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What can we do to help a country that is experiencing some of the worst impacts from climate change, despite being one of the smallest producers of global CO2 emissions?
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Nepal, a country representing less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions, is disproportionately impacted by climate change with an estimated 80% of the population at risk of climate change disasters. This has caused huge losses, including worsening air quality, floods, extreme heat, and food insecurity. Yet, there is a solution. At this year’s COP28, representatives from iDE, a coalition of global changemakers on a mission to eradicate poverty, spoke about how regenerative farming and nature-positive agriculture are creating climate change resistant food systems. These systems are rooted in Indigenous philosophies focusing on growing food in a way that is in harmony with nature. And these systems are proven methods to reduce and even revert some of the worst impacts from climate change.
Prajuna KC, one of the iDE representatives at COP28 gave a talk on “Regenerative and Nature-Positive Agriculture for Climate Resilient Food Systems” at the Food Systems Pavilion. Sharing what she’s learned through her multi-decade-long experience working with organizations such as UN Women, WWF-Nepal, Prajuna talks about how regenerative farming in countries like Nepal and the United States can create stronger food systems to benefit us all. And, she shares the actions we as consumers can take to help local and small-scale farmers.
In your words, what is regenerative and nature-positive agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is about farming that puts the protection and enhancement of soil health at its center. iDE uses the six basic principles of soil health that have been used in organic agriculture and agroecology since the 1970s: 1) designing to context; 2) minimizing soil disturbance; 3) armor on the soil; 4) promoting biodiversity; 5) living roots all year round; and 6) livestock integration.
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With regenerative agriculture, we are finding ways to mend the relationship with our food systems. By prioritizing practices that promote soil health and biodiversity, regenerative agriculture fosters a symbiotic connection between humans and the environment, leading to sustainable food production systems that not only mitigate climate change but also contribute to environmental restoration and resilience. Regenerative agriculture is our love letter to future generations, embodying our commitment to cultivating a healthier planet through sustainable farming practices that nurture the soil and foster harmony with nature.
How are our current food systems contributing to climate change?
Some global food systems are a major cause of climate change accounting for 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock alone responsible for approximately 15% of global emissions. However, not only do global food systems contribute to climate change, they also suffer greatly from its impacts, as more erratic and extreme weather leads to devastating impacts such as reduced yields, and massive livestock losses due to drought.
A climate change vulnerability assessment conducted in 2010 showed that more than 1.9 million Nepalese (7% of the total population) are highly vulnerable to climate change. Even though Nepal has some of the lowest carbon emissions ( ~ 0.027%) in the world, it is the 4th most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. Climate change is already having significant impacts on the environment in Nepal.
Glaciers are melting, increasing the risk of landslides and endangering people, their farms, and wiping out critical infrastructure that connects farmers to markets. The frequency of precipitation extremes is also increasing, challenging farmers’ abilities to cope. So, we have a strong interest in turning the tide on this challenge.
There is no denying that our current food systems are one major factor in the climate crisis. There is a major difference between the contribution between heavily industrialized farming practices that rely heavily on machinery and intensive inputs, and that of smallholder farmers, who can actually hold the solutions of how we can shape the future food systems around the globe. It is these types of hyper local and traditional ecological practices that we seek to promote at iDE to create the necessary change.
What changes need to be made for a solution to these issues?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to address the impact of climate change on food systems. Instead, we must realign our focus on the fundamental purpose of food systems: nourishing people sustainably. And it is not just about nourishing people today, but about fostering the healthy and thriving ecological systems we will need to nourish people into the future, ensuring we create resilience to the increasing impacts of climate change.
However, one factor we all have in common is the power of markets. Market drivers can play in influencing behavior, both for farmers and consumers alike. At iDE Nepal, we are supporting smallholder farmers to adopt regenerative practices by powering them with knowledge and access to resources, technologies and markets.
We leverage indigenous knowledge and global best practices on production, and train farmers on the benefits of these practices. To ensure farmers successfully implement sustainable practices, we work with actors across the supply chain to create last mile access to products such as biofertilizers and biopesticides, and train extension agents called plant doctors to troubleshoot farmers’ pest and disease challenges.
Furthermore, by facilitating connections to high-value markets – such as ones that place a premium on food produced without chemical pesticides – we seek to harness market forces to incentivize Nepali farmers to adopt regenerative practices, making it a viable livelihood option. We don’t have all of the solutions to this incredibly complex problem. However, we are working very hard to solve critical challenges at the level at which we have influence and expertise. Our goal is to facilitate a development pathway that prioritizes the needs of farmers, respects local contexts, and draws from global best practices.
How can regenerative and nature-positive agriculture help fight food insecurity?
Regenerative agriculture seeks to build a system of resilience that starts at the soil and hydrological level. It repairs the nutrient cycle first within the soil system, creating a wider effect for the entire ecosystem, bringing life back into the farmland. Farming systems can better withstand shocks like droughts and floods – healthy soil can absorb these shocks like a sponge.
The biodiversity created by regenerative farming practices also gives the ecosystem a better chance of fighting back pest infestations that might overwhelm ecologically simpler farming systems. This is a huge benefit especially in Nepal, where pests are the biggest agronomic challenge faced by farmers.
Can you share a specific example you’ve seen in Nepal?
In Nepal, where smallholder farmers contribute to 80% of its food production, enhancing their productivity is crucial for ensuring food security. At iDE we are implementing solutions that can reduce farmers’ input costs while increasing the quality of their most critical on-farm asset, their soil.
