What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture refers to farming methods and techniques designed to improve soil health, restore biodiversity and thereby reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices.
The idea is to farm in a more sustainable and responsible way whilst maintaining the balance of the three key elements: soil health, wildlife and plant life.
More broadly, regenerative agriculture goes beyond mere farming practices; it is a truly holistic approach aimed at producing food differently by moving away from products harmful to the environment, such as pesticides, fertilisers and agrochemicals.
This approach to agriculture also takes human health into account, striving to use as few chemical inputs as possible that could ultimately end up in water, food or other products such as wool.
In concrete terms, what are the methods and practices of regenerative agriculture?
Common techniques in regenerative agriculture include:
- Organic mulch
- Crop residue management
- Composting
- Cover crops
- Perennial crops
- Agroforestry
- Rotational grazing
- Minimal tillage or no-till planting
The importance of soil health
A healthy soil promotes plant health, supports the ecosystem processes on which all life depends, promotes biodiversity, healthy plants, fodder for animals, and healthy food and products from a healthy environment.
Soil therefore plays a very important role in regenerative agriculture and especially in the global carbon cycle. Soil is the world’s largest active carbon absorber. Plants take up carbon from the atmosphere, transform it into plant tissue and return it to the soil in the form of plant residues. Agricultural practices influence the amount of carbon that soils retain but also the amount of carbon that is released into the atmosphere.
The farming techniques used in regenerative agriculture improve soil health by increasing the organic matter and carbon content of the soil. With more sustainable agriculture and better soil management, soils have the potential to store much more atmospheric CO2.
A high level of carbon improves the structure of the soil and thus increases its physical stability. This in turn improves soil aeration, drainage and water retention, and reduces erosion and nutrient leaching.
Thus, regenerative agriculture fixes our soils and positively influences environmental issues such as desertification, the carbon cycle, the water cycle and mitigates climate change.
Regenerative agriculture at Segard Masurel
Regenerative agriculture is primarily aimed at South African livestock farmers combating desertification by improving the quality of the grass produced in a more sustainable way, whilst preserving the health of the soil, animal welfare and biodiversity.
Through its Abelusi+ programme, Segard Masurel supports partner Abelusi livestock farmers who ‘farm with nature’, focusing on the continuous improvement of their livestock farming and land management practices.
Cooperation with textile brands helps to strengthen the commitment of our Abelusi+ herders by recognising the systemic benefits of these regenerative practices and by helping to fund the capital investments required for these changes.
This lies at the heart of Segard Masurel’s mission: to act as a bridge between herders, the textile industry and brands.
Agriculture has a major role to play in mitigating climate change through photosynthesis and the climate-regulating role of plants. However, farming practices over the last century have severely degraded soils, releasing carbon into the atmosphere, increasing energy dependence and reducing the quality of produce.
Regenerative agriculture offers a sustainable and effective model: it restores soils, reduces environmental impact, and improves the quality and value of produce.
Segard Masurel, alongside its partner clients, therefore views regenerative agriculture not only as a response to climate challenges, but also as a long-term investment in the health of soils, ecosystems and the people who live there.
