Regenerative Agriculture: Definition, Practices, and Global Perspectives
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach that seeks to restore and improve the ecological processes of the soil and the agroecosystem, going beyond simply maintaining productivity. According to the FAO, it focuses on conserving and revitalizing the biological processes of the soil, harmonizing agricultural production with natural dynamics.
PLANTS AND CROPS
9/10/20256 min read
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach that seeks to restore and improve the ecological processes of the soil and the agroecosystem, going beyond simply maintaining productivity. According to the FAO, it focuses on conserving and revitalizing the biological processes of the soil, harmonizing agricultural production with natural dynamics (1). In practice, this means producing food while fostering long-term biodiversity and fertility, creating more resilient ecosystems (1, 2). The Rodale Institute describes this model as "beyond sustainability," actively improving natural resources instead of just preserving them (3). Unlike organic farming (which eliminates agrochemicals) or conventional "sustainable" agriculture (which seeks efficiency with less impact), regenerative agriculture integrates broad strategies for restoration, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. For example, Regen. Int. argues that true regenerative agriculture must also be organic (4), while Rodale emphasizes continuous innovation to enhance soil health and the biological community (3).
Key Agronomic Principles and Practices
The regeneration of the agroecosystem is based on a series of interrelated agronomic practices, all aimed at improving soil health and the natural flows of water and nutrients. The basic principles include permanent soil cover, biological diversity, and the integration of crops and livestock. In practice, this involves promoting, for example:
Soil Cover: Using cover crops, mulches, or plant litter to protect the soil from erosion and moderate moisture. These crops (or residues like leaves and stubble) keep the soil covered at all times, which increases organic matter and retains water (5, 6).
Diversified Crop Rotation: Introducing long rotations and polycultures that alternate different species, breaking pest cycles and promoting greater biological biodiversity. For example, intercropping cereals, legumes, and vegetables improves soil structure and distributes nutrients in a balanced way (6).
Composting and Organic Fertilizers: Incorporating compost, animal manure, and green manure to increase soil organic matter. These natural inputs nourish the soil microbiota, improve soil aggregation, and reduce dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers (6).
Agroforestry and Silvopastoral Systems: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural plots, and associating them with crops and livestock. Trees provide organic matter (leaves), improve microclimates, and store carbon, while livestock contribute manure to the soil. These mixed configurations enhance nutrient cycles and create more diverse habitats (4).
Integrated Livestock and Holistic Grazing: Planned management of livestock within the cropping system. Through rotational or holistic grazing, livestock move through a sequence of paddocks, consuming vegetation in a controlled manner and depositing manure where they graze. This closes nutrient cycles and stimulates plant regeneration, while improving soil diversity (4).
Holistic Agroecosystem Management: Comprehensive farm planning that considers its entire hydrological and biotic cycle. The wisdom of natural ecosystems (for example, grazing sequences similar to wild herds) is used as a reference to revitalize the landscape (4).
Reduced or Eliminated Tillage: Practicing minimum tillage (or no-till) to preserve soil structure and the network of roots and insects. Avoiding deep plowing maintains the balance of organic matter and reduces erosion (7, 8).
Minimal Use of Agrochemicals: Replacing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic and biological inputs. This promotes soil microbial life and avoids imbalances. Rodale proposes completely eliminating synthetic inputs, replacing them with natural fertilizers and compost (7).
Permanent soil cover (with cover crops or mulches) is fundamental in regenerative agriculture. Keeping the soil covered with living plants or mulch provides organic matter and acts as a "sponge" in the soil, improving its porosity and ability to retain water (5, 6). At the same time, it reduces erosion from rain and wind, preserving soil structure. For example, increasing organic matter by 1% can retain tens of thousands of additional liters of water per hectare each year (9, 10), which makes crops more resilient to dry periods.
Another pillar is the integration of livestock into the production system. Rotational or silvopastoral grazing, combined with holistic management, allows livestock to move through different plots in planned cycles. The animals fertilize the soil with their manure and stimulate vegetation, while avoiding overgrazing. This improves nutrient dynamics and emulates the natural interaction between livestock and vegetation. For example, adopting silvopastoral systems (trees + forage + livestock) has been shown to increase biodiversity and soil fertility (4).
Together, these regenerative practices restore a closed cycle of nutrients and water: the soil has more organic matter and a better structure, roots penetrate deeper, and infiltration improves, and the soil biota (earthworms, fungi, bacteria) becomes more abundant. The regeneration of the soil, in turn, feeds the crops, increases the stability of the ecosystem, and creates a more sustainable system over time (5, 9).
Scientific Evidence of Its Effects
Numerous studies have evaluated the impacts of regenerative agriculture on different indicators.
Soil Health: Regenerative fields tend to accumulate more organic matter. The Rodale Institute reports that organic matter is vital for soil fertility and structure (9). Soils with higher organic matter have more porosity and act as water reservoirs, improving crop resilience to droughts and reducing erosion (9, 11).
Biodiversity: Regenerative systems typically host richer and more functional communities. A WBCSD study reports that regenerative fields in the US had ten times fewer pests than conventional crops treated with insecticides, which demonstrates more effective natural control (14).
