Regenerative agriculture: Putting the soil first

Climate change and adaptation to extreme weather events, a growing world population, and dwindling natural resources, as well as food security within planetary boundaries, are the challenges that regenerative agriculture aims to address. This relatively new concept prioritizes soil health, although a universally binding definition is not yet established.

A brief overview of the central principles of regenerative agriculture:

The Five Principles of Regenerative Agriculture:

Principle 1: Minimize soil disturbance

Minimizing soil disturbance prevents erosion and soil degradation, preserving the soil's capacity to absorb and store water.

Principle 2: Maintain permanent ground cover

Maintaining permanent ground cover with plant residues and/or plant stands protects the soil from direct sunlight, wind, and water erosion, and enhances soil life by providing more food for micro- and macro-organisms.

Principle 3: Practice diverse cropping

Diverse crop rotations help maintain and restore soil fertility, improve soil structure, and enhance plant resistance to disease.

Principle 4: Keep living roots in the ground year-round

The diversity of plants and their root systems significantly contributes to humus formation through root exudation. Intercropping is a key strategy for maintaining year-round root activity in the soil.

Principle 5: Integrate livestock

Livestock are integrated into the farming system in a manner that closes nutrient cycles, promotes soil life, and ideally enhances animal welfare through managed grazing.

DLG compact 02/24 on regenerative agriculture is currently available in German.

Stefanie Pionke, DLG Editorial Team