Regenerative agriculture
This is adapted from a paper prepared by Christine Jones. Please contact us if you would like the full paper in pdf format.
GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT
"The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself" (Roosevelt 1937)
Biologically active, self-renewing topsoil is the cornerstone for a productive agricultural sector and a robust environment. It is essential for the health of plants, humans and other animals.
The appropriate management of soil biology in agricultural, horticultural, forestry, amenity, wildlife and conservation areas is the most vital, and most neglected, of the natural resource issues facing Australia.
Most of our grasslands and croplands aren’t as healthy as we’d like them to be.
They are often characterised by areas of bare ground, sheet and gully erosion, the presence of weeds and the lack of desirable plant species. It is easy to assume that removing the weeds and replanting some 'better' species will solve the problems. Decades of experience have demonstrated that this simplistic approach rarely works.
The interactions between animals, plants and soil biota remain out of balance because the over-riding importance of soil management has not been addressed. The resulting shortfalls in ecosystem services, such as nutrient availability, need to be supplemented at our cost - and it's usually quite an expense.
Landscapes are not degraded because they lack desirable species. Rather, desirable species will not flourish when landscapes are degraded.
In the agricultural context, grazing and cropping account for the major portion of the land area. If the primary focus of natural resource management is to be the maintenance of high levels of humic materials to rebuild topsoil, then radical departures from conventional methods of production will be required.
REGENERATIVE LAND MANAGEMENT
Agricultural practices can be productive, profitable and restorative provided they: -
i) regenerate, rather than merely 'sustain', the natural resource base
ii) enhance, rather than replace, natural ecosystem processes
iii) stimulate the formation, rather than attempt to reduce the loss, of topsoil.
Regenerative vs sustainable agriculture
Many of what are termed ‘sustainable’ agricultural practices represent only small improvements in current methodology. At best, they impart a fleeting tinge of green to a deteriorating landscape. ‘Regenerative’ practices embody fundamental redesign (Hill 1998). They utilise natural ecological services to replenish and reactivate the resource base.
When agriculture is regenerative, soils, water, vegetation and productivity continually improve rather than staying the same or slowly getting worse.
Regenerative agriculture is productive and profitable. It instils a deep sense of personal satisfaction in farmers, rural communities and observers. Revitalising the natural resource base rekindles our sense of self and our sense of place in the environment.
Enhancement vs replacement philosophy
The traditional approach to land management has been one of 'simplistic replacement' (with exotic species and unbalanced chemical fertilisers) rather than a multi-level, multispecies approach. In recent times, there have been concerted attempts to make oversimplified ecosystems 'sustainable'. It is a battle which cannot be won.
Until a preventative rather than a curative approach to land management is adopted, agricultural ‘problems’ such as soil compaction, low fertility, weeds, pests and diseases, and their ‘treatments’, will continue indefinitely.
The more components in an ecosystem, the greater the synergy between the parts. To improve the diversity and health of agricultural landscapes, we need to think creatively and MANAGE for change, rather than embarking on the broadscale replacement of natural biological processes with expensive technology.
It is difficult to step off the replacement treadmill, because nutrient acquisition and distribution no longer occur naturally in dysfunctional soils. However, the costs of production continue to increase for as long as the replacement philosophy endures.