2024 is the year the regenerative movement takes off

“Regenerative agriculture” has been the new buzzword for sustainable cultivation systems throughout 2023, but for the agricultural consultants at Agroganic, it signifies much more than just a buzzword. The principles of sustainable agricultural practices are exactly what Agroganic’s consultants have been working with for decades, and that’s why we have embraced the term. Agroganic aims to be in the forefront of sustainable agriculture, and throughout the past year, we’ve worked intensively to get regenerative agriculture on the agenda for our clients and major corporations. We’ve experienced more interest in regenerative methods than ever before, and 2024 could be the beginning of a new era for regenerative agriculture.

What does regenerative agriculture mean?

You may have heard the term “regenerative agriculture” thrown around, but what does it actually entail? It’s an excellent question because there is no official definition of the which principles that must be followed for a farm to be recognized as regenerative. At Agroganic, we work with four core regenerative principles: 1) Minimal soil disturbance, 2) permanent ground cover, 3) crop diversity, and 4) reduced synthetic input. This means that Agroganic’s regenerative fields are no-till, cultivated with diverse crops, using cover crops that benefit the soil, and minimal use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. All principles are aimed at cultivating the land in the most sustainable way possible. Therefore, we also believe that staying updated on the latest research in sustainable farming methods is an integral part of the regenerative movement.

Major corporations are getting involved

The need for efficient cultivation systems that are climate-resilient, high-yielding, and more environmentally friendly is greater than ever. The industry is starting to realize this, and major companies such as Nestlé, Unibrew, Arla, Schulstad, and Carlsberg have incorporated regenerative principles into their sustainability strategies. Carlsberg is one of the companies that has turned words into action. In 2023, Agroganic’s parent company, Agrovi, initiated a collaboration with Carlsberg, who is demanding regenerative grain for their beer production. Agrovi has assisted Carlsberg in defining an ambitious framework for what regenerative cultivation methods entail in relation to their production, ensuring that they can meet their future sustainability goals. Agrovi has also helped define requirements at the field level and proposed the establishment of a control system to ensure compliance with the requirements. Additionally, Agrovi has suggested a way to track the results from the regenerative fields, such as increased biodiversity and higher humus content in the soil.

Regenerative is future

At Agroganic, we look forward to an exciting year where we continue to promote the regenerative agenda. Our hope for 2024 is to bring more of the industry together and create projects across companies, farmers, and organizations to ensure that the regenerative movement truly takes hold.

If you are a farmer, organization, or company wanting to join the regenerative agenda, contact Agroganic today to learn more about how we can help you get started.