REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE agricultural systems in the context of climate change.
We have all been told that we need to change our ways. “Do this, don’t do that”, “Eat this, not that”. This paper is not about practices. It is an invitation to change our minds, provoke a new perspective which will lead us to recognize the opportunities of systemic change and assume the opportunity costs of current food production processes. Fall 2020 REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
agricultural systems in the context of climate change.
With Case Studies from the Iberian Peninsula
Volterra Ecosystems S.L.
Lead Writer Priya Devasirvatham
Simon Weber Sarah Devecchi Aroa Gregori Montaner Marta Múgica Sven Kallen
Design Francesca Gaby Van Daele
Volterra Ecosystems S.L. Balmes 76, 1-2 Barcelona, Spain www.volterra.bio - [email protected]
INTRODUCTION The advent of agriculture allowed humans to create the settled societies we live in alternative to conventional production that has the capacity to produce high quality systems which supply the industrialized in large part due to conventional farming dependency on external inputs. required for farming range from limited system that contains one or more of the following elements: holistic grazing agroforestry crop rotation.
case for Regenerative Agriculture as a and climate crises. The human population . It includes case studies from interviews with the demand to produce more food cannot be met with an equal increase in intensive conventional participating farmers. agricultural production.
ABOUT VOLTERRA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Business as usual 6 More 8
Regenerative Agriculture 10
Added Value 25
Case studies 34 Agricola Bove 34 Freixo do Meio 44
Policy Analysis 49 Synergies 49
Conclusions 52
About LIFE Regenerate 53
The LIFE Programme 54
References 54 BUSINESS AS USUAL ecosystems which support it.
Seeds Pesticides Fertiliser !"#$%&'(')'!**+',-./*%01
Inputs Farm Food
Water Machinery
Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human wellbeing, survival, and quality of life [6].
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Provisioning Regulating Supporting Cultural Tradition Food Biological Pest Control Tradition Forage Medicine Cycling Soil Quality Soil Formation Soil Fertility Pollination Biodiversity 6 LESS
Soil organic matter and soil carbon change and management can place pressure on soil health and the ecosystem services it
Tillage disrupts the structure of topsoil where SOC and organic matter are mainly stored.
Habitats and biodiversity
7 MORE
Pollution these products increases exponentially impacts. negatively impacted human health. Situations include: causing cancer in RESILIENCE California children who live in proximity to Economic saddled with heavy regulatory require ments. Animal farms face the highest rela causing eutrophication and the overgrowth and the overgrowth of algae harmful to aquatic life. GHG emissions anthropogenic emissions and are mainly tions are expected to occur given the incre enteric fermentation (digestive process of ruminants which releases methane as a cally low. Agricultural sectors facing the highest income volatility year after year are 8
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(US Dollars per Barrel) 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Ecological Impacts on agriculture due to climate invasive species populations are expected change are predicted to cause economic can destroy entire harvests are expected to increase in frequency. captured on a large scale to decelerate the the yield and income insecurity that farmers are already facing. Changes in survival of pollinators as well as crop yield Fundamental changes to the management of agricultural ecosystems critical services such as food production 9 REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
(RA) healthy soils are the cornerstone.
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Sheep/Goats
Feed Cattle Pigs + Shade Feed Poultry Fertilizing Fertilizing
Fertilizing + Shrubs Mulching Cover Crops Perennial crops Crop Rotation Trees Water Retention (Keyline design)
10 CROP DIVERSIFICATION
diseases that feed on those crops. This leads to an increase in: Fertilizer use to ensure that the nutrients the plants need to grow are in the P
Crop rotation control pests and weeds.
the cycles of pests and diseases which only thrive on and among certain crops.
The use of cover crops inside crop rotation maintains soil and water quality without
The implementation of cover crops and crop rotation as part of a regenerative approach
I
C
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11 AGROFORESTRY
The incorporation of trees in conventional farming systems has proven to have a positive into much deeper soil layers than the annual or perennial crops that grow in the lanes or Studies show that soils developing under tree canopies have higher nutrient and organic
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1. Tall-tree layer
2. Low-tree layer
6. Vine layer 3. Shrub layer 4. Herb layer
5. Ground cover layer
7. Root layer 12 There are 3 main types of agroforestry:
1. Agrosilvicultural systems: combining trees, shrubs, and crops
of trees are planted in wide intervals with a companion crop grown in the alleyways activities such as weeding and mechanical harvests.
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?W$&%.$6' "8&5>' W1' 6$<&%= and silvopastoral Dehesa systems.
