How regenerative farming can improve soil health and yields

🌱 Agriculture as a Climate Solution: Toward Net Carbon-Negative Farming 🌾 Agriculture has long been seen as a source of greenhouse gas emissions—but it's also one of the most powerful tools to reverse climate change when managed through science-based, regenerative practices. 🔬 The Chemistry That Makes It Work: At the core lies soil organic carbon (SOC)—a key component of the global carbon cycle. Through agronomic practices, we can enhance carbon sequestration by: • Stabilizing carbon via humus formation • Enhancing microbial activity for nutrient cycling • Applying biochar, which resists decomposition and stores carbon for centuries • Optimizing nitrogen dynamics through compost, green manure, and vermicompost • Suppressing CO₂ emissions by minimizing oxidation and improving soil aggregation 🌾 Game-Changing Agronomic Approaches: ✅ No-till and reduced-till farming – protect carbon stocks in the soil ✅ Cover cropping and green manuring – enrich soil biology and C inputs ✅ Biochar application – a high-C material that enhances long-term sequestration ✅ Agroforestry systems – combining trees with crops for CO₂ absorption ✅ Precision agriculture and optimized nutrient management – reduce losses, increase efficiency ✅ Natural and organic farming – low-input systems that build soil over time 🌍 The Impact: These practices can sequester 0.3–9+ Mg C/ha/year depending on system and climate. Beyond carbon storage, they also regenerate soil, improve water use, and boost resilience to extreme weather—paving the way for a truly regenerative food system. 💡 Agriculture doesn't have to be part of the climate problem—it can be the core of the solution.

CEA: Unlocking Land for Nature, Food Security, and Climate Resilience! Throughout the 20th century, humanity expanded farmland at an unprecedented pace. Vast areas of natural forest and grassland were cleared to make space for crops and livestock. Today, nearly half of the world’s land is farmed. But there is a turning point: according to the UN’s FAO, global farmland use peaked in the early 2000s and has been slowly declining since. In their BBC article, sustainability and food researchers Joseph Poore, Hannah Ritchie, and Charles Godfray explore how abandoned farmland is rewilding, allowing grasslands, trees, and wildlife to return. This shift opens up a new question: how can we accelerate food production while freeing land back to nature? One powerful answer lies in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) — and particularly in mid- and high-tech greenhouses. By cultivating crops in controlled conditions it decouples food production from traditional farmland. The implications for land use, sustainability, and climate change are profound: 🔹 Reduced Land Footprint 🔹 Farming in Unsuitable Areas 🔹 Resource Efficiency 🔹 Climate Resilience 🔹 Decentralized Production This is more than just technology — it’s a shift in how we balance human needs with planetary boundaries. And here, the Netherlands plays a pivotal role. Dutch expertise in greenhouse design, climate control, and automation has set the global benchmark for CEA. With world-leading innovation in energy-efficient glasshouses, robotics, and data-driven cultivation, Dutch companies enable farmers worldwide to scale up production while using fewer resources. Much of the know-how that underpins this success traces back to Dutch innovation and decades of collaboration between growers, researchers, and technology providers. The rewilding milestone described by Poore, Ritchie, and Godfray is an inspiring signal that land can return to nature. Dutch greenhouse technology accelerates this by ensuring that higher yields come from smaller, smarter spaces. Today, market leader #TTAxISO already has a fully-fledged robot for almost all repetitive tasks in greenhouses. Examples include the recently launched grafting robot (4,000 tomato plants/hour are grafted) and a harvesting robot for tomatoes, which is currently being tested in practice.  The result: less deforestation, more biodiversity, and a food system resilient to climate change. The farmland of tomorrow may not be outside our cities, but inside high-tech Dutch glasshouses — delivering sustainability from the ground up. #harticulture #food #agri #sustainability #bbc #CEA

📉 Global agricultural land use has been falling since the early 2000s… but where is that land going? In a new BBC article, researchers Joseph Poore and Hannah Ritchie (from our Food Sustainability Programme and Our World in Data) and Charles Godfray (Oxford Martin School Director) explore what it means to have passed "peak agricultural land" and how improvements in productivity, shifts in diets, and synthetic innovations are changing land use around the world. Are these changes enough to meet our global climate and biodiversity goals? From rewilded sheep farms in Australia and Argentina to microbial fermentation and lab-grown food, this is a deep dive into the trade-offs, pressures and potential of a transforming food system. 👉 Read the full article on BBC Future: https://lnkd.in/ehgcEjMV

