Regenerative Agriculture and Food Security Transformation

The global community marked World Food Day in 2025 with the theme Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future. This theme marks the urgent need for collective action to transform food systems worldwide. Central to this transformation is regenerative agriculture, an approach that restores soil health, boosts biodiversity, and strengthens climate resilience. With the world population at 8.2 billion, the pressure on natural resources is immense, demanding innovative and collaborative solutions.

Population Growth and Resource Strain

Human population growth has accelerated rapidly since the 19th century. This surge has increased demand for food and land. Only 29 per cent of Earth’s surface is land, and just about 10.7 per cent is farmed. Overuse of soil and water, pollution, and climate change threaten these finite resources.

India’s Agricultural Landscape

India has 52 per cent of its land as arable, yet environmental degradation and resource depletion challenge sustainability. Nearly 46 per cent of India’s workforce depends on agriculture. The sector’s future depends on systemic solutions involving innovation and collaboration across policies, products, practices, and partnerships.

The Green Revolution and Its Legacy

India’s journey from food scarcity to becoming the largest rice exporter is credited to the Green Revolution. Innovations in high-yielding wheat and rice varieties, synthetic fertilisers via the Haber-Bosch process, and irrigation expansion played key roles. Nobel laureates Norman Borlaug, Fritz Haber, and Carl Bosch were instrumental in these breakthroughs. However, excessive fertiliser use has degraded soils and contaminated groundwater.

Soil Health Crisis and Regenerative Agriculture

India’s average Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is below 0.3 per cent, far less than the recommended 1 per cent. Soil degradation is severe in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Regenerative agriculture offers a solution by restoring soil vitality, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity. It is both an ecological and economic necessity.

Innovation and Collaboration in Agriculture

India’s innovation missions like Atal Innovation Mission and Anusandhan National Research Foundation are evolving but have yet to deliver major breakthroughs. The private sector is actively promoting regenerative agriculture. The launch of the Global AgXelerate platform aims to connect innovators with global markets, encouraging sector-wide transformation.

Nutrition and Crop Diversification

Nutritional security is a priority. Pulses and oilseeds, which require fewer inputs and enrich soil nitrogen, must be promoted. The government’s Rs 11,440 crore Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses aims to boost domestic pulse production to 350 lakh tonnes by 2031. Crop-neutral policies and market incentives are needed for success.

Future Pathways for Sustainable Agriculture

Achieving self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds will improve nutrition and initiate regenerative agriculture. It will restore soil health, conserve groundwater, reduce pollution, and enhance biodiversity. Success depends on policy innovation, investment in research and development, and active stakeholder participation.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Discuss in the light of global food security challenges the role of regenerative agriculture in ensuring sustainable development.
2. Critically examine the impact of the Green Revolution on India’s agriculture and environment, and how current policies address its shortcomings.
3. Explain the significance of soil health in agricultural productivity. How can policy and innovation together restore soil vitality?
4. With suitable examples, discuss the importance of crop diversification and nutritional security in India’s agricultural strategy.

Answer Hints:

1. Discuss in the light of global food security challenges the role of regenerative agriculture in ensuring sustainable development.

1. Global food security is threatened by population growth, resource depletion, climate change, and environmental degradation.
2. Regenerative agriculture restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, and builds climate resilience, addressing the root causes of food insecurity.
3. It promotes sustainable use of finite resources like soil and water, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
4. By improving nutritional security through diversified cropping and healthier soils, it supports long-term human health.
5. Collaboration among nations, farmers, scientists, and businesses is essential to scale regenerative practices globally.
6. Regenerative agriculture aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating ecological, economic, and social sustainability.

2. Critically examine the impact of the Green Revolution on India’s agriculture and environment, and how current policies address its shortcomings.

1. The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties (HYVs), synthetic fertilisers, and irrigation, transforming India from food-deficient to a major exporter.
2. It increased crop productivity and ensured food security, credited to scientists like Norman Borlaug and innovations like the Haber-Bosch process.
3. However, excessive and imbalanced fertiliser use led to soil degradation, groundwater contamination, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Environmental issues like declining soil organic carbon and biodiversity loss emerged, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
5. Current policies promote regenerative agriculture, soil health missions, and sustainable fertiliser use to restore ecological balance.
6. Government initiatives like the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses and innovation platforms aim to address past shortcomings by encouraging crop diversification and eco-friendly practices.

3. Explain the significance of soil health in agricultural productivity. How can policy and innovation together restore soil vitality?

1. Soil health is fundamental for nutrient availability, water retention, crop yield, and ecosystem services.
2. Degraded soils with low organic carbon reduce productivity and increase vulnerability to climate impacts.
3. Policies must incentivize balanced fertiliser use, organic amendments, and conservation agriculture practices.
4. Innovations like precision farming, biofertilisers, and soil health monitoring technologies enhance sustainable soil management.
5. Collaborative frameworks integrating farmers, researchers, and policymakers ensure adoption and scaling of soil restoration techniques.
6. Soil health missions and R&D investments are crucial to reverse degradation and sustain agricultural output long-term.

4. With suitable examples, discuss the importance of crop diversification and nutritional security in India’s agricultural strategy.

1. Crop diversification reduces dependency on staples like rice and wheat, improving resilience and soil health.
2. Pulses and oilseeds enrich soil nitrogen naturally, require fewer inputs, and enhance dietary nutrition.
3. India’s Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses aims to increase pulse production to 350 lakh tonnes by 2031, promoting self-sufficiency.
4. Crop-neutral policies and market incentives are needed to encourage farmers to adopt diverse cropping patterns.
5. Diversification reduces environmental pollution from excessive fertiliser use and conserves groundwater.
6. Nutritional security through diversified crops supports public health and aligns with regenerative agriculture goals.