Objective C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
Label Title Description Urge Soil Regeneration Ensure that production is based on the principles of agroecology Value chain actors in agriculture and forestry and land managers have undergone a paradigm shift from "exploitation of soils" to "regeneration of soils" and have adopted the science-based principles of agroecology and sustainable land management. Targets C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
Baseline 2020 Target 2030 Target 2050 Adoption rates of agroecology are insignificant. Products from agroecology play an insignificant role in global food supply chains. The soil exploitation paradigm prevails as a principle for land management. 50% of value chain actors in agriculture and forestry have adopted the principles of agroecology and sustainable land management. 100% of value chain actors in agriculture and forestry have adopted the principles of agroecology and sustainable land management in practice.
Context C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
Problem C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
| Problem Statement | Description | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Too few actors in the agri-food sector fully embrace the principles of agroecology and adopt practices that lead to soil regeneration. | Soils are considered just a "medium" for plant growth. The focus on short-term top yields and the pressure of cost reduction and output maximization leaves no room for the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices. Regenerative farming is wrongly perceived as providing only long-term benefits in SH while offering no short-term profits. Due to the prevalence of superficial knowledge of soil and its role in plant yield, farmers are often unaware of the fact that effective management of the interactions within the pedosphere promises better yields, lower costs, and continuous improvement in SH in the long run. | As a result of widespread "soil exploitation" in agriculture, organic matter inputs are usually too low, leading to serious soil degradation and erosion hazards. Degradation of SH leads to dependence on costly external inputs and reduces the soil's overall fertility and thus the crop's health. Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy tillage is considered a significant cause of soil biodiversity decline and SOC loss as CO2. Over time, agriculture has become less attractive as an economic activity and a way of life for younger generations in rural areas. All this poses another threat to climate change, food security, and food safety. Agricultural innovations in more technologically advanced countries always look for answers in the genetic engineering of seeds instead of looking for the root cause in ecology, as it is easier for agribusiness to make money by selling seeds with promises than to train farmers to change their practices. This dynamic creates a vicious circle that is detrimental to the promotion of regenerative approaches. |
Causes C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
| N° | Cause | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Lack of holistic science-based knowledge | Farmers and producers lack holistic and updated science-based knowledge and understanding of soil and plant management. Such training opportunities are rare. Even if there is an opportunity, the training often is on "conventional" principles-based upon outdated scientific understanding of plant physiology and its relationship with soil life and organic matter. |
2 | No ecosystem accounting | The current pricing ignores the degenerative effect of exploitative production processes and its detrimental effect on soil, plant, and human health in the long run. |
3 | Too little short-term economic incentive | Farmers are unwilling to shift their paradigm from soil "exploitation" to "regeneration" due to a lack of short-term economic benefits (incentives and demand). Consumers generally look for lower-priced food but not for higher nutritional value or lower carbon footprints and environmental impacts. The lack of short-term economic benefits discourages the transition toward sustainable agricultural production. Farmers are afraid of change, and there are no rewards for preventing soil degradation or restoring soil health (SH). |
4 | Short-sighted policy | Short-term oriented and non-inclusive planning on natural resources management that does not regulate land use to avoid soil degradation and conflict between users is commonplace for elected governments operating on free-market principles. Consideration of product quality, impacts on soil, plant, human and animal health, and other environmental aspects can only be given high priority in the context of national security. |
5 | Industry influence | Argo-chemical and agricultural biotechnology industries strongly influence farmers' management decisions and agronomic research. Reductionist science, competitive thinking, and profit-oriented thinking have led us into mechanized chemical industrial agriculture. The global agro-business complex has transformed farming away from natural methods and approaches based upon sound coherent scientific knowledge. Market thinking has created global food chains with agro-products as commodities consumed far from the place of production. |
Implementation strategy C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
Activities C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
| N° | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Establish formal dialogue | Establish formal communication with farmers, consumer organizations, and agri-food companies using existing networks to raise awareness of their possible roles in climate change mitigation. |
2 | Engage in policy debate | Engage in high-level discussion panels with relevant policymakers and big players in agri-food and agro-businesses to break down all political hindrances to implementing the vision of the "4 per 1000" Initiative. |
