Regenerative agriculture stores carbon in the soil and covered about 5.6% of Utrecht’s farmland in 2019. With wider adoption, its reduction and sequestration potential grows towards 2030.
What it is
Regenerative agriculture is a cropping system that combines at least four of six methods: compost, cover crops, crop rotation, green manures, no or limited tillage, and organic production. These methods store carbon in the soil and lower emissions. Unlike conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture uses no artificial fertiliser or pesticides. By not ploughing and keeping the soil covered, carbon stays better stored in the soil and a living, resilient ecosystem develops.
Potential in Utrecht
The total addressable market consists of 3,721 hectares of arable and horticultural land and 62,627 hectares of grassland. The sequestration potential is 0.6 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, with an emission reduction of 0.23 tonnes CO₂-eq per hectare per year. From the current 5.6% (2019), the plausible scenario assumes adoption of 0.36% per year and the ambitious scenario 1.6% per year plus a learning curve, together yielding 5 kton reduction and 14 kton sequestration in the ambitious scenario.
Co-benefits
Regenerative agriculture improves soil health and biodiversity and makes farmland more resilient. It usually involves one-off changes that then keep delivering sequestration and lower emissions.
Provincial policy
The province of Utrecht aims for all agriculture to be circular by 2050: farming with minimal emissions and cycles closed as far as possible at farm, local and regional level.
In practice
Wij.land lets farmers test new concepts around soil management, wet crops and biodiversity and co-initiated Aardpeer. At Schevichoven, permaculture, agroforestry and food forest are combined, Herenboeren makes citizens shared owners of a cooperative farm, and Land van Ons buys farmland to restore biodiversity and landscape.
Frequently asked questions
How much of Utrecht’s farmland is now regenerative?
According to this assessment, about 5.6% in 2019, based on trends in organic farming — with room to grow towards 2030.
How does it differ from conservation agriculture?
Conservation agriculture still uses artificial fertiliser and pesticides; regenerative agriculture does not. The solutions are complementary and both store carbon.
How does regenerative agriculture store carbon?
By not ploughing and keeping the soil covered, carbon and nitrogen are bound into organic matter in the soil — around 0.6 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year.
Source: Preliminary Climate Solutions Assessment for the province of Utrecht (Drawdown Europe & New Economy, 2021), based on the Project Drawdown methodology. Part of the sector-based climate action plan for the province of Utrecht.