Time to scale up regenerative agriculture

(Second of two parts)

THERE is a growing movement to scale up regenerative generation in the Philippines and globally, and we should see that as a very exciting development.

In the international scene, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has initiated the One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), which is “an international, crosssectoral and action-oriented business coalition on biodiversity with a specific focus on regenerative agriculture,” according to the OP2B website.

The WBCSD counts at least 225 leading businesses that have come together to tackle the issue of climate change.

“Our members push the boundaries of what businesses can achieve by taking action to limit the climate crisis, restore nature, and tackle inequality. So that all people can thrive in a way that’s sustainable for our planet — by 2050,” the WBCSD said on its website.

So, we can say OP2B is taking the lead globally to scale up regenerative agriculture and is using a collaborative-based approach based on science for that purpose. OP2B said it has members with a presence in every level of the agricultural value chain across multiple sectors, and these companies are working together in a pre-competitive environment to create positive outcomes for society, nature and biodiversity for almost all stakeholders.

The movement clearly stated on its website that the current system of producing food has been primarily focused on increasing yields through the use of harmful inputs.

Hence, OP2B partners with farming groups, the scientific community and civil society to develop a proposed Regenerative Agriculture Framework with a set of objectives and impact indicators and a process to assess and measure impact.

“Through our Regenerative Agriculture Framework, we are assisting in the transition and scale-up of regenerative agricultural practices on a global level. We support companies in this transition by helping prioritize actions, establishing baseline targets, and identifying key measurements to report and track,” the movement said.

The need to move further forward regenerative agricultural practices and systems was amplified during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023.

During the event, heads of states agreed that the global agriculture and food system must adapt and transform to respond to the challenges presented by climate change.

Specifically, the heads of states made a declaration “to work collaboratively and expeditiously to pursue the following objectives,” which are:

– Scaling up adaptation and resilience activities

– Promoting food security and nutrition

– Supporting workers in agriculture and food systems

– Strengthening the integrated management of water in agriculture and food systems at all levels

– Maximizing the climate and environmental benefits while containing and reducing harmful impacts associated with agriculture and food systems.

The participants in COP28 have set 2030 as the year to attain the aforementioned objectives, and this needs concerted action.

Local initiatives

In the Philippines, there are private sector companies contributing significantly to the gradual shift to regenerative agriculture. Among them are Nestle Philippines and Unilever Philippines.

Through its Nescafé Plan program, Nestlé PH is working closely with coffee farmers and their communities with the cooperation of national and local governments, development agencies, and other partners to push forward a comprehensive regenerative agriculture model.

The model being pushed and promoted by Nestlé PH is aimed at protecting the three key resources required for growing food: soil, water and biodiversity. Hence, the company shares Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in coffee production with farmers and introduces them to regenerative farming principles.

By setting a goal of mitigating the impacts of agriculture on the environment and helping ensure food security, Nestlé is adhering to a global Net Zero Roadmap and is aiming to source 20 percent of its key ingredients from regenerative agriculture methods by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030.

For its part, Unilever has developed its regenerative agriculture principles that aim to help farmers in Southeast Asia regenerate their lands throughout its supply chain. Also, the company aims to make its farmer-partners resilient and able to grow ingredients using practices that are in harmony with nature.

A good example of that is Unilever PH assisting Filipino “sampalok” farmers in integrating sustainability principles into their operations. Over 800 smallholder sampalok farmers and their farmers have so far benefited from this initiative.

It was in 2020 when Unilever announced its expanded Future Foods Ambition aimed at helping consumers transition toward healthier diets and helping reduce the environmental impact of agriculture on the global food chain.

So, what should our future farms look like as we shift to regenerative agriculture? My answer is our farms should also take good care of us and our planet and feed humanity within the environmental limits of the Earth.

And how do we get there? First, we must define the research priorities and agenda in agriculture and fisheries to distribute resources sustainably and enhance regenerative agriculture practices.

And second, now is the time to scale up the proven practices of regenerative agriculture.