The transition from conventional to regenerative farming is an essential step for improving the resilience of agriculture and the environment. To successfully facilitate this change, it is crucial to provide knowledge exchange, financial support, and policies that encourage farmers to adopt regenerative practices. These elements not only support farmers but also foster an ecosystem where agriculture can thrive without harming the environment.
Regenerative farming offers a unique approach that reduces the use of synthetic inputs, tillage, and other conventional practices that harm ecosystems. By focusing on soil health regeneration and ecosystem restoration, regenerative farming can increase economic viability while protecting and restoring nature. It can also mitigate some of the severe challenges posed by climate change, such as floods and droughts, offering farmers more resilient production systems.
A critical factor for achieving a large-scale transition to regenerative agriculture is the need for financial instruments and policies that make it economically feasible. One such policy measure could involve restructuring the massive debt burden faced by farmers over €450 billion, which is equivalent to the annual turnover of the food system. Restructuring these debts can provide farmers with the financial flexibility to invest in regenerative practices without the immediate financial pressures they face under conventional models.
The European Union’s upcoming vision for food and agriculture is an opportunity to address these challenges at a policy level. A key part of this vision must involve a shift from payment schemes that are disconnected from farm production, toward rewarding the outcomes of regenerative practices, such as soil health, farm income, and ecosystem services. Financial support for the transition should be designed to create a safety net for farmers during the initial years, when the transition to more sustainable practices can pose risks. Tailored insurance instruments, for instance, could help mitigate these risks by offering protection as farmers shift toward regenerative methods.
The process of transitioning to regenerative farming should not be left to individual farmers or farmer alliances alone. This shift requires collective action from governments, businesses, and civil society, and policies must be context-specific and locally tailored. At the same time, policies should focus on rewarding regenerative results rather than prescribing specific practices. This approach allows farmers the flexibility to adapt and find solutions that work best for their local context while achieving broader environmental and economic goals.
An essential component of this transition is the sharing of knowledge and best practices. Farmer-to-farmer learning and collaboration with food businesses, scientists, and policymakers can accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices. Furthermore, these collaborations can help identify innovative solutions that allow farms of all sizes to transition successfully. By fostering connections across the food supply chain, these partnerships can create more resilient and ecologically sustainable agricultural systems.
The proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the push for financial instruments to support the transition are vital to creating an agriculture system that works with nature rather than against it. However, achieving this transition at scale requires coordinated efforts across all levels of governance, from local communities to European policymakers. It is not enough to wait for gradual changes to unfold; the urgency of the challenges facing our agricultural systems demands immediate action.
By focusing on regenerative outcomes, restructuring agricultural debt, and providing financial safety nets, we can ensure that agriculture becomes a tool for both economic resilience and ecological restoration. Regenerative farming can offer a more sustainable future for agriculture, benefitting farmers, communities, and the environment alike.
