As social and political instability escalates globally, agriculture finds itself at the forefront of mounting challenges. With disruptions from unstable trade partners and environmental threats such as floods and droughts, the need for urgent agricultural reform has never been more pressing. The timeline set by initiatives like the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture and the European Board on Agriculture and Food, which convened earlier this month, may be too slow to address the immediate demands of the sector.
To accelerate change, the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), a farmer-led initiative, is driving a crucial dialogue among food companies, scientists, policymakers, and civil society. Over the next two years, in parallel with the ongoing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform process, EARA will host discussions in more than a dozen European capitals and regular sessions in Brussels. These meetings aim to assess the current state of regenerative farming, identify successful practices, and explore scalable innovations to facilitate the transition to sustainable agriculture at a grassroots level.
The core focus of EARA is to highlight the weaknesses within Europe’s agrifood system and offer concrete solutions to help farms of all sizes adopt regenerative practices. These solutions aim to enhance economic resilience and create viable opportunities for future generations to return to rural areas. Through peer-to-peer learning and policy proposals, EARA supports the shift from traditional agricultural practices to systems that work in harmony with nature.
In April 2023, EARA introduced a CAP reform proposal that calls for farm payments to be linked to measurable outcomes, such as soil health regeneration, increased farm income, and enhanced ecosystem services, rather than being decoupled from production. This proposal, which was presented in the European Parliament ahead of the EU’s food and agriculture vision launch later this month, highlights the economic and ecological benefits of regenerative farming. A pilot study shared with European Commission representatives, MEPs, food businesses, and farmers revealed that regenerative practices, including reduced reliance on synthetic inputs and tillage, can improve economic viability without compromising yields.
However, achieving widespread transition to regenerative agriculture requires more than just the efforts of individual farmers or alliances. It demands a concerted effort from all sectors, with localized, context-specific transitions supported by knowledge exchange, transition financing, and policies that facilitate these changes. Policies must focus on the results of regenerative practices—such as improved soil health and increased biodiversity—rather than simply the methods used. For this reason, discussions at both the member state level and in Brussels are essential.
In addition to CAP reform, EARA advocates for financial instruments that can further support the transition to regenerative agriculture. These instruments would serve as a safety net for farmers shifting from simplified, extractive production systems to more complex, regenerative models that benefit both ecology and local communities. Tailored insurance options could mitigate risks during the early years of transition, while restructuring the over €450 billion in farmer debt—equivalent to the food system’s annual turnover—could provide the financial flexibility needed for the transition to more resilient production systems. This approach would not only strengthen agricultural resilience to climate change but also enhance the financial stability of both the agricultural and financial sectors, offering greater certainty in an unpredictable future.
By supporting regenerative farming, Europe can build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system that benefits farmers, communities, and the environment.
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