A Nedbank-hosted panel discussion at Nampo Cape heard that regenerative farming could help farmers withstand climate pressures, but collaboration, technical guidance and suitable financing are needed to support the transition.
By definition Regenerative agriculture is a farming and land management system that focuses on rebuilding soil health, restoring biodiversity,
Regenerative farming can help build more resilient agricultural systems as farmers face rising climate and production pressures, speakers told guests at the discussion at Nampo Cape.
The discussion brought together representatives from sustainable agriculture research, banking and food retail to consider how farmers can adopt more regenerative practices.
Lomé Smit, a sustainable agriculture researcher at Trace & Save, said collaboration between different sectors was essential.
“Climate change is bringing more extreme events, and we are seeing these events happen around the world. It is critically important to build resilient systems that can withstand these external pressures,” Smit said.
Smit said pasture-based dairy farming was making progress because many of its existing practices aligned closely with regenerative agriculture.
“The farmers in that sector have made great progress, and they are seeing positive results from these practices,” Smit said.
Sustainability was also essential to maintaining food production as the population grows, Smit said.
“We need to change the way we farm. We need to farm sustainably, protect our soils and ecosystems, and ensure that our food systems remain productive,” she said.
Kudzayi Mazikana, head of sustainability strategy at Nedbank, said climate change was no longer a theoretical risk for farmers.
“We often think climate change is theoretical until it affects us. The way we look at agriculture, and at all our clients, is that if our clients are not successful, we cannot be successful,” Mazikana said.
He said regenerative agriculture could improve farmers’ resilience, although many producers still needed guidance on how to begin.
“Most farmers are thinking about regenerative farming, but they have not yet reached a point where they understand what needs to be done or who the supportive partners are,” Mazikana said.
Mazikana added that no individual organisation could drive the transition alone.
“The ecosystem plays an extremely important role. That is why it is important to bring all the players into one room and start the conversation,” he said.
Nedbank was also exploring products that could help farmers adopt more sustainable practices, Mazikana said.
Tom Murray, technical manager for Woolworths Produce and Horticulture, said industries needed to be more open about their experiences.
“For this to work, we have to be open and allow industries to see what we are doing. We need to share what works with farmers and with other sectors,” Murray said.
He said his organisation had been working to reduce waste and introduce more sustainable, biological approaches on farms.
The speakers agreed that regenerative agriculture required cooperation across the agricultural value chain, including farmers, retailers, researchers, technical specialists and financial institutions.
The panel also highlighted the need for practical evidence, clear guidance and financial support to help farmers manage the risks associated with changing established production systems.
yogashen.pillay@nationalmg.co.za