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14 3. Agrosilvopastoral systems: combining all three elements (trees, crops, animals)
Agrosilvopastoral systems are understood as follows:
generate employment and income; improve social conditions in rural areas; reduce
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Organization Specialization
Crop Specialized crop Specialized systems systems crops Mixed systems integration Grazing Industrial livestock Specialized systems systems livestock
Population pressure, economic growth 15 HOLISTIC GRAZING
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the growth rate of grass, the stocking rate for livestock, and a diverse array of animal species/breeds. 16 !"#$%&'M')'L*/-/"*4-8':&%+'9*7&9&4/'#"7&6';-6/$%&'8*4#'%&6/';&%"*+6'R:"8&':"#:'6/*.@"4# +&46"/"&6'&4-<8&'R&&+'.*4/%*81
2 1
3 6
5 4
Grass Growth Rate 17 !"#$%&'^')'V%-66'#%*R/:'%-/&1'3/'O%6/'6/-#&'/:&';8-4/'R"88'<$"8+'%**/'%&6&%7&6'/*'6$;;*%/'-'8-%#&%';8-4/1' 36'/:&';8-4/'%&-.:&6'9-/$%"/0'"/'R"88'"47&6/'"4'6&&+',*%9-/"*4>'<&,*%&'68*R"4#'+*R41
1. Grass reaches maturity
2. Seed formation - Growth slows
3. Growth stops
4. Nutrient value declines sharply
5. Plant dies and leaves a dry seedhead Grass growth rate
3. 2. 5.
1.
Rapid growth 4.
Slow growth as grass builds root reserves to support a larger plant
18 Stocking Rate and dairy production.
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C will capture the full productivity of the pasture and its nutritional capacity.
S mixes a head start.
Pigs root the soil and graze the grasses. They clean any natural leftovers following season.
M
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on the level of degradation. Farmers use numerous techniques and tools to support this additional measures to accelerate regeneration.
Tools for improved management success of any operation. A healthy soil disease resistance also plays an important role in resource management. Below are
1. Inoculations fundamental role in ecosystems. nutrients and water from the soil in exchange for photosynthate from the plant. enough soil resources to grow or the nutrient cycle. A direct result of A9-#&' U' )' TA!J' L&#&4&%-/&' ;-%/4&%' AX!*%&6/' .-%%"&6'*$/',$4#-8'"4*.$8-/"*46'"4'/:&'/%"-8'-%&-' *,'G-66-%">'G-%+"4"->'A/-801'Q:*/*'<0H'AX!*%&6/ 21 ?W$&%.$6'6;;1= trees. When choosing which fungi to use for inoculation a farmer should consider local conditions.
2. Biochar -1 applied as a soil amendment and in
<1 the soil during the driest months. As a chance of survival in rough environments
and humidity which helps avoid animal .1 diseases such as hoof infections. It can also
+1
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23 Its application requires a geographical of the most innovative techniques for study of the land and an understanding of its topographic features to detect strategies with soil regeneration techni ques. The application of this technique 4. Animal guidance productivity. Shade reduces stress and has shown an improved weight gain of up image 8 optimized rainwater capture and image 9 more resilient to the changing weather implemented. These are also useful for guiding herd movement. When coupled and rotational grazing in agroforestry strategically to improve soil in certain areas with very little alteration to the land surface. of the farm.
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24 ADDED VALUE OUTPUTS
Diversified products of the system.
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Agroforestry Holistic Grazing
Cash crop Wood Supplementary crop Fruit Feed Forage Seeds Mushrooms Meat Wool crops Seeds
Carbon rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and converted to plant material especially during the transition period.
25 Waste
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Activity Waste Processing Product Applications
Pruning trees Woody Mulch material Biomass Firewood Mulch Biomass
Sawdust inoculated Sale with fungal spores mushrooms
Soil amendment
Manure Crop cultivation Composting Biofuel
Biodegradation Animal feed
Biomass Mulch materials Mushrooms Construction material 26 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
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Soil formation Water retention - + Agricultural land required Pollution
A regenerative approach can contribute to both climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Mitigation ?(=.
Agriculture is well equipped to mitigate climate change due to its untapped capacity to
Adaptation
measures.
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showed that crops grown in an organic system outperformed conventional production in change.
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ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS
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Lower Production Costs
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Stable and improved outputs nerative system also has the potential to price premiums. A properly diverse system also reduces than monoculture systems under the same provide much needed economic resilience can also act as security against environ mental threats; if one product performs regenerative farms was positively numerous other products through which yield. So while regenerative yields were Agroforestry systems have also shown to can accelerate the transition to a climate 30 2. Biochar applied as a soil amendment and in
the soil during the driest months. As a chance of survival in rough environments
and humidity which helps avoid animal diseases such as hoof infections. It can also
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31 3. Keyline manage water resources and increase soil the natural topography of the land that where it is needed and favouring water
The planning consists of designing a allocating swales and dams to channel special ploughing system called the Yeoman’s Plough or variations thereof. The shallow topsoil (usually richer in nutrient underlying it.
