Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is essentially a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. It focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting biosequestration, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil.
There are a number of useful websites that can help farmers explore what regenerative agriculture may mean for them.
RegenWA
RegenWA comprises of the West Australian Regenerative Farmers Network which identifies and supports the adoption of on-farm sustainability practices.
RegenFarmers
Regenerative Australian Farmers (RAF) is a leading facilitator for integrated agricultural solutions to build and monetise soil organic carbon, soil health and rural prosperity.
Marketing Opportunities
Regenerative Agriculture - Marketing Opportunity or Not?
The principles of regenerative agriculture may lead to marketing opportunities for producers, but this will need exploration. Over recent years there has been a growing demand for unique and innovative food products including “Local Origin” products as consumers have become more interested in who, how and where their food is produced, including produce that comes from regenerative agricultural systems. Regenerative agriculture farming management aims to restore landscapes function and deliver suitable production, improved natural resources base, healthy nutrient cycling, increased biodiversity and resilience to change. The South Coast region has the potential to turn some of these food and beverages into iconic products and effective marketing is a critical component in every successful food and beverage business. But in most cases the key factors in developing marketing messages to realise the market potential of these products, especially products from regenerative agriculture systems are not addressed enough.
As a result of this demand, on Friday 7th June 2019, South Coast Natural Resource Management held a half day workshop at Oranje Tractor Wine in Albany as part of an initiative to evaluate the marketing opportunities for regenerative agriculture in the Great Southern Region.