Nachhaltigkeit in der Landwirtschaft
Wirtschaftlichkeit und Klimaschutz – die Zukunft des Agrar- und Lebensmittelsektors mit unseren Expert:innen aktiv gestallten.
Your expert for questions
Andree Simon Gerken
Partner, Agriculture and Climate Protection, Sustainability Services at PwC Germany
Tel: +49 151 64530740
Email
Environmental and economic added value in food production
Agriculture is facing major challenges. 8% of Germany’s CO2 emissions are attributable to the agricultural sector – and worldwide, this figure is at 15%. Regenerative agriculture offers solutions to many of the problems associated with these emissions: using regenerative practices, farmers can not only promote soil fertility and biodiversity, but also put themselves on a secure financial footing.
“The introduction of regenerative practices pays off equally in terms of environmental and economic indicators. Agricultural businesses can thus boost their resilience while also making an important contribution to climate action.”
Our guide at a glance
Many farmers are hesitant to adopt regenerative practices because they are often not clearly defined and require significant initial investment. Additional hurdles include economic uncertainty and the amount of work required to make the changeover. Nevertheless, our analyses show that the long-term benefits – such as improved soil health and reduced operating costs – justify the investment.
The Practical Guide to Regenerative Agriculture is based on a detailed simulation and analysis of measures on a model arable farm. The environmental and economic effects of regenerative practices were simulated and evaluated over a period of six years. The results serve as a guide for other farms and illustrate how regenerative practices can help make agricultural production more sustainable.
Profitability and sustainability in harmony
The analysis shows that farmers can increase their profits in the long term by using regenerative practices. This is due to factors such as reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides and improved soil health. In our example, the use of catch crops and undersowing led to a 7% increase in winter wheat yield. At the same time, natural nitrogen fixation enabled the costs of mineral fertilisers to be reduced.
In addition, our model farm was able to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions – implementation of regenerative practices led to around 30% lower agricultural emissions (FLAG emissions). This is made possible by a combination of reduced tillage, catch crop cultivation and use of legumes, which improve the nitrogen cycle and reduce nitrous oxide emissions.
Download now
Practical Guide Regenerative Agriculture
Cooperation is the key to success
The study shows that successful implementation of regenerative practices requires cooperation throughout the value chain – from farmers, to the processing industry, to food retailers. External service providers can provide support by offering financial incentives, imparting knowledge and supporting implementation. Acceptance and efficiency of sustainable approaches can be increased through long-term partnerships and direct communication. Our practical guide illustrates that close cooperation between all players creates both environmental and economic benefits.
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture aims to conserve and enhance natural resources. At its core, it’s all about promoting soil health, increasing biodiversity, and increasing the resilience of agricultural systems to the impacts of climate change. Regenerative practices include a variety of measures that help regenerate soil and maximise carbon sequestration. These include avoiding intensive tillage, growing catch crops, using cover crops, undersowing, and integrating livestock into arable farming systems.
Securing soil fertility and increasing carbon sequestration
Increasing soil organic matter, particularly by building humus, is a central principle of regenerative agriculture. Humus is crucial for soil fertility as it stores nutrients, improves water holding capacity and stabilises soil structure. By promoting humus formation, farmers can secure soil fertility in the long term while increasing carbon sequestration in the soil, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Another important element of regenerative agriculture is promoting biodiversity. This is achieved by growing a variety of plant species that have different root depths and need different nutrients. This diversity helps to reduce pests and diseases, improve soil structure, and optimise nutrient cycling. It also promotes biological activity in the soil, which in turn helps improve the health of the entire ecosystem.
The five basic principles of regenerative agriculture
- Soil cover
- Permanent rooting
- Promoting biodiversity
- Minimal soil disturbance
- Integration of livestock farming
Soil cover
The soil should be covered by plants or mulch at all times. This protects it from erosion, retains moisture and promotes biological activity in the soil. Permanent soil cover also helps regulate soil temperature and suppress weed growth.
“Regenerative agriculture creates a sustainable foundation for the processing industry and food retailers, which benefit from a stable, high-quality supply of raw materials just as much as consumers.”
Andree Simon Gerken,Agriculture and Climate Protection Partner, Sustainability Consulting, PwC GermanyDownload now
Practical Guide to Regenerative Agriculture
Any questions?
Contact our experts
Methodology
To illustrate regenerative methods in practice, we analysed the changes using an example farm – a model arable farm in Germany. We simulated the use of regenerative agricultural practices over a period of six years in order to quantify their environmental and economic impacts. Six farmers and four representatives of the food retail industry were also interviewed, with a view to relating our example to the real-world experiences of relevant players.
Related content
EUDR – European Deforestation Regulation
EUDR – “EU Deforestation Regulation” protects forests by banning the sale and import of forest-damaging products. What this means for your company.
Water Resilience Transformation
A holistic approach combining Water Impact Valuation and Management of Water Risks & Opportunities to support client’s steering on Water Resilience strategy & reporting.
Biodiversity Strategy Consulting & Risk Integration
Der Verlust an Biodiversität hat gravierende Folgen – auch finanzieller Art. Wie Unternehmen richtig gegensteuern, lesen Sie hier.
Follow us
