Apr 22, 2024 | Written By Bhawna Solanki

From Earth to Sky: Regenerative Agriculture's Role in Biodiversity and Climate Health

The main cause of climate change is the atmospheric release of carbon dioxide emissions. We usually talk about the carbon that comes from burning fossil fuels, but there is a lot of carbon in the soil that can be released when it is disturbed. On the other hand, it is also feasible to alter land management techniques to allow carbon from the atmosphere to be reabsorbed into the soil (Skinner, 2023). Agriculture is one of the primary ways through which humans disturb the soil.


Industrial Agriculture, Biodiversity & Climate Change

Leading global policy think tank Chatham House has identified agriculture as a major cause of biodiversity loss, highlighting the detrimental effects of agricultural intensification on the amount and quality of natural habitats (World Wide Fund, 2024). Agricultural intensification negatively impacts the quantity and quality of available habitat. Globally, the spread of agriculture has resulted in enormous losses in biodiversity as natural ecosystems are turned into farms, destroying and fragmenting such habitats (FoodPrint, 2021). Conventional agriculture, which is frequently dominated by monocultures, intense tillage, and a strong dependency on synthetic chemicals to create giant quantities of single crops like cotton, severely impacts biodiversity. It may also cause additional pests and diseases, necessitating greater chemical inputs, causing carbon emissions and water pollution that damage the natural ecosystem. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2023), annually, emissions from agriculture, primarily from chemical fertilizers and factory-farmed livestock, account for more than 20 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Thus, industrial agriculture poses a global threat to biodiversity and plays a significant role in climate change.

Regenerative Agriculture and Biodiversity

'Regenerative agriculture' is slowly becoming a buzzword in the climate conservation fraternity across the globe. The word 'regenerative' typically means 'to recover', 'to recreate', 'to reform', or 'to renew,' all of which stand true in the way regenerative soil practices not only focus on sustainable food production but also intertwine with biodiversity conservation. Regenerative farming practices offer sustainable agriculture solutions by promoting nature-based farming that enhances soil health, supports biodiversity, and reduces the use of fossil fuel-based chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. Its principles are customized to the intricacies of regional settings, emphasizing the renewal and restoration of soil health.

Furthermore, regenerative agriculture solutions use techniques including crop rotation, cover crops, reduced or no-tillage, composting, controlled grazing, and biodiversity building to improve soil health. By creating habitats for a variety of plant and animal species, these techniques not only absorb carbon but also improve biodiversity. Regenerative farming and biodiversity have a symbiotic relationship that is essential for building resilience against the negative effects of climate change, such as pest outbreaks and extreme weather. These sustainable farming methods aid in sequestering atmospheric carbon in the soil, hence contributing to climate change mitigation.

The intersectionality of biodiversity, climate change, and regenerative agriculture highlights their significant impact on the health of our planet. Relying on comprehensive strategies that prioritize these components is essential to creating a sustainable future where food security, climate resilience, and ecosystems flourish.

Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy.

-Vandana Shiva

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