” Dick Harwood (1983) “Regenerative Agriculture requires national-level planning but a high degree of local and regional self-reliance to close nutrient-flow loops” Regenerative Agriculture Practices
- 3. 10/05/2021 3 The Carbon Underground Crises of soil health and biodiversity §Widespread alarm for soil health – although little consensus as to what it is §Concern for soil biodiversity (though little evidence compared to the rhetoric?) §Focus largely ‘on farm’ with little consideration of the broader landscape or of ecological footprints and ‘land sparing’ Can soils store more carbon indefinitely? Baveye et al. (2018) The “4 per 1000” initiative: A credibility issue for the soil science community? Geoderma 309, 118-123
- 4. 10/05/2021 4 Main points of critique Whilst agreeing that agriculture faces serious challenges § Given the huge diversity of agricultural systems and starting points these challenges vary over time and space § Little attention is given to the starting points and local contexts § All agrochemicals bundled under into one – whereas concerns for human and environmental health of fertilizers and pesticides differ enormously § Little attention to alternative methods of pest and disease control § Focus largely ‘on farm’ with little consideration of the broader landscape, of ecological footprints and ‘land sparing’ Some guidance for agronomic engagement Five questions: 1. What is the problem to which Regenerative Agriculture is meant to be the solution? 2. What is to be regenerated? 3. What agronomic mechanism will enable or facilitate this regeneration? 4. Can this mechanism be integrated into an agronomic practice that is likely to be economically and socially viable in the specific context? 5. What political, social and/or economic forces will drive use of the new agronomic practice? Why did I propose we write this paper? § I was confused – and guessed I was not alone § The enthusiasm for RA seemed to outweigh the evidence § There seemed to be many unfounded and exaggerated claims § I’m allergic to dogmatic approaches… § There are many more important issues in the world that need attention Andrew McGuire (2018) What is truly regenerative? Agriculture is based on two fundamentally renewable resources: § Photosynthesis §(biological) nitrogen fixation
- 5. 10/05/2021 5 Practical options - Nitrogen fixing legumes Grain legumes Legume tree fallows Legume forages Legume green manures #sustainabilityisforyourparents I don’t agree that ‘sustainability’ is a redundant concept! With thanks to Renske Hijbeek Jens Andersson Jim Sumberg