The *regenagri® standards* offer a powerful framework for transforming agriculture into a regenerative force. Here are the standout benefits: *🌿 Environmental Benefits* - *Improved Soil Health*: Practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage restore soil structure and fertility. - *Enhanced Biodiversity*: Encourages habitat creation and crop diversity, supporting pollinators and wildlife. - *Carbon Sequestration*: Helps capture atmospheric CO₂ through regenerative land management. - *Reduced Emissions*: Promotes low-input farming, cutting down on synthetic fertilizers and fossil fuel use⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾. *🔍 Traceability & Transparency* - *Chain of Custody Standards*: Ensure that regeneratively grown food and textiles are traceable from farm to shelf⁽¹⁾. - *Verified Impact Claims*: Clear guidelines for marketing and product claims help prevent greenwashing⁽²⁾⁽³⁾. *📈 Economic & Market Access* - *Certification Opens Doors*: Regenagri certification can boost market access and consumer trust. - *Carbon Credit Opportunities*: Farms may qualify for carbon offset programs, creating new revenue streams. - *Support for Smallholders*: Frameworks are designed to be scalable and inclusive, benefiting farms of all sizes⁽³⁾. *🔄 Continuous Improvement* - *Monitoring & Evaluation*: Built-in systems track progress and encourage ongoing improvement. - *Updated Standards*: Regular revisions reflect evolving best practices and industry needs⁽¹⁾. These benefits make regenagri not just a certification, but a catalyst for sustainable transformation across global supply chains. If you’d like, I can walk you through how a farm or company can get certified. -------- [1] Regenagri launches updated standards — regenagri (https://lnkd.in/gSqBZ4Yk) [2] Regenagri to Launch New Standards Enhancing Sustainability and... (https://lnkd.in/gswp-u95) [3] Webinars to launch revised regenagri standards (https://lnkd.in/g_KHRh7z)

The Role of Microbiomes in Sustainable Agriculture 🌾🦠 Healthy soil is teeming with life — quite literally. It is a dynamic ecosystem where numerous microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and other microbes play vital roles. Soil and plant microbiomes are critical in improving resilience by fostering plant growth and defending against diseases. They help reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment. This reduction in chemical use not only lowers the ecological footprint of farming practices but also enhances the overall sustainability of agricultural systems. Supporting microbial life in our soil is, in essence, supporting the health of the planet as a whole. 🌱 As we look to the future of agriculture, the next green revolution may very well be driven by these tiny organisms under our feet, which hold tremendous potential for innovation and efficiency in food production. 💡 Have you explored the fascinating ways in which microbiomes impact agriculture and food quality, potentially leading to healthier food options and improved crop yields? Stefan B Nilsson Petra Schagerholm Nour Metwally Gedi Sandhya Claudia Wladdimiro Quevedo Linda Lindström

Regenagri® Standard *🌱 What Is Regenagri?* Regenagri is a global regenerative agriculture initiative designed to: - Improve soil health - Enhance biodiversity - Reduce greenhouse gas emissions - Promote carbon sequestration - Support *sustainable livelihoods* for farmers⁽¹⁾ *📋 Key Components of the Standard* The regenagri standard includes several documents and criteria that guide farms and agribusinesses through regenerative practices. These include: - *Regenagri Standard-Farms*: Core criteria for regenerative farming practices - *Assessment Methodology*: How farms are evaluated for compliance - *Auditing & Certification Requirements*: Rules for third-party verification - *Chain of Custody Standards*: For food and textiles, ensuring traceability - *Carbon Standard*: Guidelines for carbon credits and sequestration - *Claims & Logo Use*: Rules for marketing and communication - *Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)*: Continuous improvement framework⁽²⁾ *✅ Certification Process* - Farms undergo an *assessment* against regenagri criteria - A *report* is generated showing performance across practices - If minimum standards are met, *certification* is awarded⁽¹⁾ * Why It Matters* Regenagri helps farms transition from conventional to regenerative methods, offering: - Access to *carbon credit markets* - Eligibility for *environmental subsidies* - Recognition for sustainable efforts⁽¹⁾ You can explore the full set of standards and procedures on [regenagri’s official documentation page](https://lnkd.in/g-qKTtGe). Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of any specific part—like the carbon standard or textile chain of custody. -------- [1] Regenagri - Organic Certifications (https://lnkd.in/g_QAuX7h) [2] Standards and Procedures Documents — regenagri (https://lnkd.in/g-qKTtGe)

