How do we define regenerative agriculture?
In the third meeting of the year for the Task Force Brazil, experts in regenerative agriculture presented various conceptual and technical proposals that encompass this agricultural practice, and analyzed the challenges and opportunities for Brazilian producers within this context.
On October 23, Brazil celebrated National No-Till Farming Day. On this day, the Task Force Brazil meeting, organized by the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), took place online. 50 representatives from member organizations and RTRS-certified producers attended to discuss regenerative agriculture and reach a comprehensive understanding of this critical theme.
Luisa Bruscato, Global Executive Director of RTRS and moderator of the meeting, commented: “Regenerative agriculture plays a fundamental role in climate mitigation and adaptation, and many of these practices are included in the RTRS standard. Therefore, we consider it essential to continue expanding our understanding of its key concepts. In addition, we believe that the contributions of the participants in the Task Force Brazil in this regard will enrich the development of our project for a system of regenerative incentives, accelerating the transition to regenerative soybean production.”
The first part of the meeting consisted of a presentation by Prof. Dr. João Carlos de Moraes Sá, Senior Researcher at the Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration (CFAES) and Advisor to the Brazilian Federation of No-Till Farming (FEBRAPDP). He explained how carbon farming, combined with no-till farming, functions as an environmental regeneration strategy.
Moraes Sá’s presentation provided a thorough definition of carbon farming as one that maximizes the accumulation of carbon fixed by cultivated plants during photosynthesis. He explained the importance of calculating the soil carbon balance, highlighted carbon losses in the soil due to agricultural conversion, and explained how the no-till farming system represents a carbon recovery strategy based on three pillars: no soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation diversity.
“To regenerate is to reinvent, rethink, rebuild, recycle, revitalize, reconnect, reorient, revalue, and reactivate. By combining all these ‘re-’ actions, we preserve and maintain soil life, which is life for future generations,” emphasized Prof. Dr. João Carlos de Moraes Sá. He concluded his presentation by noting the productivity gains achieved by producers who have been implementing the No-Till Farming System for years, leading to organic matter and carbon fixation in the soil.
Next, Dr. Paula Packer, Head of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) Environment, spoke about the importance of public policies in transforming global realities through regenerative agriculture.
As part of her presentation, she said: “The current global agricultural challenge is to increase food production without increasing negative environmental impacts. Addressing these challenges requires a systemic approach that manages complexities sustainably, responsibly, and ethically.”
She highlighted that Brazil has unique potential and is already making progress with technology transformations toward regenerative agriculture. According to Packer, the main challenges of regenerative agriculture in Brazil include contextualizing tropical agriculture, defining metrics and criteria for the regenerative production system, and creating regulations for regenerative agriculture in the country.
To conclude the presentations, Niki Van der Steenstraten and Joost Baker, sustainability consultants at NewForesight, who support RTRS and are involved in the “Regenerative Incentives” project funded by the ISEAL Fund, shared the project’s key actions, collaborative participants, and the expected stages and outcomes.
The project entails “Developing and constructing a Regenerative Incentives System (RIS) for soy, with potential to expand to other crops.” The RIS aims to promote the adoption of regenerative practices within the soy sector. Joost Baker highlighted, “What we are creating is a way to reward sustainable practices by producers and at the same time encourage adopters from different sectors, various countries, and investors to invest in regenerative agricultural practices and the transition.”
The meeting concluded with an interactive activity, where RTRS invited participants, divided into five working groups, to share their contributions, suggestions, and questions. These interactions were crucial in gathering valuable insights that will contribute to the development of the Regenerative Incentives System project. We are grateful for the active participation of everyone involved, which strengthens our dialogue and reinforces our commitment to creating a local connection space where all voices are heard and considered in strategic decisions.