MARKET DEMAND
people to place a higher value on health choices regarding diet and lifestyle. Food choices
Some of the growing trends include:
A great part of the choice to consume local food is related to the quality of
32 of the most innovative techniques for strategies with soil regeneration techni ques. The application of this technique optimized rainwater capture and more resilient to the changing weather and rotational grazing in agroforestry with very little alteration to the land surface.
The climate crisis and a focus on health has spawned a generation of ecologically minded
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33 CASE STUDIES
AGRICOLA BOVE Rotational Grazing, Cattle, Pigs,Keyline
“I was slowly becoming dependent on inputs, like fertilizers, to produce; and each year I needed more and more which meant more expenses.”
“It’s easy to say that I made the transition [from extensive, conventional grazing] to help the environment, but honestly these changes were the economic performance of my business.”
34 A9-#&'(U')'P-4$&8'X"&'-4+':"6'34#$6'.*R61 Q:*/*'<0H'E*8/&%%-'J.*606/&96
in diesel as well as reduced costs of machinery maintenance.
“Arrogance can be a determining factor in the economic failure of a farm. There is a culture of mistrust between farmers that stops us from asking questions to one another. It is very important that producers share experiences and discuss their work together.” 35 The remaining cows are sold to feedlots to the system is not without its challenges. that the animal was raised under organic regulations. Manuel would prefer to sell young cows directly as veal rather than plex logistical and commercial issues that many of the happy cows from his farm may slaughtered and sold as conventional meat. small organic food store. To this client he can charge a small price premium which right with this situation. Manuel infers that generates no additional revenue due to the high transport costs associated. To sell the dedicating time to commercialization and the logistics of organizing shipments. 2 mes into meat. Demand also plays an not a commonly eaten or valued product.
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36 calves as they are small and cannot damage the trees. These animals have the higher turnover.
“I don’t need to be paid a price premium; I just don’t want to be
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& 37 ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS
Lower Production Costs
“There’s no going back, this is the only way I know now. Managing in a regenerative approach has given me great self-esteem. I feel useful, and I know my purpose.”
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38 nerative system also has the potential to price premiums.
A properly diverse system also reduces provide much needed economic resilience can also act as security against environ mental threats; if one product performs numerous other products through which
can accelerate the transition to a climate
MUNDOS NUEVOS Rotational Grazing, Sheep, Pigs, Keyline
and the farm was spending successively more money with little return.
“It got to a point where we would have had to go to the bank for a loan in order to continue for one more season. We needed money to buy fertilizer and invest in a new change how we managed the land.”
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39
“The CAP subsidy is not “income”, it comes in and immediately goes out to pay for all the inputs needed to manage a conventional farm. The system incentivizes you to continue increasing the amount of land farmed, and to sow annual crops. Each year they decapitalize you, and it isn’t easy to recover.”
long term.
Investments made include:
K Improved water retention in the soil is especially important in an arid rainfed system
M
D
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“Transitioning to RA is like learning how to drive, you can’t start with a Ferrari”
ventional agriculture.
41
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Conventional sales (B2B) Direct Sales (B2C)
Weight of product
Income
Price per kilo
Costs associated time dedicated
business than the one we had. Now we have 2 distinct operations at Mundos Nuevos – raising animals and selling meat.”
42 “Ultimately, consumers want what is comfortable. A supermarket is very comfortable, they can purchase only what they need for the day. To purchase from us they would have to “complicate their lives” by making an order and waiting for it to arrive. Then they would probably have to freeze some of the product because they will receive 5-12 kilos of sheep meat.”
“We do not know how many animals this land can support, there’s lots to discover”.
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43
in diesel as well as reduced costs of machinery maintenance.
“Arrogance can be a determining factor in the economic failure of a farm. There is a culture of mistrust between farmers that stops us from asking questions to one another. It is very important that producers share experiences and discuss their work together.”
FREIXO DO MEIO Agrosilvopastoral: Crops, Animals, Trees, Keyline, Crop Rotation, Cover Crops
management methods that the previous land managers had applied. 3 years of applying
“Years before, we were told, the farm only brought in salt (to conserve the food) and iron tools (to work the land). Apparently, it produced enough to feed 200 people. This is when we realized something was wrong with what we were doing. It was clear that our family had slowly destroyed the land, and it was far from its original and maximum potential. We either had to make a change or accept that the land would not provide us anything under the current system.”
of meat.
