Regenerative agriculture must ‘pay dividends’ on yields and livelihoods to increase farmer adoption, says survey

Nearly all farmers surveyed have taken steps to implement regenerative agriculture practices into their operations, according to a new study. However, types of practices, the skill levels and equipment to do them, and even the definition of “regenerative agriculture” vary widely from one region to the next.

Research firm Kynetec, on behalf of Bayer, independently conducted the 2024 Farmer Voice Survey (PDF), which polled 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Ukraine and the United States.

“Many farmers expect regenerative agriculture to have a positive impact on the future, both in terms of sustainability and productivity,” notes the report.

At the same time, they “expect regenerative agriculture to also enhance productivity and livelihoods.”

“They want regenerative practices to pay dividends for their operations, especially in terms of soil health, higher yields and productivity, and their livelihoods.”

The transition to regen ag ‘has already begun’

Farmers are generally positive about regenerative agriculture, a concept largely associated with soil health and sustainability; “nearly all farmers worldwide” have already taken steps to farm regeneratively, claims the report.

“Many of us are using regen ag principles in some way, shape, or form … it is a means of improving our sustainability and profitability,” noted one farmer from Australia quoted in the report.

Another farmer from the US said regenerative agriculture was simply “what every good farmer has been doing for a long time now.”

Some cited in a broader definition for the term that acknowledges the ancient roots of regenerative agriculture practices. Farmers in India (interviewed in a separate survey for the report), said: “The virtues of regenerative agriculture include soil protection, water conservation, soil conservation, and adherence to traditional methods.”

Across the board barriers to adoption remain, the top ones being finances and upskilling.

The question of who finances the transition to regenerative agriculture is frequently asked nowadays. Answers and efforts vary, and include participation from agrifood corporates, speciality finance shops, nonprofits, and others.

Those regenerative practices that require the least upskilling were among the most used by farmers in Bayer’s survey.

Crop rotation (76%), maintaining soil fertility (69%), soil health monitoring/testing (57%), and reduced tillage or no tillage (55%) were the top practices.

The least widespread practices included wastewater treatment (15%), using machinery powered by renewable energy (10%), and participating in carbon farming (9%).

Farmers already feeling impacts of climate change

The findings arrive as the majority (75%) of farmers report they are impacted by climate change or concerned about its impacts. Six in 10 of those surveyed say they have “already experienced significant revenue loss due to weather events out of the norm” recently, while most — 71% — cite reduced yields as the major worry when it comes to climate change.

Growers cite drought episodes (62%), long periods of high temperatures (55%), and episodes of high temperatures (54%) as the top three severe weather events that have increased in the last few years.

Changes from one extreme to another in a short time period were also high on the list.

“As part of the solution, farmers count on innovation,” notes the report, which also says 75% of farmers “are open to implementing new technologies to better cope with climate change.”

Innovations in crop protections ‘most beneficial’ to farmers

Farmers ranked innovations in crop protection and innovations with seeds and traits as most beneficial, at 41% and 36%, respectively. Another 36% ranked “regulatory and policy changes” as another top-3 benefit for the future.

The next most-important solutions were “better access to finance” (27%), “access to comprehensive agronomy knowledge” (23%), and “integrated solutions across the farm” (23%).

Just 17% said access to better digital technologies was an important innovation, while 12% cited more development of GMOs and genetic technology.

Investment requirements, skill gaps, and availability are the biggest barriers to digital adoption, according to the report.