Ecosystems & Pathways
Regenerative agriculture
A set of farming practices aimed at improving soil health, often promoted for carbon and resilience benefits.
Practices include reduced tillage, cover cropping, diversified rotations, compost application and managed grazing. Claims often bundle soil carbon with yield stability, water retention and biodiversity.
The carbon case is plausible but demanding to prove, since soil carbon varies spatially and responds slowly. Programmes that credit it must invest in baseline sampling and repeat measurement rather than relying on model defaults alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is soil carbon gain permanent?
No. It reverses if practices are abandoned, so crediting usually requires ongoing commitment.
Can remote sensing verify it?
Not directly. It supports stratification and covariates; direct soil sampling remains necessary.