Regenerative Agriculture: Potential, Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

Regenerative agriculture (RA) has been recognized as an integrated technology, an amalgam of different techniques [cover cropping, no-tillage (NT), composting, agroforestry efficient water management and conservation] to improvise conventional agricultural practices. Major advantages/applications of RA include soil health improvement, biodiversity conservation, water management, adaptation to climate changes, enhanced nutrition, and improved quality of agro and horticulture products. Integration of agriculture with livestock is a holistic approach and a potential aspect of RA as it contributes to soil health improvement, reduced inputs and optimum utilization of resources, and improved plant and animal growth with enhanced yield, productivity, and profitability. Sensor-based soil health monitoring, GPS-guided drones and tractors, block-chain integration, and supply chain transparency in agriculture are significant technological advancements that can revolutionize conventional agriculture. However, access to resources, technology, and initial start-up investment are among the considerable challenges farmers’ face when adopting RA. Additionally, large-scale adoption of RA is also challenged by replacing age-old conventional agro-practices with modern agropractices, climate change, and market uncertainty. Awareness among consumers has increased the market demand for sustainable RA products. Initiatives from the government and private sectors have provided much-needed financial support for infrastructure development and training and awareness programs for farmers and other stakeholders. Regenerative agriculture promises to be a multipurpose solution to address several global challenges, including food security, health and nutrition, biodiversity conservation, management, and optimized utilization of natural resources for sustainable development. In addition to being an eco-friendly approach, enhancing soil health, increasing productivity, and biodiversity conservation, RA is an opportunity with the potential to benefit the livelihood of farmers through economic gain and sustainable agriculture.