Why is everyone talking about regenerative agriculture (even a surfer)?
This interesting article (in Portuguese) published in Reset covers the growing momentum behind regenerative agriculture.
The author, Thais Folego Gama, discusses how a regenerative approach to farming is increasingly adopted by a wide range of actors—from small producers to global trading companies (and, yes, a big wave surfer like me).
Regenerative agriculture focuses on improving soils and ecosystems, steering clear of a one-size-fits-all model. Practices remain flexible and vary significantly by region and production goals, in contrast with the highly standardised methods of industrial agriculture and the rigorous certifications of organic farming.
The article raises a fundamental concern—which we share—about the potential for greenwashing resulting from the lack of a clear definition or standardised certification.
This will undoubtedly lead to more misrepresentation as the sector continues gaining popularity and expanding. Regenerative agriculture is nothing new, a point that is often overlooked. As we frequently remind our investors, people have farmed within the limits of nature for millennia, and entire civilisations have collapsed when they ignored those natural constraints.
Conceptually, regenerative agriculture is at odds with the industrial-scale model that dominates the production of commodities such as soybean, corn, and beef in Brazil. But even there, regenerative practices are gaining ground as the broader agriculture sector recognises the unsustainability of conventional methods and the substantial productivity gains that can be had with regenerative farming.
The article also provides insights from discussions with producers, investors, researchers, and consultants. Subjects range from the coexistence of regenerative and conventional agriculture to the challenges ahead for wider adoption—topics very much in line with what we focus on at The Land Group.
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