Healthy soil is one of agriculture’s most valuable climate assets. A 2022 report from the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council examined regenerative agriculture as a route to improve soil function, biodiversity and resilience while contributing to climate goals.
Why soil matters
Food systems account for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from land conversion, fertiliser, livestock, energy and supply chains. Agricultural soils can lose carbon when they are left bare, heavily disturbed or eroded. They can also regain organic matter when management supports living roots, plant diversity and biological activity.
The report discusses practices including diverse rotations, cover crops, reduced disturbance, organic amendments, agroforestry and carefully managed grazing. These can improve aggregation, infiltration, nutrient cycling and habitat. The combination matters: regenerative agriculture is best understood as a management direction guided by outcomes, rather than a single practice or label.
Carbon is important, but it is not the only test
Soil carbon gains can be difficult to measure, may slow as a soil approaches a new balance and can be reversed by drought, fire or a later change in management. Results vary with climate, soil type, starting condition and sampling method. That makes cautious claims and long-term monitoring essential.
The broader benefits may be just as significant. Better water infiltration, reduced erosion, more diverse habitat and lower dependence on vulnerable inputs can strengthen a farm even where carbon gains are modest.
The practical message is to measure soil health over time and evaluate climate claims alongside productivity, biodiversity, water and farm economics. Healthy soil is a foundation for resilience, not a shortcut that removes the need to cut emissions elsewhere.
Read the EASAC report on regenerative agriculture and the related article.