Regenerative Agric-technology is the future of farming. Over the last few decades, the green revolution has been successful in feeding the world’s rapidly expanding population, but it has also reduced biodiversity, depleted the soil, and accelerated climate change.
One way to mitigate these environmental crises is through Regenerative agriculture (RA). RA is a sustainable food production system focused on nurturing and soil health, preserving the climate, water resources, and biodiversity. When combined with Agritech, which refers to agricultural technology that streamlines and automates farming processes, we have regenerative agricultural technology practices.
These practices comprise a range of techniques, supported by innovative technologies, which can combat the challenges caused by climate change by restoring the health of soil and protecting the land’s ecosystem.
Traditionally, the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “modern technologies” is computer hardware and software. However, digital technology, robots, autonomous equipment, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics are additional examples of technology used in agriculture.
Now poor soil shouldn’t be an excuse for worrying about poor crop quality any longer. With regenerative Agritech practices, you can boost your profits while simultaneously improving the soil. In this article, we will discuss some of these practices, and their advantages for crops, soils, the environment, and the economy.
Environmental Challenges of Conventional Agriculture
It’s critical to recognise the harm that conventional agriculture has created to appreciate the benefits of regenerative Agritech practices.
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To feed the expanding population, an increasing amount of land was converted to agriculture between 1950 and 1980. However, this expansion of agriculture resulted in significant environmental issues. The total forest area fell by 3% from 4,128 million hectares to 3,999 million hectares between 1990 and 2015, with agriculture as the primary cause.
Currently, agriculture uses roughly 70% of freshwater, mainly through irrigation in many areas. Reactive nitrogen levels have increased by up to 600% due to synthetic fertilisers. Despite a considerable increase in agricultural output due to conventional agricultural practices, there have been drawbacks. Let’s look at some of them:
4 Major Problems Caused By Conventional Agriculture
1. Land Degradation
Healthy topsoil is disappearing from our planet at a startling rate. Up to 90% of the world’s topsoil might disappear by 2050, according to UN warnings. Our food supply would be severely disrupted by this, yet agriculture is a major cause of the issue. Among the ways that traditional agriculture has contributed to this soul degradation are:
- Excessive Use of Chemicals: The depletion of soil is increased by the pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture. “Applying chemical fertilisers and pesticides decreases soil pH and increases reactive nitrogen in the soil,” according to Frontiers in Soil Science. This decreases microbial biomes, increases the demand for fertilisers, and further increases greenhouse gas emissions.
- Erosion: This is the washing away of the top layer of the soil. Due to climate irregularities and poor irrigation systems, many useful lands have been subject to wind and water erosion. This topsoil, rich in nutrients and organic matter, washes away, reducing the land’s fertility and productivity.
- Deforestation: “Agricultural production is the primary cause of habitat destruction and accounts for 80% of global deforestation,” according to Greenpeace. Cattle, palm oil, wood, and soy are the agricultural items most directly linked to this land use issue. Even though a large number of the biggest violators promised in 2010 to cease deforestation by 2020, the issue still exists. The tropical regions see 90–99% of deforestation that is cleared for farming. However, according to the World Economic Forum, approximately 45–60% of it is used for production. Many land-clearing operations fail or are abandoned thereafter.
2. Water Pollution
Conventional agriculture is a major culprit behind water pollution. Here’s how it happens:
- Overuse of Water Resources: Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater globally, accounting for about 70% of withdrawals. This excessive use puts a strain on freshwater resources, leading to water scarcity in many regions.
- Chemical Runoff: Fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides used in conventional agriculture don’t get absorbed entirely by crops. Instead, they often leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater supplies. This contaminated water can then flow into rivers, lakes, and ultimately, the oceans.
- Impact on Aquatic Life and Human Health: The presence of these chemicals in water bodies has devastating consequences. Pesticides can harm fish and other aquatic life, disrupt ecosystems, and create dead zones devoid of oxygen. Nitrate pollution from fertilisers can contaminate drinking water supplies, posing health risks to humans, especially infants.
3. Climate Change
Agricultural activities significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, a major driver of climate change. The most common ways agriculture has contributed to greenhouse emissions include:
- Nitrous Oxide Emissions: The excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers leads to the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas 300 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. These emissions contribute to global warming and disrupt the Earth’s climate patterns.
- Fossil Fuel Reliance: Agricultural machinery and equipment often rely on fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline for operation. The burning of these fuels releases carbon dioxide, another major greenhouse gas, further accelerating climate change.
4. Biodiversity Loss
The loss of biodiversity is another consequence of the practices associated with conventional agriculture. Here is how:
- Habitat Destruction: Deforestation to clear land for agriculture destroys wildlife habitats and disrupts ecosystems. This loss of habitat forces animals to relocate or face extinction.
- Pesticide Use and Impact on Pollinators: Pesticides used to control insects in agriculture often harm beneficial insects as well. This includes pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other creatures crucial for plant reproduction. The decline of pollinator populations poses a significant threat to food security, as many crops rely on these insects for fertilization.
- Ocean Dead Zones: Excessive fertiliser runoff from agricultural lands has reached coastal waters and triggered the formation of dead zones. These areas lack sufficient oxygen to support marine life due to algal blooms fueled by the excess nutrients. Dead zones disrupt entire marine ecosystems and threaten fish populations.
