If not implemented with a close eye to impacts to nature and climate, conventional agriculture can negatively affect soil health and the atmosphere by reducing organic matter and releasing carbon. Many practices contribute to unhealthy soils such as monocropping, inefficient or overuse of synthetic fertilizers, pesticide residues in soil, tillage and soil compaction, and erosion. For WWF, regenerative agriculture is a holistic, principles-based approach to farming and ranching that delivers positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes. It is an outcome-focused systems approach, not a “one-size-fits-all” checklist of practices. Regenerative agriculture considers the environmental and social characteristics of a place to improve life and biodiversity, protect water and aquatic ecosystems, build soil health, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and support people and communities to thrive.
Keeping plants healthy and preventing stress helps plants withstand and repair the damage caused by insects or pests. Providing a favorable soil environment that encourages the growth of healthy roots, and increasing access to water and nutrients supports plants to be more resistant to pests and diseases than plants in poor soil. Plants grown in poor soil typically have to rely heavily on chemical inputs and fertilizers to reach the point of maturity for harvest.
As growers and companies transition to regenerative agriculture, for its widespread benefits, we must ensure that the same inefficiencies in terms of crop loss in conventional agriculture—where we see up to 40% of loss on farms for specialty crops and 20% of loss for row crops.