🌱 Regenerative agriculture is increasingly seen in Europe as a practical lever to cut emissions (up to 30–40% of agricultural CH₄ and N₂O when combined with sustainable livestock and soil management) while delivering co-benefits for farmers: healthier soils, reduced dependence on synthetic inputs, and new income opportunities through carbon markets and value-added supply chains. In Italy, the debate is evolving but faces critical policy gaps: - Subsidy structures remain skewed towards intensive practices, slowing the uptake of regenerative models. - National-regional dynamics create patchy implementation: frontrunner regions (e.g. Emilia-Romagna with soil regeneration pilots, or Veneto exploring agrivoltaics in farmland) are innovating, while others lag behind. - Social dimension: farmers adopting regenerative practices often report improved resilience to droughts and lower input costs — yet without stable, long-term frameworks, the transition remains risky. Concrete initiatives show the potential: A few virtuous pilots can already be found in Tuscany, Sicily, Apulia and Emilia Romagna, showing that regenerative practices can be scaled in diverse contexts. AgroEcology Italy, in Lecce, is an initiative focusing on agroforestry and regenerative models, is testing how to reduce GHG emissions and strengthen farmers’ income security. 👉 For Italy, the challenge is to move beyond pilots. Aligning EU ambitions with national policy means redirecting subsidies, providing long-term investment signals, and building coalitions that make farmers co-owners of the transition. The real opportunity is twofold: climate gains through emission cuts, and social gains by making farming more resilient, profitable, and attractive for younger generations. photo credits: Pianta di Riserva

Germany is pioneering a dual-use farming model called “agrivoltaics,” where solar panels are installed above crops. This approach allows farmers to generate renewable electricity while still cultivating food on the same land. The system provides shade for crops like lettuce, potatoes, and wheat, reducing water evaporation and protecting plants from heatwaves. At the same time, the panels feed electricity directly into the grid, contributing to Germany’s renewable energy goals. Studies have shown that this “dual harvest” method can boost land efficiency by up to 60%, as farmers gain both agricultural yield and clean energy production. In some cases, crop performance has even improved due to moderated sunlight and temperature. By integrating energy and farming, Germany demonstrates how innovation can address both food security and the climate crisis, setting a model for sustainable agriculture worldwide.

Agrivoltaics in Germany is a rapidly growing field that combines agriculture and solar energy production, promoting sustainable farming practices and renewable energy generation. Potential and Benefits Germany has the potential to install up to 500 GW of agrivoltaic capacity on its most suitable agricultural land, exceeding its solar capacity target for 2030. Agrivoltaics can increase land use efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote ecosystem services. Farmers can benefit from additional income streams through electricity sales and improved crop yields due to partial shading and reduced water evaporation. Regional Potential Bavaria has the highest technical potential for agrivoltaics, with approximately 3.5 million hectares of suitable land. Lower Saxony and Bremen also have significant potential, with nearly 3 million hectares of viable land. Regional grid infrastructure limitations pose a challenge to widespread adoption. Pilot Projects and Research A pioneering pilot plant in Upper Swabia combines solar panels with cherry cultivation, demonstrating the potential for agrivoltaics in specialty crops. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) is conducting research on agrivoltaics, including a study on the potential for agrivoltaics in rural areas of Hamburg. RWE's agrivoltaics plant in North Rhine-Westphalia has started supplying green electricity to the grid, showcasing the feasibility of integrating agriculture and solar energy. Policy and Regulation Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) supports agrivoltaics, providing higher remuneration for electricity fed into the grid. The government aims to promote agrivoltaics through research and development, addressing regulatory hurdles and grid infrastructure limitations. Farmer Adoption A study by the University of Göttingen and Fraunhofer ISE found that 72.4% of surveyed farmers are receptive to adopting agrivoltaics, citing additional income and sustainable development potential as key motivations.

Why the first step to sustainable farming is still too difficult for many farmers: New research highlights barriers and opportunities for sustainable farming in the US. A recent RaboResearch report by Eric Gibson shows that while interest in sustainable practices is rising, many US farmers still face significant structural barriers. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: → Current support programs primarily cover traditional crops and practices → Many farmers lack access to tools that help manage this risk → Sustainable transitions often bring short-term financial risk 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: A farmer introducing cover crops may improve soil health long-term, but face reduced yields or lost insurance coverage in the near term. These risks can delay or prevent adoption. Even when the long-term benefits are clear. To bridge this gap, new approaches are emerging. Companies like: → Agurotech optimises irrigation by matching water use to real-time crop and soil data → RootWave eliminates weeds using electricity—no chemicals needed → EarthOptics provides real-time soil insights to guide decisions These innovations support farmers in overcoming key barriers to sustainable transitions Read the full report: “US farmers need broader support to overcome barriers to adopting sustainable practices” on RaboResearch