Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that is centered on a series of practices and principles, which are not only designed to prevent further damage to the environment and for human health, but also aimed to restore the fertility of soils, enhance biodiversity, improve watersheds and enrich the entire ecosystem. There is no single set of farming techniques for regenerative agriculture, since the methods may differ for every climate and bioregion. However, the practices involved in this holistic farming approach are guided by several principles.

Principles of regenerative agriculture

Minimal soil disturbance
Regenerative agriculture aims to eliminate, or at least minimize, soil disturbance by adopting the no-tillage farming method. Considered one of the most destructive industrial agriculture practices, tillage involves turning over and breaking up the soil in preparation for planting new seeds. Tilling kills off the living organisms that naturally fertilize and aerate the soil this includes earthworms and fungi. It also increases weed emergence, worsens soil erosion and contributes to carbon loss. As a result, tilled lands eventually become uncultivable, requiring the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides just to become useful for farming.

Plant diversity and rotation
Regenerative farming discourages monoculture, which is the practice of planting one type of crop over a particular field year after year. Monoculture fields are eventually depleted of nutrients and microorganisms. They are also more susceptible to pest infestations. As a result, large quantities of fertilizers and pesticides must be used. To quell the use of harmful chemicals, it’s important to plant a variety of crops rotationally. This method helps increase the biodiversity of microorganisms in the soil, therefore improving its nutrient content.

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Multispecies cover-cropping
Planting different species of cover crops can help enrich the soil in more ways than one. One of the benefits is the reduced risk of erosion, as the cover crops protect the topsoil against weather elements.6 Their roots also improve the soil structure and nutrient content by allowing better moisture retention and aeration. Cover crops support carbon retention too, since they help pull down and trap carbon in the soil.

Livestock integration and diversification
Raising a variety of free-range animals, such as cattle, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks, may give rise to a symbiotic relationship between different species. This leads to reduced pest infestations and higher amount of organic matter in the soil, eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and/or fertilizers. Everything in nature is basically connected to each other. Soil supports life by serving as a medium in which plants can grow, and providing a habitat for insects, animals and microorganisms.

Meanwhile, animals, microorganisms and plants help maintain soil structure and replenish its nutrients. This symbiotic system is essential to keep things growing in a healthy way. The practices of regenerative agriculture seek to work with nature instead of dominating it in order to sustain the mutually beneficial relationship between different organisms. Unlike industrial farming, which separates livestock from crops through CAFOs, regenerative agriculture allows farm animals to express their instinctive behavior. As animals freely roam and graze on pastures, their urine and manure are distributed across the fields, providing valuable nourishment for the microbes in the soil. Their hooves also help break up hardened soil surfaces, resulting in better water retention.

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Since the soil is nourished and broken up naturally, inorganic fertilizers, tilling and other external inputs are no longer necessary. As the quality of the soil improves, so does its ability to provide healthier food. Regenerative agriculture also helps address the other problems caused by industrial farming, including polluted air and water and reduced population of bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

Benefits of regenerative agriculture
The benefits of regenerative agriculture go beyond repairing the soils. This farming approach also provides a wide variety of benefits to the whole ecosystem, animal welfare, food and human health. Some of its well-known positive effects include Healthier and higher-quality crops and livestock, Reduced risk of drug-resistant diseases ,Better diversity of plant species, Improved wildlife populations, including deer, ground-nesting birds and wild turkeys, Improved population of pollinator insects and other organisms, including bees, earthworms and dung beetles Reduced land, air and water pollution Its potential to mitigate or even reverse climate change is also a benefit that a lot of researchers have looked into.
Regenerative agriculture provides financial benefits despite the common misconception that it is not as profitable as industrial farm

Economic importance
It is no secret that the industrial agriculture system is consuming natural resources at an unsustainable rate. As pastures gradually lose nutrients and become more susceptible to pest infestations, heavier use of costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides become necessary. Irrigation costs have also increased, as the soil becomes less resistant to drought. The economic impact of industrial agriculture may even be felt hundreds of miles from industrialized farms, where fertilizer runoffs contaminate drinking water supplies and fisheries.

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Considering the steep hidden cost of industrial farming, there is no doubt that regenerative agriculture is much more economical in the long run, as it only utilizes low-cost practices and does not involve expensive chemicals, which may cause irreversible damage to the environment.

Source: AgroNigeria


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