Regenerative agriculture works: 5 key insights from the new EARA study
Some call it a return to the past. But then come the numbers.
The latest report from EARA – European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture leaves no room for doubt: regenerative agriculture is not just a sustainable alternative—it’s a viable, advantageous, and urgently relevant production model.
In a European context under pressure from climate, geopolitical, and energy crises, EARA analyzed 78 regenerative farms across 14 European countries, covering over 7,000 hectares. And the results speak for themselves.
Fewer inputs, comparable yields
Between 2020 and 2023, the regenerative farms surveyed achieved yields only slightly lower (–2%) than conventional farms—yet with a dramatic reduction in input use:
– 62% less synthetic nitrogen fertilizers
– 76% fewer pesticides (measured in grams of active ingredient per hectare)
This shows that efficiency and resilience depend not on quantity, but on the quality of practices.
Local feed, more autonomous systems
While the European average relies on over 30% imported livestock feed, regenerative farms are able to feed their animals using local resources within their biogeographic region. This reduces environmental impact, logistics costs, and vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.
More biodiversity, more photosynthesis, more ground cover
From 2019 to 2024, regenerative fields recorded:
+24% photosynthesis
+23% vegetative cover
+17% plant species diversity compared to nearby conventional farms
These three parameters are essential for ensuring ecosystem services like soil fertility, local climate regulation, and overall ecosystem health.
A new metric: the RFP Index
The study introduces a new multidimensional metric: Regenerating Full Productivity (RFP).
This index measures regenerative productivity by factoring in:
- Crop yields
- Soil health
- Biodiversity
- Economic performance
Designed as a practical tool, it also has potential use in policy-making, helping shift agricultural strategies toward measurable outcomes.
Cooler soils, greater climate resilience
During summer months, regenerative agricultural fields showed an average surface temperature 0.3°C lower than surrounding conventional ecosystems.
Moreover, widespread adoption of regenerative practices could reduce up to 141.3 million tons of CO₂ equivalent per year—equal to 84% of the EU agricultural sector’s net emissions.
Regeneration isn’t just a hope. It’s a concrete choice.
The EARA report isn’t a vision of the future—it’s a snapshot of the present.
The farms involved prove that another model is not only possible but already active across many parts of Europe.
An agriculture that produces food, restores soil, sequesters carbon, and fosters biodiversity. No longer extracting resources, but giving them back.
