WE ENVISION AN INDIA...

 

Creating a unified science-based definition for regenerative agriculture that appropriately weighs inputs from both scientific and social sectors requires cross-sector exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. Several existing innovations are yet to be implemented at scale in the Indian context. In addition, these innovations do not fully consider users’ needs or institutional arrangements among suppliers, farmers, innovators, and other stakeholders. We need human and ecosystem-centered design approaches to offer innovative financing mechanisms, re-imagination of extension services, institutional and policy changes, and technological innovation for scaling regenerative agriculture. 

 

We need an integrated definition for regenerative agriculture in India that incorporates ecosystem services and climate, crop advisories, ecosystem-based technologies, the role of livestock, and the resilience of community livelihoods. Such a united definition can be used to develop implementation protocols and impact assessments for farmers, community organizations, and governments. Existing innovations in agricultural institutions, financing mechanisms, and service delivery should be synergized with traditional systems and knowledge to validate, adapt, and scale this new definition of agriculture across India through evidence-based practices. In parallel, long-term data collection through sustained research efforts in strategic agroecological zones should account for the future impacts of climate change on agriculture. Such research should also explore the efficacy of the developed practices on yields, crop health management, nutrition intensity, soil conservation, climate change mitigation, and ecosystem services. This approach can then be used to develop context and region-specific standards.