Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming aimed at restoring the health of soil and ecosystems, rather than simply maintaining them or minimising harm. The goal is to leave the land in better condition than before: with more organic matter, more microbial life, greater water-holding capacity and more biodiversity.

There is no single standardised definition or universal regulatory label that draws the line between what is and is not regenerative agriculture. In practice it is identified by a set of principles and practices rather than a closed protocol, which is worth keeping in mind to avoid greenwashing when it is used as a marketing claim without data behind it.

Core principles and practices

Although they vary by crop, soil and climate, the most cited practices are:

• Minimum tillage or no-till, which preserves soil structure, protects its microbial life and reduces erosion.
• Cover crops, which protect the soil between harvests, add organic matter and improve water infiltration.
• Rotations and crop diversification, which break pest cycles and enrich the soil naturally.
• Livestock integration through managed grazing, which recycles nutrients and stimulates pasture regrowth.
• Use of compost and organic matter, and reduced synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

These practices are not applied in isolation: the regenerative logic seeks to combine them to mimic how a natural ecosystem works and to keep the soil covered and alive for as long as possible.

Link to carbon and climate

By building organic matter, these practices can support carbon sequestration in soils, turning farmland into a potential carbon sink and contributing to carbon storage. A note of caution is needed on the numbers: capture depends on soil type and climate, can saturate over time and is reversible if practices are abandoned. Mitigation estimates should therefore be treated carefully and backed by measurement, rather than presented as a guaranteed benefit.

Beyond carbon, regenerative agriculture is associated with benefits for natural capital: better soil structure, greater water retention, less runoff and recovering biodiversity. In that sense it sits within nature-based solutions.

Impact on water

Soil richer in organic matter holds moisture better and lowers irrigation needs, with a direct effect on the agricultural water footprint. This water-efficiency gain is one of the strongest arguments for these practices, especially in water-stressed regions where water availability constrains production.

Application in companies

For the food and beverage industry, regenerative agriculture is increasingly relevant as a lever to cut emissions from the agricultural supply chain, which usually concentrate most of their environmental impact. Its real value depends on being able to measure and verify outcomes for soil, water and emissions, avoiding generic claims without traceability.

Measure the impact with Manglai

At Manglai we help companies measure and manage their environmental impact with verifiable data, including across the agricultural supply chain. Discover how Manglai can help you quantify your footprint and back your practices with rigorous information.