“Regenerative agriculture is not a new approach,” explains Sonja Tschirren, Senior Advisor for Climate Change at SWISSAID and co-author of the publication, at the start of the webinar. As its name suggests, the approach aims to regenerate soils and restore biodiversity.
Its main principles are very similar to those of agroecology, such as crop rotation and diversity, improving soil health and avoiding chemical inputs. It also should provide nutritious food and enable individual farmers to improve their livelihoods. In other words, regenerative agriculture can help combat climate change and solve the global food crisis.
Effective, but without a clear definition
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém (COP30), which begins on 10 November 2025, sustainable agricultural systems will be at the heart of the discussions. “Regenerative agriculture has an important role to play,” says Sonja Tschirren, who points out that conventional agriculture is partly responsible for the global biodiversity loss. However, if governments and businesses want to invest in this approach, they need to know what it entails, the expert emphasises.
In recent years, regenerative agriculture has been gaining popularity. Businesses, NGOs and governments frequently refer to it in their sustainable development strategies. However, there is no standardised definition, leaving considerable room for interpretation. The webinar provided an opportunity to discuss the issue in light of the findings published in a new report focusing on the cocoa and coffee sectors in Ivory Coast, Kenya and Uganda. These sectors are central to regenerative agriculture projects and play a key role for several Swiss companies.
The publication titled “The Role of Regenerative Agriculture in Achieving Climate-Resilient Food Systems” was presented by Heitor Mancini Teixeira, co-author and professor in the Department of Soil Science at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil. Based on interviews with businesses and civil society organisations, the findings are clear: there is a lack of clear definitions, transparent monitoring and fair conditions for farmers.
Yet regenerative agriculture has proven its effectiveness. “Regenerative practices such as agroforestry are capable of storing carbon and therefore have a positive impact on climate change. But the problem lies in evaluating these systems. It is difficult to measure the results achieved against the objectives set,” explained Professor Heitor Mancini Teixeira.