Core Principles of Regenerative Agritech
The integration of Agritech in regenerative agriculture combines technological advancements with sustainable farming practices. Technologies like soil sensors, AI, and drones help monitor and improve soil health, optimise water usage, and enhance biodiversity. This synergy aims to create resilient farming systems that contribute to environmental restoration and climate change mitigation. Some of the core principles of regenerative Agritech include:
+ Minimise Soil Disturbance: This includes reducing or discarding tillage to keep soil shape and protect from erosion. Instead, farmers use specialised gadgets to plant seeds directly into the soil, while retaining nutrients and lowering soil vulnerability to wind and water erosion.
+ Maximise Biodiversity: This principle aims to increase biodiversity by integrating flora and animals in the farm surroundings. Techniques encompass cover crops, rotation cropping, and integrating cattle grazing to get natural fertiliser and decrease chemical inputs.
+ Keep the Soil Covered: This principle emphasises the significance of keeping the soil protected with plants for as long as possible. This boosts soil health, protects from erosion, and supports useful microbial activity.
+ Reduce Chemical Inputs: Regenerative agriculture seeks to reduce utilizing chemical inputs that can harm soil fertility, lessen biodiversity, and increase CO2 emissions. Instead, farmers are cognizant of operating with nature through the use of natural strategies and integrating plants and animals to maintain ecosystem balance.
Regenerative Agritech Practices
Now we know the core principles of regenerative agriculture. Here are 4 Regenerative Agitech practices:
1. Precision Agriculture
Precision farming based on data is an essential component of regenerative agriculture. Utilising digital tools such as soil-scanning sensors, farmers now can generate comprehensive field maps and customise fertiliser and resource applications. Modern sensors, drones, and satellite photos have made it possible for farmers to gather comprehensive information about crop health, moisture content, and soil conditions. This abundance of data aids the accurate application of pesticides, fertilisers, and water, and it also optimises resource allocation.
This results in the use of only the ideal quantity and kind of product required for a crop to yield well. Contrary to conventional farming practices, which frequently result in waste and overuse, precision farming ensures that these vital resources are applied only where and when they are needed.
2. Precise farm management and monitoring systems
As regenerative agriculture develops, technology is influencing not just our farming practices but also our ability to monitor and oversee them. Farm management systems(FMS) are intelligent systems that use data-driven insights supported by state-of-the-art software, allowing for ongoing monitoring of biodiversity, soil quality, and other ecological metrics. This helps farmers track progress towards regenerative goals and quickly pinpoint areas for improvement while streamlining activities
These systems provide an extensive picture of the ecological footprint of the farm by monitoring critical parameters like carbon sequestration, water quality, and habitat diversity. This real-time monitoring enables adaptive management techniques, making it more than just an administrative tool.
3. Integration of Livestock
Cows, goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs are walking bioreactors that convert plant material into rich organic matter through manure production. Integrating livestock into crop production has several advantages, including increased fertility and improved soil structure. To prevent overgrazing or damage to crops livestock can be fitted with smart collars or other wearables to provide real-time data on their health, location, and feeding patterns. This enables farmers to monitor animal well-being, track their movement across fields, and ensure they’re not overgrazing specific areas.
4. Data analytics and predictive modelling
Another advantage of technology in regenerative agriculture is that it provides farmers with strong data analytics tools and predictive modelling algorithms. Farmers can get useful insights by examining large amounts of data from diverse sources, such as weather patterns, past crop performance, and soil composition. This combination of information allows them to make informed decisions on critical issues like crop rotation, appropriate planting times, and nutrient management.
Predictive modelling takes it a step further, offering farmers useful insights into weather trends, projections, and potential threats. Predictive modelling is effective for controlling the complexity of agricultural operations as well as the effects of the surrounding environment, resulting in farming strategies and plans that are specific to local conditions and ecosystems. The outcome is a seamless blend of traditional knowledge with predictive intelligence, forging a balance between nature and technology that will help transition the world towards a nature-positive food system.
Benefits Of Implementing Regenerative Agritech Practices
- Improved Soil Health: Regenerative farmers use minimal mechanical soil disturbance practices, leading to improved soil health. Rather, they support subsurface biological structures that benefit us from above ground. Overall, the soil on these farms is healthier, with higher amounts of organic matter and helpful soil bacteria.
- Biodiversity Enhancement: Regenerative agriculture prioritises biodiversity through livestock and crop rotation, as well as direct assistance for wildlife variance. For example, biodiversity corridors and wild areas, which are critical components of this strategy, provide habitat for a wide range of species. This benefits both farmers and the environment since diversified farm ecosystems can better survive the effects of climate change, pests, and illnesses.
- Strengthening Food Security: agriculture may reduce its environmental impact while also defending itself from potential threats by employing regenerative agricultural strategies. This agricultural approach, particularly by prioritising diversification methods, can aid both local and global efforts to maintain food security.
- Carbon sequestration: Traditional agricultural operations degrade organic matter in the soil by bringing it to the surface, where it oxidises and emits carbon dioxide (CO2). Since the Industrial Revolution, the huge ploughing of virgin lands in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries has considerably contributed to the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. RA practices enable the removal of this excessive carbon.
Conclusion
As we face various pressing problems in the agricultural landscape, urgency and action should be our driving principles. Regenerative agriculture, fueled by technological innovation, is more than just a ray of hope; it is a practical, tangible road forward. We may achieve long-term gains today by seamlessly integrating the power of technology with the inherent capabilities of regenerative agriculture.
By investing in regenerative agriculture and integrating it with cutting-edge technology, we are not only cultivating a solution to today’s problems, but also planting the seeds for a robust, nourished, and prosperous future. It is time to embrace the regen-tech revolution!