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Carbon Sequestration: Regenerative agriculture has a promising role, but it is context-dependent. Recent studies (CGIAR) estimate that regenerative practices could sequester around 4.3–6.9 gigatons of CO₂ per year in agricultural soils—almost half of the global annual fossil fuel emissions (17). Furthermore, the reduced reliance on nitrogen fertilizers and constant cover lessens N₂O emissions and carbon losses.
Impact Indicators and Metrics
To quantitatively evaluate regenerative effects, different agroecological indicators are used. Among the most common are: soil carbon (organic matter content, measured in tC/ha in the arable layer), which reflects the soil's ability to store carbon; soil infiltration/permeability (e.g., in mm/h or infiltrated volume), which shows its ability to absorb water; and biodiversity indices (such as the richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates, fungi, or pollinators), which measure biological recovery.
International Success Stories
Regenerative agriculture is already being applied in various contexts with notable results.
Mexico: The NGO Nature Conservancy documented the case of a producer in Chiapas who, by adopting living covers and management without burning or chemicals, doubled her corn yield (from ~2.5 to ~8.5 t/ha) while restoring soil health (12).
India: WWF collaborates with organic cotton communities, helping regenerative livestock farming increase soil fertility and protect local wildlife (16, 21).
Spain: The AlVelAl Association leads collective agroecological restoration projects, combining olive trees, cereals, and pastures to regenerate traditional dehesas (22).
Corporate Level: Large companies (e.g., PepsiCo, General Mills) are implementing regenerative practices in potato, cocoa, and coffee supply chains to increase sustainable productivity.
Criticisms and Limitations
Despite its potential benefits, regenerative agriculture faces questions and challenges.
Scale and Applicability: As critical agronomists warn, many popular practices (no-till, zero pesticides, zero external fertilizers) do not guarantee universal benefits without local adaptation (8). The transition can involve a temporary drop in yield, although these losses are often offset by lower input costs and a premium for sustainable products, leading to higher net profits (18).
Data and Certification: There is a lack of comprehensive, long-term scientific data in various regions. There is also no unified certification; different voluntary schemes currently coexist (e.g., Regenerative Organic Certified, launched by the Rodale Institute in 2018) (25). Critics point out that regeneration is not a magical solution without trade-offs; it requires technical support, economic incentives, and favorable regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion
Regenerative agriculture proposes to transform conventional paradigms by actively restoring the soil and natural resources. The accumulated evidence indicates improvements in soil fertility, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience, along with economic benefits in many cases (9, 20). However, its large-scale implementation will depend on contextual factors: technical training, adequate subsidies, and political will. In technical terms, the model is promising as part of the solution to the global agro-environmental crisis but does not completely replace other strategies. Its large-scale viability requires adapting practices to each region and rigorously measuring the results. In conclusion, regenerative agriculture can be an effective way to transform conventional agriculture and contribute to food and climate security, provided it is applied with agronomic knowledge, scientific evidence, and institutional support (8, 9).
Sources: Documents from the FAO, Rodale Institute, WWF, TNC, and relevant academic studies (1, 9, 12, 17, 18, 21).
(1) Agricultura regenerativa: aliada para un futuro sostenible | FAO
https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/es/c/1739429/
(2, 18) Regenerative agriculture: merging farming and natural resource conservation profitably [PeerJ]
https://peerj.com/articles/4428/
(3, 25) Agricultura Orgánica Regenerativa - Rodale Institute
https://rodaleinstitute.org/es/por-qu%C3%A9-org%C3%A1nico/fundamentos-org%C3%A1nicos/agricultura-org%C3%A1nica-regenerativa/
(4) Cómo las mejores prácticas de agricultura y uso de la tierra orgánicas y regenerativas pueden revertir el calentamiento global - Regeneration International
(5, 11) El suelo y el agua en Agricultura Regenerativa
https://www.agriculturaregenerativa.es/suelo-y-agua/
(6, 7, 9) rodaleinstitute.org
https://rodaleinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rodale-Soil-Carbon-White-Paper_v11-compressed.pdf
(8) (PDF) Regenerative Agriculture: An agronomic perspective
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349732241_Regenerative_Agriculture_An_agronomic_perspective
(10) Organic Matter Can Improve Your Soil's Water Holding Capacity
https://www.nrdc.org/bio/lara-bryant/organic-matter-can-improve-your-soils-water-holding-capacity
(12, 13) Nature
https://www.nature.org/es-us/que-hacemos/nuestra-vision/perspectivas/agricultura-regenerativa-mexico-aumenta-cosechas-restaura-naturaleza/
(14, 17, 19, 20) These regenerative agriculture trials prove that farming can improve soil health without sacrificing yield | WBCSD
(15, 16, 21) ¿Puede la agricultura dentro de los corredores de vida silvestre beneficiar a las personas y la biodiversidad? | Historias | Descubre WWF
(22, 23) Agricultura regenerativa: Casos de éxito
https://isam.education/agricultura-regenerativa-casos-de-exito/
(24) Ganadería y Agricultura Regenerativa | FAO
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