Soil Degradation Is Killing Our Planet, Here’s How Regenerative Agriculture Can Save It

Every second, the world loses productive land equal to four Soccer fields. Between 2015 and 2019, that added up to at least 100 million hectares of productive land degraded each year (UNCCD Data Dashboard 2022). Soil erosion compounds the crisis: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that one soccer field of soil is lost every five seconds, undercutting the very basis of food security (FAO Global Symposium on Soil Erosion 2019).

Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters

Regenerative agriculture rebuilds soil organic matter, restores on-farm biodiversity, and strengthens ecosystem resilience through practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, diverse crop rotations, integrated livestock, and agroforestry. By working with natural processes, farmers can keep yields steady, lower input costs, and buffer climate extremes.

1 Restoring Soil Health

Long-term results from the Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial demonstrate substantial gains in soil health under regenerative organic management. As the Rodale Institute reports:

“After 34 years in Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial, the organic manure system had between 18 to 21% higher soil organic carbon levels than the conventional system.”(Rodale Institute, Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution, 2020, p. 7)

Healthier soils under regenerative management also show stronger structure, improved nutrient cycling, and increased microbial activity, key factors for long-term fertility and resilience.

2 Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation

Better soil structure also locks away atmospheric carbon. The IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land concludes that scaling sustainable land-management practices, including the full suite of regenerative methods, could sequester up to about 4 gigatons of CO₂-equivalent per year this decade, about 10 percent of current global greenhouse-gas emissions (IPCC 2019, SPM B.7).

3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health

Permanent ground cover, diverse rotations, and agroforestry supply habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and soil fauna. A meta-analysis of 56 studies found that regenerative grazing increases soil macro-fauna diversity by 32 percent over conventional grazing, boosting pest-control and nutrient-cycling services (Soussana et al. 2021).

4 Water Management and Drought Resilience

Cover-cropped and no-till soils act like sponges. During the 2012 U.S. drought, plots in the Rodale Farming Systems Trial captured 15–20 percent more infiltrated water and delivered about 30 percent higher corn yields than conventionally tilled plots (Rodale Institute 2022). Greater water-holding capacity reduces runoff and sustains crops in extreme weather.

5 Healthier Food and Stronger Communities

Lower synthetic-input use means fewer pesticide residues and, in many cases, higher phytonutrient levels. A meta-analysis of 343 peer-reviewed comparisons found significantly higher antioxidant concentrations and four-times lower pesticide detections in organically managed crops, many of which employed regenerative practices (Baranski et al. 2014).

A Step Forward: CarbonRx’s RX Regenerative Agriculture Protocol

One shining example of regenerative agriculture in action is the RX Regenerative Agriculture Protocol, developed by CarbonRx. This protocol was created in partnership with Dr. Tristan Skolrud, Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources. It outlines a range of methods for crop producers in the Prairie region to use minimal tillage and improved agricultural practices to either lower emissions or increase carbon sequestration.

1. Cover Cropping and No-Till Practices

   
   

   The protocol integrates cover crops and no-till farming, two of the most effective regenerative practices for soil restoration. Cover crops prevent soil erosion, improve nutrient cycling, and help sequester carbon. No-till farming, by leaving the soil undisturbed, minimizes soil compaction, reduces carbon release, and increases water retention. Together, these practices help farmers restore soil health and improve crop yields while reducing their environmental footprint.

   
   

2. Technological Integration for Precision Agriculture

   
   

   The protocol takes full advantage of advanced technologies, such as Variable Rate Application (VRA) and Trimble Ag Sync Technology, to optimize nutrient use and improve farm efficiency. VRA allows farmers to apply fertilizers and other inputs with precision, minimizing waste and environmental harm while maximizing productivity. These technologies enable farmers to make data-driven decisions, improving the long-term sustainability of their operations while enhancing both productivity and profitability.

   
   

3. Nutrient Management and Sustainability

   
   

   By focusing on the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Framework, the protocol ensures that fertilizers are applied efficiently, reducing nutrient runoff and enhancing soil health. The protocol also incorporates practices like slow-release fertilizers, nutrient management planning, and compaction management to improve soil structure and boost carbon sequestration.

   
   

4. Economic and Environmental Benefits

   
   

   By improving soil health, farmers can increase productivity and resilience, which translates into higher yields and more sustainable farming operations. Additionally, farmers can earn carbon credits for sequestering carbon in their soil, creating an additional revenue stream while contributing to global climate goals.

Why Canada Should Lead

Canadian producers face declining soil-organic matter, more frequent droughts, and volatile fertilizer costs. A federal study estimates that regenerative practices can return Cad $20 - 60 per acre in net benefit once transition costs are recovered (AAFC 2020). Targeted incentives, tax credits for carbon-positive practices, transition grants, and solid soil-health metrics, would speed adoption nationwide.

A Regenerative Path Forward

A global shift to regenerative agriculture could:

• Sequester up to about 4 Gt CO₂-eq per year.

• Restore millions of hectares of degraded soil.

• Cut on-farm water demand during droughts by roughly one-third.

• Deliver nutrient-dense food with fewer chemical residues.

  
  

Programs such as the RX Regenerative Agriculture protocol show how science-based standards, advanced technology, and financial rewards can turn farms into carbon sinks and resilience hubs. The evidence is solid, the tools are ready, now is the time to transform the way we grow food for the benefit of people and planet.

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References

1. UNCCD (2022) Land Degradation Data Dashboard.

2. FAO (2019) Key Messages – Global Symposium on Soil Erosion.

3. Rodale Institute. (2020). Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution (p. 7).

4. IPCC (2019) Special Report on Climate Change and Land, Summary for Policymakers.

5. Soussana, J-F. et al. (2021) “Increasing Soil Macro-Fauna Diversity with Regenerative Grazing,” Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 9, 816374.

6. Rodale Institute (2022) Extreme-Weather Performance of Regenerative Organic Systems.

7. Baranski, M. et al. (2014) “Higher Antioxidant and Lower Cadmium Concentrations and Lower Incidence of Pesticide Residues in Organically Grown Crops,” British Journal of Nutrition, 112(5), 794–811.

8. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2020) Economic Benefits of Regenerative Practices in Canada.

9. CarbonRx (2024) RX Regenerative Agriculture protocol Technical Documentation.