“Biotech is one very important piece of the larger solution for developing regenerative agriculture which allows farmers to increase revenue. The report does not mention CRISPR or gene-editing techniques, but ac cording to Yield10, it ticks many of these boxes already. Produced with funding from the Walmart Foundation, the report also identifies 16 barriers to scaling regenerative agriculture. The points involve establishing financial mechanisms and market structures that support regenerative outcomes like shaping new policy, engaging with consumers to increase demand, and prioritizing nutritional benefits. To bolster his point, Peoples and Yield10 point to the recently released Forum of the Future report that lays out a seven-point system for shifting our current food system to reflect regenerative agriculture principles. CoverCress is developing a winter cover crop from the native plant pennycress using modern plant breeding and new genome editing tools, for example. Gene-editing cover cropsĬover cropping is a key practice adopted by regenerative farmers between growing seasons to keep the soil covered and protected from erosion or run-off, as well as to help replenish minerals and maintain healthy soil structure through the constant presence of a root system.Īt least one other startup is working on developing cover crops for farmers that double as an extra cash crop. Plant-based oils, like those from Camelina seeds, can be used as a less expensive, sustainable option to supplement fish oil in feed for aquaculture,” he explained.īy using gene-editing to improve yields, farmers can yield more seeds and produce more oils, thereby increasing their potential for a decent paycheck from this regenerative practice, says Peoples. Demand for these oils is increasing as we aim to feed a growing population – a 2015 Scientific Reports study noted that approximately 1.25 million metric tons of omega-3 oils will be needed to feed a population of 7 billion people. “Camelina sativa seeds produce an oil that is equivalent to omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids seen in fish oils. Then Peoples realized camelina’s potential as a winter cover crop. Ultimately, you are a licensor of tech to that sector,” Peoples tells AFN. “As we became more knowledgeable about the ag space, we realized that it was very tough for a company regardless of its size to compete with major crops because of consolidation like soybeans, corn, canola, cotton, and rice. Oliver Peoples is CEO of Yield10 Bioscience a gene-editing startup that started looking at camelina as an alternative to wheat for growers in the Pacific Northwest and Saskatchewan areas. But bearing in mind the question marks around its scalability, could genetic technologies be a useful tool in the regenerative agriculture toolbox too?
The link between biotech and conventional farming will no doubt cause many regenerative agriculture purists to balk at the idea of these tools being applicable to their innately more diversified and often chemical-free approach. The conventional, biotech-backed model largely aims to battle nature, by developing crops able to withstand stressors like weather, diseases, and, unfavorably, pest-killing chemicals, and typically focuses on growing just one or two crop types a year. There are also question marks around the scalability of regenerative agriculture practices, which aim to build soil health, improve water quality, promote biodiversity, integrate cropping and livestock systems, and more, by cultivating a more collaborative relationship with nature.īy comparison, conventional farming practices, that often involves genetically modified crops in countries like the US, have proven very scalable. Even among proponents of the movement, there are debates about the best ways to prove regenerative agriculture’s promise or the proper tools for achieving its goals. Despite its momentum, the exact contours of regenerative agriculture are still up for debate. It’s popping up in new places including campaign platforms, proposed federal legislation, and new grant opportunities. Regenerative agriculture is a growing movement.
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