3 | Include agroecology in vocational training curricula | Transform agronomists', agricultural engineers, and extension specialists' training curricula towards an eco-systemic approach to agricultural systems with SH, SOC, plant health, promotion of above- and below-ground biodiversity, and climate protection at its core. |
4 | Support consumer campaigns | Support consumer campaigns to encourage demand for soil-friendly products with a low carbon footprint and of high nutritional value. |
5 | Establish light-house projects | Support the establishment and expansion of regenerative demonstration sites for on-farm training. Demonstration and training may include practices such as agroforestry, diversified cropping systems, biochar/compost/ biological inputs production, etc. |
6 | Train the trainers | Strengthen extension and advisory services to monitor and improve SH for all land users. Assist with consultancy and regular soil tests to producers for an easier transition towards sustainable soil management practices. |
7 | Co-create sustainable soil and land management practices | Invest in research and technology development. Support projects for knowledge co-creation to develop regeneration adoption strategies. Collect scientific evidence on the benefits and co-benefits of sustainable soil and agricultural system management and create new and innovative solutions for sustainable management through co-creation / co-innovation with farmers/producers and policymakers. |
| 8 | Generate income opportunities | Develop and disseminate alternative business models to support producers and citizens in the transformation process to ensure that caring for the commons and providing other regenerative services is profitable enough to earn a decent living. |
Critical Success Factors (CSFs) C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
| N° | Critical Success Factor | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Awareness | There is a need for strong awareness among farmers, businesses, policymakers, and consumers about the impact of food production on soil and climate. Soil is a living entity whose "life" lies in soil biology and organic carbon that needs protection to ensure sustainable and healthy crop production. |
2 | Capacity development | All stakeholders need to be equipped with the necessary science-based knowledge, skills, and tools to make the paradigm shift and the awareness of the change in roles demanded of them. |
| 3 | Training materials and concepts | Provide farmers' organizations with materials, tools, and training to improve and exchange their knowledge on science-based SH management and the concept of agroecology. |
3 | Conflict management | Successful management of conflicts among stakeholder groups from the paradigm change from "exploitation" to "regeneration." Valid, credible, and communicable evidence is needed to show that conflicts arising from paradigm shifts can be successfully resolved among stakeholders from all social classes, sectors, regions, nations, and continents. |
4 | Fair cost-sharing | Fair pricing considers negative and positive environmental impacts on-site and off-site of food production, transportation, and consumption. Promote transformation into a fair economic system that rewards SH protection and restoration based on a quantitative commitment from governments, businesses, and consumers. |
5 | Evidence of benefits | Reliable science-based, practice-oriented data and knowledge base to inform producers, agri-food businesses, and consumers about the benefits of sustainable land management practices and enable SH monitoring for all. |
6 | Reduce the risk of transition | During the transition to regenerative practice, economic support is required to lower the risks of investments. Farmers need to be guaranteed adjusted rewards and financial support during the transition years. Farmers need both tangible(financial) and intangible (recognition of goodwill and farsightedness) support during the transition years as motivation for change is different for different people. |
7 | Supporting regulations | Intensified agro-forestry, agroecological, and climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies and regulations to minimize the use of chemical compounds should be integrated, evolved, and mainstreamed into national agricultural policy, strategic plans, and programs. |
8 | Inclusiveness of process | Science- and evidence-based knowledge must be created jointly by researchers, industry, and practitioners from the bottom up. This involves workshops, discussion panels, meetings, agricultural producers' organizations' train ships, exhibitions, demonstrations, and other measures. Research results should be disseminated by impartial coordinating bodies that have no vested interests. |
Barriers C2 - Urge Soil Regeneration
| N° | Barrier | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Scientific discord | The potential of soil carbon sequestration for climate mitigation is contentious in the scientific community. |
2 | Risk-averse behavior | The transition to regenerative practices is associated with high costs and risks for farmers. It is human nature that change triggers fears. High costs and risks are always taken as an excuse before the opposite is proven. |
3 | Push-back from agro-industry | Agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology industries play a big macroeconomic role and strongly influence policy, foreign aid, and farmers. |
4 | No immediate impact | Regenerative management effects on soil are only visible over the medium- to long term. Response to chemical inputs is immediate and very pronounced compared to non-chemical methods of production. This discourages farmers from switching over to regenerative farming. |
5 | Unfavorable regulations | It is not uncommon that public policies and subsidies tend to favor industrial, and chemical agriculture rather than regenerative ones. |