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Freixo do Meio is currently managed as a cooperative where a wide range of activities are carried out. Organic entrepreneurs are encouraged to come and develop their ideas. Most
“Conventional agriculture is a factory; everything is standardized, you can work 8 am – 5 pm. True agroecology is another game. Unlike in already built for you. If you do it right, it should take more dedication”
“Agroecology in the normal market doesn’t work. You have to plan the economy around it.”
the challenges they face to commercialize goods are no greater than their conventional 45 A9-#&'2D'6:*R6'7*8$4/&&%6';8-4/"4#'/%&&6',*%'/:&'4&R',**+',*%&6/'-4+'"4'"9-#&'2U'/:&'@&08"4&6'R:&%&' /:&6&'/%&&6':-7&'<&&4';8-4/&+1'Q:*/*'<0H'E*8/&%%-'J.*606/&96
46 implementing the following strategies:
following regenerative agriculture principles in which
regeneration;
evaporation and to provide the soil closest to the tree with organic matter.
planted. One of the main deterrents for tree growth is the strong wind that hits the fodder for the animals or mulch for the plants.
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47 A9-#&'2^')'W$&%.$6'"8&5'"4'-'C*.**4')';%*;%"&/-%0'/&.:4*8*#0',%*9'T-4+'T",&'C*9;-401'C*.**46 :-7&' <&&4' $6&+' "4' %&,*%&6/-/"*46' /*' .*9<-/' :-%6:' .8"9-/".' .*4+"/"*461' I:"6' /&.:4*8*#0' R"88' :&8; /%&&6' /*' 6$%7"7&' &7&4' ",' /:&%&' -%&' 8*4#' ;&%"*+6' *,' +%*$#:/>' /0;".-8' *,' 6$99&%6' "4' !%&"5*' +*' P&"*1 Q:*/*H'E*8/&%%-'J.*606/&96
“creating a system that permits abundance without enslaving us, without generating fear of not having enough food. A system which creates the best version of ourselves.”
:
48 POLICY ANALYSIS SYNERGIES
From Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
increasing the individual earnings of persons engaged in agriculture;
out in
and increase competitive in the value chain; territory to enhance food ness including greater focus security; and digitalisation;
change mitigation and management of natural ecosystem services and soil and air; landscapes;
Attract young farmers and Improve the response of development in rural areas; local development in rural demands on food and welfare.
European Green Deal its Farm to Fork Strategy
49 RECOMMENDATIONS
cess of regenerative agriculture as made evident from the interviews with farmers for the respond to the following question:
“What policy changes would you like to see/do you think are necessary?”
should have to pay. The technology to measure all the emissions and savings from
The basis for this concept is supported by regarding payments to farmers for voluntarily implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
them.
and farmers.
into the procurement principles of schools and government institutions.
economies of scale. 50 a regenerative agricultural system and accelerate the transition:
to:
or harvesting the wood after a certain period of time.
those presented here.
to simultaneously push forward climate change goals and generate revenue from
supported from a policy perspective to shorten the supply chain of organic meat the state of the art of the sector. costs savings associated with reduced transport.
51 CONCLUSIONS
toward a supportive policyscape with opportunities for change in the new Common Agricultural Policy.
foundations of human society.
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52 ABOUT LIFE REGENERATE
a larger scale.
1 2 natural capital and optimize commercial advantages management procedures and improving soil quality 3 4 POLICY ANALYSIS SYNERGIES reducing external input of fodder and From Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union creating alternative sources of income
model increasing the individual earnings of persons engaged in agriculture;
5 6 Integrate new technologies and out in security;
energy;
The project and position paper are made possible thanks to co-funding from the European Union through the LIFE programme under the grant agreement LIFE16 ENV/ES/000276. More information can be found at the project’s website https://regenerate.eu/en/
53 THE LIFE PROGRAMME
REFERENCES
54
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55
*
*
56
57
extent can zero tillage lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from temperate
58
59 supported from a policy perspective to shorten the supply chain of organic meat the state of the art of the sector. costs savings associated with reduced transport.
60
61 &'()*+',-"(
340' *;"4"*46>' O4+"4#6>' .*4.8$6"*46>' *%' %&.*99&4+-/"*46' &5;%&66&+' "4' /:"6' ;$<8".-/"*4' -%& /:*6&' *,' /:&' -$/:*%6' -4+' +*' 4*/' 4&.&66-%"80' %&j&./' /:&' 7"&R6' *,' /:&' J$%*;&-4' C*99"66"*4' *% /:&'TA!J';%*#%-99&1
!"#$%"&'#&('#)'*")&+#*,'-.'#%.'#&('#/",,"0123#)'/')'24'5 6",&'))-#74".8.&'9.+#:'3'2')-&1;'#<3)14%,&%)'#=>?>?@
L&;%*+$./"*4'*,'-40'/&5/>'"9-#&6>'*%'#%-;:6'"4'/:"6'%&;*%/'"6'%&6/%"./&+'<0'E*8/&%%-'J.*606/&96'G1T1 !*%'"4Y$"%"&6m%&Y$&6/6';8&-6&'.*4/-./',1/'A;",&'))-BC1" THE LIFE PROGRAMME
REFERENCES
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE © Volterra Ecosystems S.L.