What Climate and Environmental Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture Practices? an Evidence Review

Regenerative agriculture aims to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, soil health and biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture is often juxtaposed against ‘conventional’ agriculture which contributes to land degradation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Although definitions of regenerative agriculture may vary, common practices include no or reduced till, cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced use or disuse of external inputs such as agrichemicals, use of farm-derived organic inputs, increased use of perennials and agroforestry, integrated crop-livestock systems, and managed grazing. While the claims associated with some of these practices are supported by more evidence than others, some studies suggest that these practices can be effective in increasing soil organic carbon levels, which can have positive effects both agriculturally and environmentally. Studies across these different regenerative agriculture practices indicate that the increase in soil organic carbon, in comparison with conventional practices, varies widely (ranging from a nonsignificant difference to as high as 3 Mg C/ha/y). Case studies from a range of regenerative agriculture systems suggest that these practices can work effectively in unison to increase SOC, but regenerative agriculture studies must also consider the importance of maintaining yield, or risk the potential of offsetting mitigation through the conversion of more land for agriculture. The carbon sequestration benefit of regenerative practices could be maximized by targeting soils that have been intensively managed and have a high carbon storage potential. The anticipated benefits of regenerative agriculture could be tested by furthering research on increasing the storage of stable carbon, rather than labile carbon, in soils to ensure its permanence.