Regenerative Agriculture Principles & Practices

Regenerative agriculture is not a what that can be defined, rather it is a how, a set of system level science principles and practices. Here are a few of them:

Adaptive Grazing

Adjusting the grazing area or stocking rates, to match forage availability, to enhance soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and increase productivity.

Compost and Organic Inputs

Recycling organic matter to enrich soil health and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

Cover Cropping

Using cover crops to protect soil, reduce erosion, enhance organic matter, and promote biodiversity.

Diversification

Encouraging a variety of crops and livestock to mimic natural ecosystems and reduce risks associated with monocultures.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Using biological, cultural, and mechanical methods to manage pests while reducing chemical inputs.

Minimal Soil Disturbance

Implementing no-till or reduced-till practices to maintain soil structure, improve water retention, and protect microbial life.

Syntropic Agroforestry

Designing systems based on natural succession to improve soil health, productivity, and ecosystem services over time. This may involve integrating trees and shrubs with crops or livestock to improve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and provide shade and shelter.

Water Management

While it's possible to improve water infiltration and retention through practices like keyline design, contour farming, and swales, the combined regenerative agriculture practices significantly improve water infiltration and retention by enhancing soil structure, and increasing organic matter.

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Beware of the tendency to do the same thing every year. It's about outcomes, yes, and attentiveness to the ecosystem, and throw different practices at it, and watch and learn ~ Jules Matthews