One example of this effort is our introduction of tricho-vermicompost, an organic fertilizer created by inoculating farmyard manure with the Trichoderma fungus, which enhances soil quality and promotes plant growth. Collaborating with local farming communities, iDE has facilitated the establishment of community-based enterprises dedicated to manufacturing tricho-vermicompost.
At the household level, farmers are using the compost for their own needs, and are also generating additional income by selling the excess compost as well as produce it has enabled. As a result of this initiative, farmers have reported a notable 15% increase in crop yields, and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Furthermore, iDE Nepal plays a vital role in promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which supports enhanced biodiversity – a key principle of regenerative agriculture. For instance, the introduction of predatory insects such as ladybugs effectively controls aphid populations, safeguarding cash crops like tomatoes and peppers.
iDE Nepal has also supported the establishment of community-based seed banks that preserve indigenous crop varieties adapted to local environmental conditions. These resilient seeds serve as valuable assets for food security, safeguarding against pests, diseases, and adverse weather events. This empowers farmers to maintain agricultural biodiversity and mitigate the risk of crop failures, thereby contributing significantly to long-term food security in rural Nepal.
One of the major challenges hindering the adoption of regenerative agriculture among farmers is the limited access to appropriate information and technologies. In Nepal, iDE has implemented an initiative to provide agricultural digital advisory services to farmers through farmbetter, an innovative digital platform. This tool equips farmers with essential information and insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and enhance their productivity, income, and resilience to climate change.
By leveraging local knowledge, sustainable practices, and technological innovations, iDE Nepal’s initiatives are laying the foundation for more resilient and food-secure communities across rural Nepal.
How has regenerative agriculture positively led to women’s equality in Nepal?
The outmigration of men from rural communities in Nepal has led to the “feminization agriculture” where women are increasingly responsible for household farming and food production. With 74% of women employed in agriculture in Nepal, regenerative agriculture is providing women with the tools, resources, and opportunities to empower women in numerous ways. Regenerative agriculture’s emphasis on sustainable, low-input farming practices is particularly advantageous for women, who often have limited access to resources, such as capital and credit, and face systemic barriers to participation in conventional agricultural systems.
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At iDE Nepal, we collaborate with banking and financial institutions to facilitate access to finance. Additionally, we have trained 380 female Farm Business Advisors, small scale entrepreneurs who serve farming communities as last-mile actors, providing easier access to organic inputs and other essential services.
Moreover, initiatives that support the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, such as the one offered by iDE Nepal, provide technical training, capacity building, and market linkages. Women, who play a central role in food production and distribution networks in Nepal, are empowered through such training programs, and as members of farmer cooperatives, and community-based initiatives that promote regenerative practices. This not only enhances women’s technical skills and leadership abilities but also promotes decision-making capacities, challenging gender roles and norms, thereby paving the way for greater gender equality in rural Nepal.
How can some of these changes that IDE has made in Nepal translate to the agricultural system in the U.S.?
No matter where you are in the world, soil health is foundational to sustainable production systems. At iDE, we view it as a farmer’s most precious productive asset which underpins their long term productivity. Whether in Nepal or in the U.S., we need to view the protection and enhancement of soil health as an inviolable principle in any agricultural system. Beyond that critical starting point, at iDE, we have a few foundational principles that guide our work:
Start with People. If we want farmers to shift their practices, we need to understand them deeply – what they aspire to, what guides their decisions, and what realities they face. In the US, high land prices and far distances to market might influence their on-farm economics, driving decisions around scale, investments, crop selection, production methods, and so on. In Nepal, the reality of farming a very small plot of land for both subsistence and commercial sale will drive very different decisions. Despite the difference in context between agricultural systems in Nepal and the U.S. what they have in common is that we need to identify solutions that are appropriate and feasible in each context, that make sense for farmers, and that are driven by incentives that they value.
The second principle, which I’ve spoken to a bit already, is: Design to Context. While the principles of regenerative agriculture are broad, how they are applied often needs to be hyper-local. A key element of this is drawing on the wealth of indigenous knowledge around production practices. This has been developed over many generations in response to the specific challenges in their agroecological contexts. We are in danger of losing this wealth of knowledge if we do not intentionally promote and use it.
The third principle is: Business Delivers. iDE sees markets as a powerful potential driver for good, and we leverage them to achieve the outcomes we’re aiming for. For food systems, consumers play a huge role. In Nepal, we’ve demonstrated that urban consumers in Kathmandu are willing to pay a premium for vegetables that they know have been grown without using chemical pesticides. Identifying the market drivers and actors that can drive the outcomes we’re looking to achieve is critical.
Finally, Results Rule. If we want to achieve improved agricultural systems, we need to be very clear on what that means. Without a guiding vision, we’ll never know whether we are on track or not. I would argue that the goal for the U.S. should be no different from the goal we see for Nepal, which is to nourish people sustainably. The pathways are going to be vastly different, but I believe the destination is the same.
What choices can we all make every day to contribute to the regenerative agriculture movement?
We as consumers wield significant influence over market demand, and our choices can directly shape the success and sustainability of regenerative farming practices. By supporting farmers who prioritize regenerative practices and opting for locally grown, organic, seasonal, and sustainable products, we contribute to healthier ecosystems and more resilient food systems.
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Furthermore, we should support brands that prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship in their products and practices. By consciously making these choices in our everyday lives, we not only contribute to healthier ecosystems and more resilient food systems but also pave the way for a sustainable and thriving future for generations to come.
