Regenerative Agriculture is, broadly speaking, a system of agriculture that seeks to regenerate the landscape. This method endeavours to rejuvenate the complex natural cycles that thrive in healthy soils and works alongside millions of bacteria, fungi and microorganisms, which both depend on, and support it. Regenerative Agriculture therefore implies much more than just sustaining, but rather an a
ctive rebuilding, or regeneration of existing systems to full health. The term ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ is a fairly loose one, it allows for different systems to adapt for their own specific environment, this also means that it has very varied levels of practical application and theological principle, it implies an ongoing process of continuing improvement and positive transformations. The entire natural system relies on a perfect balance of all the key elements, between the livestock, plants, bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, minerals, carbon exchanges and the human created management systems that govern them all, this balance can and should be provided, a necessity that regenerative agriculture aims to fulfil. Using these farming practices natural grazing patterns are observed, with rotations of grazing followed by extended rest times, this practice simulates the natural environment in which these animals have evolved and replicates the long term sustainability of this grassland/Savannah style ecosystem. This ‘resting’ of the fields allows for the plant to rejuvenate, by grazing for no more that 5 days on a single patch of ground the grazing has minimal impact on the capacity of the plant to ‘feed’ the ‘underground livestock’, as it exchanges sugars (in organic carbon chains), with the fungi networks in the soil. This practice improves and maintains soil health, and therefore has hugely beneficial affects, including increased water infiltration and retention [Hillenbrand 2019][Machmuller 2015] , increased wildlife numbers [Stinner 1997] and generating greater plant growth [Ferguson 2013][Hillenbrand 2019]. Alongside the already multiple benefits that can be found from the progression of these techniques, another one is the carbon holding capability of Regeneratively farmed and holistically grazed ground. Multiple studies have proven the potential of these techniques to drawdown carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil [Rowntree 2016][Teague 2018][Stanley 2018][Machmuller 2015][Teague 2016]. This revelation would suggest that Agriculture, using these techniques, could provide a net sink of atmospheric Carbon, that could be used to reverse atmospheric concentrations and mitigate global warming. The building of topsoil using these methods can reverse and prevent desertification, allowing for the preservation of ground, especially in volatile climates. Increased water infiltration and retention could provide a useful backstop against droughts and prevent, or reduce, the occurrence of flooding. It’s capacity for supporting wildlife could provide a solution for the long disputed argument, setting wildlife conservation against agriculture, this method could unite the two and provide huge benefits for both. Increased production from ground could provide farmers with greater income potential [Stinner 1997] and this would also allow for food to be produced locally, without the need for environmentally damaging imports. This would facilitate the production of plentiful, environmentally friendly food production and would provide a great solution for what has been, up to now, a great problem for the country. All in all these methods can benefit both humans, and the wider population of animals, both UK and worldwide. This system presents a solution to one of the most pressing questions of the environmental movement, how do we feed the worlds population sustainably. This technique of farming proposes a shift towards a new method, that presents the ability to live alongside nature once again, in harmony and in peace.
