As of but, regenerative agriculture has no authorized definition at an EU-level. FOLU, in a report launched in January, instructed that this might result in greenwashing considerations.
Nonetheless, the SAI launched a definition final month as a part of its ‘Regenerating Collectively’ program. “SAI Platform defines regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based farming method that protects and improves soil well being, biodiversity, local weather, and water assets whereas supporting farming enterprise growth,” Domink Klauser, Director of Regenerative Agriculture at SAI Platform, instructed FoodNavigator on the time.
General, FOLU is optimistic concerning the definition. “SAI’s definition advocates for an outcomes-based – slightly than a practice-based – definition of regenerative agriculture. That is very a lot aligned with FOLU’s method and will enhance readability amongst {industry},” Theodora Ewer, Program Supervisor for regenerative agriculture scaling programme Regen10 at FOLU, instructed us.
Nonetheless, she certified her statements. “SAI’s definition focusses on the biophysical/environmental outcomes of regenerative agriculture. Whereas these are important, we see environmental outcomes as just one a part of the regenerative story. To make sure a holistic transformation in direction of regeneration, we imagine farmers, panorama stage actors, and personal sector actors might want to additionally guarantee a concentrate on social-cultural and financial outcomes as effectively.”
Whereas the definition just isn’t enshrined in legislation, it’s, instructed Ewer, a ‘step in the correct course.’
“It urges {industry} to push for outcome-level change, slightly than modifications in apply,” she instructed us. “The SAI framework identifies biophysical and environmental outcomes of regenerative agriculture on the farm gate. To assist producers keep away from greenwashing, FOLU advocates for environmental outcomes to be included alongside socio-cultural and financial outcomes at farm, panorama and world ranges.
“SAI’s framework is more likely to have a optimistic impression,” she continued. “The framework has additionally rigorously thought-about the biophysical dimensions of regenerative agriculture. To keep away from unintended penalties and have a larger optimistic impact in rising uptake of regenerative agriculture we might urge integration of socio-cultural outcomes.”
Collaboration
In addition to offering a definition of regenerative agriculture, SAI’s framework additionally contains collaboration with farmers and teachers. Ewer believes that collaboration with different curiosity teams is essential in any industry-based definition of regenerative agriculture.
“Any framework developed by {industry} must also be cautious of taking a top-down method by being certain to combine the voices and experiences of farmers and indigenous teams in an effort to scale utility of regenerative agriculture efficiently,” she instructed us. “Trade leaders ought to push for an aligned outcomes-based definition, nonetheless this can’t be developed by {industry} alone.”
