EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Manual
We supported EIT Food in the development of a Regenerative Agriculture Manual. In this project, we worked together with the Regeneration Academy, highlighting regenerative agriculture practices in a practical way so that farmers can take this guide and use it to implement regenerative agriculture for their crops. For this project the focus was on almonds, olives, legumes and grains for farmers in Spain and Italy.
Context
The current agri-food system is a leading driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change. It is estimated that by 2050, 90% of the world’s soils could be degraded, threatening our capacity to grow food. It is clear that there needs to be a change in our agri-food system towards a system that takes biodiversity and natural resource management into account while capturing carbon. Meeting these needs, regenerative agriculture is one of the key steps to take in the future of agriculture. Yet, there are many unknowns about it. Regenerative agriculture is very context specific, meaning that the crop, the management practices the farmer uses, and even the business model vary region per region.
Our work
In the manual, in-depth guidance for different crops can be found, with topics ranging from preparation of the field, to maintenance and harvest. Also, different funding options and business models related to regenerative agriculture are discussed. Through usage of the manual, farmers can make the right decision about what works in the transition to regenerative agriculture within their specific situation. Through increased knowledge, unknowns and thereby the risks associated with the switch to regenerative agriculture will decrease. We are proud to announce that information on the specific crops highlighted, market trends, business models are all included in the full manual.
