Global food security is at risk from a potential multiple breadbasket failure due to drought, disease, pest outbreak and price hikes in the global market. A report by the United Nations Global Land Outlook report[1] found that a third of the planets land is severely degraded due erosion, salinisation, compaction, acidification and chemical pollution. The planet is losing fertile soil at the rate of 24 billion tonnes a year. Further loss of these soils puts us at risk of decreased food production and food security, plunging many into hunger and poverty.

As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify and global shocks interfere with business as usual, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of this crisis. Africa reportedly has a quarter of global arable land yet it only products 10% of the worlds agricultural output[2]. The continent loses roughly US$ 4 billion worth of soil nutrients annually due to erosion. This affects about 485 million people thus threatening food security. Further, an estimated 75% – 80% of Africa’s cultivated land is degraded resulting in 30-60 kg loss of vital nutrients per hectare annually. This impacts approximately 65% of Africa’s population. Soil degradation therefore poses a major threat to food security and sustainable food systems in the continent[3].

To build a sustainable food system, there needs to be productivity in two key agricultural inputs namely, land and labour. Ideally, when both inputs are applied, they should result in increased crop yield which in turn directly affects food production. Although there has been an increase in these two agricultural inputs over the last decade, productivity remains low which has led to an increasing recognition of the environmental costs of degraded land as well as the widening gap in production yields calling for urgent action.

Principles of Regenerative Agriculture

One such action employed to combat the environmental costs of degraded land is the implementation of regenerative practices as a means of conservation agriculture. There have been various initiatives and efforts created to support African smallholder farmers by organizations the world over with the aim of achieving sustainable food systems. Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that enriches soils, increases biodiversity, improves watersheds and enhances ecosystem services.

There are four principles smallholder farmers can adopt that will enable them see results as their soil ecosystem function improve:

1. Minimise soil disturbance

The most important aspect of regenerative agriculture is soil health. This is because soil is ultimately the most valuable asset on the farm as it supports a complex ecosystem. Cultivations such as ploughing result in short term decline in underground life, with microorganisms killed due to exposure. Similarly, use of heavy fertilizers and pesticides upsets the delicate balance of a healthy soil ecosystem. Some of the key techniques being used in regenerative agriculture to increase soil health are no tillage, cover crops, rotation cropping, reduced use of chemical inputs and the integration of plants and animals.

• Keep the soil covered.

Covering the soil with living plants or a mulch of crop residue, such as chopped straw, protects soil from the impact of rain drops. This reduces the damage that high speed raindrops can do to the surface and allows water to percolate gently down. A good soil cover also prevents overheating during periods of hot sunshine or frost in cold weather both of which antagonize healthy soil.

• Maintain living roots in the soil

It is vital that the living roots remain in the soil as they keep the underground ecosystem functioning. This is because plants remove CO₂ from the air and turn it into sugars through a process called photosynthesis. These sugars are important both for, the growth and nourishment of the plant and, feeding the bacteria and fungi which cluster around the plant root, exchanging vital nutrients and water. Cover crops can be used to ensure the soils and roots are adequately covered.

• Maximizing biodiversity, both animal and plants

A diverse population of plants coupled with robust crop rotations ensure healthier soils, reduces weeds and disease pressure. This can be achieved through companion cropping systems (growing two or more crops simultaneously and separating their seeds post-harvest). Similarly, the presence of diverse livestock in farming supports regeneration of soil by improving soil biodiversity.

Regenerative agriculture combines animals and plants in circular ecosystems; essentially, the animals feed the plants, and the plants feed the animals. The regulated grazing of sheep or cows, for example, encourages plant growth, and distributes natural nutrients back over the land in the form of dung. Poultry also fertilises land, as well as eating unwelcome bugs and weeds.

Alignment of regenerative agriculture with circular economy and its role in restoring ecosystems and enhancing soil health

Regenerative agriculture and the circular economy are closely aligned in their principles and goals, both aiming to create sustainable, resilient systems that benefit the environment, society, and the economy.

1. Resource efficiency– Both frameworks prioritize resource efficiency. Practices like cover cropping, crop rotation and agroforestry in regenerative agriculture enhance soil fertility by improving water use efficiency and reducing the need for synthetic inputs. This mirrors the circular economy’s focus on maximizing resources and minimizing waste. For example, in agroforestry, integration of different plant species allows farmers to produce multiple outputs from the same area without depleting soil nutrients or relying heavily on synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers.

• Waste reduction. A core tenet of circular economy is that waste should be viewed as a resource. Similarly, various practices of regenerative agriculture turn organic waste into valuable inputs such as fertilizer from compost or biochar, hence reducing dependence on synthetic products. This improves soil health and crop yields. Both frameworks efficiently repurpose waste for multiple uses, ensuring nothing is wasted and therefore creating a closed loop system which enhances overall sustainability.

• Soil health Improvement– Regenerative practices increase soil organic matter, which improves soil structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity. Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable food systems, supporting higher crop yields and resilience to environmental stress. These practices further promote a thriving soil microbiome, which is essential for nutrient cycling and plant health.

The three principles above are just a few practical examples of how regenerative agriculture and circular economy can be combined to restore ecosystems with the aim of creating sustainable food systems. By focusing on long-term sustainability, resource efficiency, and resilience, regenerative agriculture not only meets current food needs but also ensures that future generations can continue to produce food in harmony with the environment. Its role in building resilient, productive, and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems makes it a critical component of the global shift towards more sustainable and circular economies.

By Joan Kagotho, Agribusiness Financial Consultant

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[1] UN Global land outlook report

[2] Africa’s path to growth: Sector by sector

[3] IFAD: Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit