> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://4revs.gitbook.io/handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://4revs.gitbook.io/handbook/chapters/soil-secrets/global-insights.md). # Global insights “No soil, no future“ is the message of the [ReSoil Foundation](https://resoilfoundation.org/en/) in Italy. They are right to claim that soil is a deeply neglected natural resource. We agree, and we would add that soon there will be no soil and no future, if we don’t take decisive action now. In the last 150 years, through intensive agriculture, humans have taken soil fertility for granted. We are extracting food, fibers and fuel, but are seldom replenishing the source. This extractive dynamic is similar to how we treat other natural resources, like water or raw materials (see the chapters dedicated to these topics).\ \ In this flawed agricultural system, several things happen at the same time to the soil: nitrogen and chemicals leak from fertilizers into the deep ground and rivers; mineral salts accumulate to the topsoil, due to intensive irrigation; heavy machinery and intensive animal grazing continuously compact the soil and lead to erosion. Eroded soil is barren, infertile. When soil does yield crops, the food is nutrient deficient, because nutrients have leaked into rivers. The microorganisms and healthy bacteria supporting plant growth have vanished (killed by pesticides) and made room for dangerous [pathogens](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.781357/full) which can be transmitted to our food. Adding to the general depletion and tremendous biodiversity loss, imagine the following: instead of storing carbon, soil now releases carbon in the atmosphere, thus fueling climate change in a vicious circle. What was supposed to protect us now acts against us. You see, the history of industrial agriculture shows that we have been using farmland like a garbage bin. It is now full of contaminated animal manure, human sewage, and microplastics from fertilizers.\ \ Soil is essential for planetary and human health, and we are collectively beginning to realize this, to discover the secrets that it holds for our continuity on Earth.\ \ **Soil degradation increases competition for basic resources.** Access to fertile land has become similar to mining: a competition to relentlessly source and extract resources, and continuously hunt for new, exploitable territories. This is a zero sum game where all humankind and all other species on the planet lose. Converting Amazonian forests to short term crops, or [land grabbing](https://grain.org/en/article/6758-the-state-of-the-global-farmland-grab-according-to-the-land-matrix) are practices which disenfranchise entire populations, making the global divide even worse and accelerating extinction. Bioresources from the land are regularly used in other industries, not only in agriculture: in manufacturing, chemistry, construction, or in energy production (for example biofuels that can replace fossil fuels). All of these rely on soils. Do we have enough land and soil to meet the growing demand?
**Soil degradation bleeds money.** Companies are [losing up to 500 billions ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/linhanhcat/2019/05/21/soil-erosion-washes-away-8-billion/?sh=1c5cbad15b6c)annually due to soil erosion around the world. They lose from lower agricultural yields, growing need for inputs (for example water), or climate events causing missed yearly crops, wasted investments and so on. Although the regions losing the most fertile soil are those leading in agricultural production (like Indonesia, or Brazil), the financial losses are distributed globally. This is the case when, for example, staple foods such as grains become more expensive. Companies are beginning to realize that long term investment in and stewardship of this raw resource and ally should form part of their core business. No soil, no future, no business.\ \ **Soil degradation threatens future farming.** Due to climate change, the equator belt is warming rapidly to the point where certain crops cannot survive there anymore, which is pushing a global trend that in the not-too-distant future the far North (the Arctic, the Russian steppe) will be the best positioned for farming due to its increasingly temperate climate (see [IPPC report 2022](https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/resources/press/press-release/#:~:text=The%20world%20faces%20unavoidable%20multiple,of%20which%20will%20be%20irreversible.)). Think about it: what does this mean for your country, your community, your family? Where will we farm in the future? Can we farm without soil? Many people and businesses are exploring ways to produce food without the need for fertile soil: * Soil-less farming: innovations like insect farming on food waste (for animal feed), vertical farming (growing crops in layers) or hydroponics (growing crops in water). The last two are proven to work at scale and particularly suitable for urban, high density areas where there is much less land available. * Lab-made proteins such as bacterial fermentation. These synthetic proteins would then become ingredients in typical or new foods (replacing eggs or meat) and creative cooking of the future. At the moment, lab made foods are tiny scale operations that involve large amounts of venture capitalist money. * Farming on Mars, a distant future projection that incites the collective imagination. This rests on a very long timeline to be technically feasible, accessible to many, or to ensure the calories needed to survive. A major risk of this scenario is that it can lead to what Herb Simmons, in his dystopian [vocabulary of the future](https://www.herbsimmens.com/a-climate-vocabulary-of-the-future-2nd-edition/), calls “climate exclaves”, places for the ultra-rich to thrive, exclusively, while the rest of the world suffers from climate extinction. We do not know how long it will take for some of the innovations mentioned to work at scale, feeding the global population or creating a new food system. Granted, soil-less farming is gaining momentum and many inspiring businesses are finding ways to reach large supply chains. By applying system thinking, we should examine their various externalities. For instance, indoor growing operations rely much less on water, but more heavily on energy and plastic materials. This ‘soil free’ food is also less nutrient dense, and it fails to nourish the healthy gut microbiome that sustains us. The human body is composed of [38 trillion bacteria cells compared to 30](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4991899/) trillion human cells - we owe our very being to the health of these bacteria which live in the soil! Arguments like these and overall uncertainty about the future indicate that we will still need to produce grains, pulses, fruit and vegetables for many years to come. It seems safe to conclude that technical innovations are contributing small pieces to solve systemic problems. Nevertheless, we still have to sort through the root problem at hand: how can we be more conscious and less exploitative about soil, a raw resource that sustains our livelihoods and our lifestyles?
## **Regenerative, long term and systemic innovations** There is a large debate about land use and the different ways to harness its resources and fruit, while reducing emissions and supporting the continued human existence on earth. Ensuring food security for all is at the core. Today, the problem is not the quantity of food produced, rather that it is unevenly distributed, consumed and wasted in the globalized economy. What can we expect to happen in the future? Given the growing pressure on the food system, its inefficiency and compound effects of climate change, could we ensure the continued use of land? We see this as a debate between many sides: technology enthusiasts, environmental activists, biologists, agrobusiness, small-scale community farmers etc. Research, as often is the case, is split. At one end of the spectrum, ultra-technologists are in favor of a future with lab-designed food and nutritional innovations at the center. The claims are that by reducing pressure on agriculture, we can reduce the carbon footprint of the food system. Following this thinking, the Dubai Future Foundation lists Rewilding and phasing out land use for agriculture as one of the top 50 opportunities in their Future Opportunities Report from [2023](https://www.dubaifuture.ae/the-global-50). In Europe, high profile activists like George Monbiot [claim](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK3z5H_Rfr0) that we have reached the end of farming; that is, if we want our food system to be less polluting, less centralized in [monopolies](https://modernfarmer.com/2020/11/study-finds-1-percent-of-farms-own-70-percent-of-worlds-farmland/), more able to ensure food security and more resilient to climate disasters. Such worldviews, even if well founded, are [radical and scary](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/06/rooted-sarah-langford-regenesis-george-monbiot-review-farming) for many. For one, almost everyone would need to switch to diets largely free of animal products, or vegan. Another serious implication is that entire livelihoods (farmers) and cultures would be left behind. In contrast, long-time practitioners Joel Sallatin (Polyface farm), Allan Savory (and his group at the Savory Institute) [hold strongly](https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_fight_desertification_and_reverse_climate_change?language=en) that the agricultural system is perfectible. In this view and through their firsthand experience, animals are much needed, not just to ensure food for all, but also to navigate climate disasters. Controlled animal grazing is a necessary condition for regenerating soil, reducing desertification and storing carbon. And finally, other innovators work even more within the existing system, to make traditional agriculture more efficient, for example by reducing the reliance on water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Developing organic or biofertilizers, or introducing AI assistive robots and other hi-tech agricultural equipment are also more or less innovative ways of addressing the crisis, depending on where one is standing. More and more people agree that ending industrial agriculture as the business-as-usual is a necessary condition to reduce the pressure on climate and ensure the existence of future populations, namely 11 billion by the year 2050. The future of using land becomes an exercise of working together to rebuild broken systems across different industries. Importantly, this should be done always by having in mind the well-being of diverse populations, not only the global North, the free market front runners, the white collar, the urban, the tech savvy etc. For example, technology-powered ways to the future can have net positive impacts in the short-term, but their long-term sustainability and inclusiveness depends largely on how they will be deployed to especially support those at the highest risk of poverty, natural disasters. Read more about this in the chapter on Food Futures. Stewarding soil has implications not just for the future of food. The rise of the bioeconomy, of using biomass and bioresources in other industries, poses additional pressure on just one resource. It becomes even more necessary to look for innovative practices that enable a fair setup in the face of competing demands. Practices that directly or indirectly support land restoration and soil fertility range from increasing agricultural yield, or its carbon storage, or its biodiversity services, or all. | **Practices that contribute to land and soil regeneration** | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Afforestation:** planting trees on lands where no trees were before. It is also considered to be a soil remediating practice. A particular approach to afforestation is the [Miyawaki method.](https://daily.jstor.org/the-miyawaki-method-a-better-way-to-build-forests/) | | **Agroforestry:** a way to grow food for humans by arranging plants and trees in horizontal layers, using the tallest trees to foster growth in the lower layers, mimicking a natural forest. Similar: [Multistrata Agroforestry](https://drawdown.org/solutions/multistrata-agroforestry), [Analog Forestry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_forestry) | | **Desert regreening and cultivation:** a new trend to valorize desert land for plant and crop production, with appropriate plant species that require minimal water | | **Grassland restoration:** areas traditionally used for grazing livestock and intensive farming can be restored through improved management practices, particularly by growing native grasses which are better suited to store carbon. | | **Silvo pastures or grazed woodland:** a practice where animals are mixed with trees planted in an open pasture or in a woodland. This increases their forage and counterbalances the methane emissions from animals’ manure, while also helping sequester more carbon (than, for example, in a grassland). | | **Bioremediation:** using microorganisms to remove pollutants from soil, water, gasses or solids. A specific implementation is [mycoforestry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycoforestry), a forest management system whereby mushrooms are introduced to support tree health, which in turn contributes to soil health and its capacity to store carbon. | | **‘Climate smart’ or 'climate resilient' agriculture:** a general term to refer to agriculture that works toward ensuring food security, while harnessing the soil’s ability to store carbon. For example, a [bamboo based agroforestry](https://www.worldagroforestry.org/blog/2020/05/18/could-bamboo-based-agroforestry-systems-be-latest-kind-climate-smart-agriculture) system is ‘climate smart’. A [biodegradable film for dry rice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKdp2rrKpJM\&ab_channel=SeedFilmCultivation) cultivation is also climate smart. Climate smart practices are also claimed by the growing carbon markets and biodiversity credits ([example](https://resoilfoundation.org/en/articles/smart-agriculture-congo/)). However, carbon markets are increasingly controversial. | | **Permaculture:** a holistic set of design principles for land management that ensures the harmonious integration of landscape elements with people and ethics. Permaculture illustrates in a compelling way what [holistic thinking](https://www.permaculturenews.org/what-is-permaculture/) means. | | **Conservation agriculture:** a set of practices that support soil health by preventing erosion and degradation. This type of agriculture rests on three key elements: no till or low till to minimize soil disturbance, protect soil with vegetation, and vary crops from year to year. | | **Regenerative agriculture and farming:** a growing movement and a holistic approach to restore soil and cultivate food in harmony with nature. It builds on conservation agriculture and it includes specific practices like no till, crop rotation and managed grazing. Sometimes it is referred to as carbon farming. | Table 1. Practices that contribute to land and soil regeneration. Many of the above form part of a comprehensive list of solutions to mitigate climate change: the [Drawdown Solutions Library.](https://drawdown.org/solutions/table-of-solutions) **From the 4Revs cases and the expertise of our team members, no framework is quite as compelling and mobilizing as regenerative agriculture.** In 2017, Project Drawdown identified this as solution nr. 11 out of 100 from all industries in its potential to draw down carbon. Briefly, its principles to achieve that are: * No tillage: keeps root systems intact, increasing the water retention and the organic matter of the soil. All this helps with nutrient transport to the plant. * Cover crops: planted during the cash crop seasons to help get nitrogen into the soil (cash crops are those that yield consistent income for the farmer). * Composting: use of organic waste like food leftovers, dead leaves, wood chips to eliminate the need for external fertilizers; also called on farm fertility. * Crop rotation (and intercropping): as opposed to monocultures, the soil fertility in organic farming needs to be built up naturally. Planting diverse crops at different years helps increase biodiversity, which reduces risks of pathogens and pests. To store additional CO2, tree crops can be introduced (see Agroforestry in Table 1. above). * No or minimal pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers (use of chemicals is highly-contested by the community at large) * Managed grazing, where animals spend just enough time on a patch of land to weed it, drop nutrients in and air the soil. The results seem to be significant: over time, the soil’s organic matter increases five to eightfold, which in turn leads to an expected increase in yields. In her 2022 book Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, Dr. Vandana Shiva reviews decades of literature showing how working with nature enables all the benefits of regenerative agriculture to the ecosystem.\ \ More and more businesses are recognizing the value of regenerative agriculture and shifting to these practices, particularly as part of commitments to reduce their CO2 footprint. This is very different from offsetting emissions, while continuing to pollute. Unlike carbon offsetting, investments in regenerative agricultural practices help businesses grow their [carbon insetting](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/carbon-insetting-vs-offsetting-an-explainer/). This not only helps achieve CO2 targets, but importantly, builds resilience in the face of critical shortages in the value chain. A typical example is that of Alpro, a Belgian brand championing plant based eating, now owned by food industry leader Danone. Alpro supported the transition of [Catalan almond farmers](https://www.metabolic.nl/projects/alpros-regenerative-agriculture-journey/) towards regenerative agriculture, taking an active step to protect its value chain from damages caused by droughts. Similarly, Allbirds, an American sustainable shoe brand, are using wool in their sustainable shoes production. They figured it is in their interest to support the farming ecosystem of sheep valorisation. They are supporting their suppliers to do regeneration through controlled grazing. Consequently, their company emissions’ reduction [strategy](https://www.allbirds.eu/pages/regenerative-agriculture) is now entirely based on regeneration agriculture. **If regenerative agriculture is so good, why isn’t everyone doing it?** Regenerative agriculture is a holistic practice which needs a wide array of conditions for it to be effective at scale: it can save costs from the chemicals brought in, but often it needs more human labor; it pays off in the long term, not as a short term solution; it requires specialized knowledge which is not always readily available or affordable, financially or timewise. For example, the intervention of Alpro mentioned above does not exist isolated. Alpro had been working on Science Based Targets since 2018, and have since allocated funding to conduct research specific on almond farming: together with the farmers, they identified 15 suitable regenerative farming practices for them, as well as 4 farm-level business opportunities. All of this has been a research and pilot phase, where the impact lies in the process of changing mindsets and exploring alternatives/ It is less significant in terms of the ecological negative impact of the Danone giant conglomerate, which owns over 20 brands and sells in more than 120 countries. One key takeaway for how businesses transition to regenerative is that from a business standpoint, farmers cannot bear the burden of risk on their own. Going from traditional agriculture to regenerative means diversifying the crops, and (at least for some time) accepting lower yield per crop. This will cause logistical changes in the supply chains. As a regulator, or a business closer to the end of the value cycle, you cannot expect farmers to simply switch to regenerative. Instead, they should be supported with knowledge, training, subsidies, or mutually beneficial private investments. Here is how a global turnover to regenerative agriculture could look like. Interviewed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Patrick Holden, founding director of the Sustainable Food Trust, [proposed](https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/podcasts/podcast-regenerative-farming-the-role-of-leading-food-companies) the following: *"What we now need is a new Paris Agreement for Food, around which all trade is restricted only to regenerative farming methods. So, if for instance we want to import some Australian beef or cheese, the answer would be: yes \[...], as long as the production system is regenerative, not causing harm; but if it is causing harm, the trader should either be banned altogether or subject to tariffs."* In the remaining part of this section we are going to focus on the business opportunities that support regeneration. Our insights are largely based on reviewing the 53 innovation cases from 4Revs. . The illustration below presents a holistic way to look at all the strategic opportunities available in connection to the value chain. For each way to generate a positive impact (see how many relate to land regeneration!), there are plenty of benefits to be gained!

What is insetting? Credit: This image was developed by the International Platform for Insetting (IPI). The IPI is a business-led organisation which advocates for climate action at the source of global value chains. https://www.insettingplatform.com/

## Apply systems thinking across the entire value chain, starting with the soil Rebuilding value chains is no small work, no matter if you are sourcing or making food, fiber, or fuel, the main productive assets of soil. This is where systems thinking comes in and is extremely valuable as a tool. Systems thinking serves to map out and take action with deep consideration for all (interconnected) social, ecological, economical systems. As we will see in the examples below, taking action in line with systems thinking is not something that a company does on its own. On the contrary, it involves a process of talking to diverse groups and stakeholders, understanding risks and benefits, and crafting inclusive actions. **Taking inspiration from fiber production** In an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of textile industries, [Fibershed](https://fibershed.org/) is building a regional manufacturing network. A non-profit in California, they work with 69 farmers and producers to implement Climate Beneficial™ agriculture practices for cropping and grazing, not unlike regenerative agriculture. Their 2022 Carbon Farm [report](https://fibershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-Carbon-Farm-Fund-Report.pdf) counts over 180,000 acres involved in the program and 106,000 metric tons of CO2 to be sequestered in the next 20 years as a result of the transition. To grow the sustainability of the regional market, they connect funders with farmers, and textile artisans with end consumers. They call this ‘soil-to-soil’ fiber systems (a play off ‘cradle-to-cradle’ systems design). **Taking inspiration from fuel production** [EcoFix(K)](https://www.efk.co.ke/) in Kenya is an original nut processing company with a holistic business model. Their main products are biofertilizers, animal seed and fuel (plant oil) for generators. All these products are made from croton, a native, previously-insignificant nut tree. At the origin of their supply chain, thousands of workers are trained to cultivate and harvest the croton tree sustainably. As of 2021, they have planted and preserved over 150,000 trees. Further optimization of the supply chain involves setting up a zero-waste manufacturing process that transforms croton nuts into sustainable energy and organic agri products. Technically speaking, this model supports conservation agriculture and organic cultivation rather than regenerative practices. It is equally relevant for solving supply chain inefficiencies and aligning suppliers in the very market that EcoFix(K) serves. After all, farmers use the biofertilizers themselves. In true systems thinking fashion, environmental stewardship is part of their core business model, it is needed to ensure the long term availability of the raw materials used. In addition to changing how crops are cultivated, processed and manufactured, businesses like Fibershed or EcoFix(K) provide transparent information about where their materials are sourced, and try to overcome the global economy perils: to source their raw materials or products locally, they will invest in a local value chain and community. Last but not least: such businesses continuously support livelihoods, because people are a key component of an effective value chain and a growth economy, aren’t they? ## Regenerative finance: how should companies invest in carbon farming? On the path to environmental sustainability, any business can actively invest in healthy and fertile soils, no matter their industry or area of work. This can be done as part of a systematic assessment, by asking questions like: Where do we source food for the cafeteria? How do we nurture the soil around the office building? Should we work with our suppliers to support sustainable land practices? In order to maximize carbon reduction, it is best to first look at the main sources of a company’s emissions, which stem from the core business and products. Only after that is done, investing in additional tools makes ethical sense. When it comes to carbon farming, interventions can comprise a portfolio of actions in soil stewardship. Companies can purchase voluntary carbon credits from organizations who work with farmers to incentivize, train, collect, aggregate, verify the credits and then put them up for sale. Much can be said about the promise of carbon markets and the core idea at the heart of it: that businesses can claim to be climate neutral by offsetting carbon while continuing to pollute. The voluntary carbon market is a fast growing 2 billion dollar market, expected to reach at least 10 billion in value [by 2030](https://www.reuters.com/markets/carbon/voluntary-carbon-markets-set-become-least-five-times-bigger-by-2030-shell-2023-01-19/). It is imperative to keep a skeptical eye on it, as carbon credits are becoming highly [contested](https://phys.org/news/2023-09-carbon-bogus-solutions-rich-world.html). Most carbon farming happens in the global South, predominantly in Africa, yet that is not where the benefits accrue. The land and the credits sell for cheap (10 dollars), whereas the emitter can use the profits in much larger, non-sustainability operations. In October 2023, one, if not the biggest “unicorn” carbon business, South Pole, was [called out](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/23/the-great-cash-for-carbon-hustle) for selling millions of credits for no real carbon reduction, in a project in Zambia. No matter where you stand on carbon farming, it is worth looking for reliable partners. For example, the Regen Network is a community based organization focused on high impact regeneration and restoration projects. Their blockchain based Regen Marketplace has put over 2 million new credits up for sale in 2023 and sold over 500,000, for diverse projects in the US, Cambodia, Indonesia etc. The price of a credit ranges from 4.5 to 400 US dollars. Many regenerative farmers are involved in carbon sequestration projects, but this takes time. Unfortunately, carbon credits are not accessible by farmers anywhere on the globe, nor are they well regulated (yet). Even though the Global North (Europe, North America, Australia) dominates carbon capturing measuring and soil assessment, the techniques are becoming more and more available. Finally, let us keep in mind that for a business, offsetting carbon should not replace the work to reduce its own direct and indirect emissions associated with sourcing, manufacturing, and selling, no matter the industry it operates in. ## Regenerating nature: Join partnerships to restore land ecosystems Organizations from all over the world are actively restoring ecosystems. In forest farming, permaculture and conservation agriculture, ensuring food security goes hand in hand with restoring biodiversity. Rebuilding natural aquifers replenishes not only water, but also restores soil properties that makes insect and bacterial life possible. Restoring ancient species prevents desertification. Reforestation contributes to the CO2 sequestered in the biomass above ground. An outstanding example of international collaborations is [Mossy Earth](https://mossy.earth/), a non-profit which picks out unique projects to make a difference: the Portuguese coral reefs, the Carpathian wilderness, the Scottish woodlands, you name it. The team travels on-site for periods of time to perform interventions in partnership with various NGOs. The latter have the advantage of knowing everything about the local ecosystems. Their work is funded by public grants and private funding - for example citizens subscriptions. What makes Mossy Earth special is their likeness to a “rescue squad”. They offer a boost to rewilding efforts, sure, but the lively and transparent way they communicate about their actions and results makes the project very successful in building alliances, maximizing public support and fundraising consistently. Mossy Earth is funded through a membership model, with private donations and subscriptions to be part of a lively and passionate community. ## (Bio)Technology: Parse out truly impactful technology In addition to entire systems of practices contributing to soil regeneration, like the ones reviewed above (regenerative agriculture, rewilding..), there are a multitude of solutions based on specific technologies. You might have heard of bioremediation (introducing beneficial bacteria in the soil), biofertilizers, or advances in high tech to improve agricultural activities.\ \ Like industry 4.0, [agriculture 4.0](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666603022000173) focuses on harnessing the potential of digital tools, big data, the AI or the Internet of things to make farming more efficient. [Small Robot Company](https://smallrobotco.com/) is a UK based company illustrating that. Their three robots are programmed to perform different field precision tasks and services. Some are directed with a remote controller, while others have full autonomy. The company makes bold pledges: that their robots will increase yield by up to 40%, reduce costs by up to 60%, and reduce the use of chemicals and emissions by up to 95%. Could robots really make farming not only more efficient, but also more sustainable? Could they ensure food for all 11 billion of us in the future? Given labor shortages or food price increases in some parts of the world, they can make a contribution. It remains to be seen how accessible they will be in the future, given that the regions which might benefit the most from agri technology are also the poorest. At the same time, any drive towards efficiency in the traditional agricultural system risks depleting the diversity of the soil microbiome, which in turn can have long term effects on the human microbiome and health. An important takeaway from the 4Revs dataset is that very few technology innovations related to land score high on key values. Let’s briefly look at two impactful technologies: a 21st century typical technology, and an ancient technology: 1. Biodegradable film for rice cultivation. I recently learned that the reason why rice is typically submerged in water is to help fight off weeds. Rice is a water intensive crop and it emits a lot of methane in its production. Green and Seed Corp. in the Republic of Korea invented the Seed Feed Cultivation (SFC) film that protects rice seeds and helps them grow without needing water. Their method automatizes many field tasks, enables reduction of water use by 70% and reduction of methane generation by 90%. What I find most interesting is not that this method could make rice cultivation possible in dry fields, or in fields traditionally used for other crops. After all, [Masanobu Fukuoka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka) also did that with his natural farming technique pioneered in the 1940s, his lifelong practice and an invaluable legacy to farmers all over the world. In the case of SFC, however, a technical innovation can make a new way of cultivation more scalable and readily available in a time when it is sorely needed.
2. Biochar (or "black earth") is an ancient technique first used by the Amazonian indigenous tribes, touted by the IPCC in 2018 as a [‘negative emissions’](https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/faq/faq-chapter-4/) technology: a way to directly remove CO2 and store it underground for a long time. Biochar is carbonized charcoal (min. 80% carbon) produced by burning organic materials in the absence of oxygen. In addition to its main property of storing CO2, adding biochar to topsoil acts as a soil amendment, attracting nutrients and helping plants grow. As it is often the case with technology, the way it is produced and used at scale is crucial. Biochar is only a sustainable solution if it uses waste materials and waste biomass, instead of trees or crops.\ \ NetZero is a French climate venture that operates in Cameroon, in Central Africa. The country is 40% covered by tropical forests and 80% of its working population practices agriculture. Going back to the biochar origin story, it was always near the humid tropics where the most biomass per acre was produced. By using the largely available coffee husks leftovers from large coffee operations, the venture produces biochar. It then sells this natural soil-augment to the many farmers who supply the coffee processor with beans. It also supplies neighboring areas with the electricity generated by the plant. In this circular model, they are turning a potential waste product into an agricultural support, in a country where the socioeconomics of agriculture are rife with obstacles.\ NetZero’s plant is the first large-scale biochar operation in Africa, followed by one in Brazil (‘the world's largest facility producing biochar from crop residues’). With these successes, they are in the process of replication and [scaling](https://netzero.green/en/production-sites/). ## Conclusion Reversing degraded farmland is not an isolated task. Often, the solutions proposed are of a fleeting nature: they optimize an agricultural process, or capture CO2. What we learn upon studying 4Revs is that the innovations which score the highest have something else in common: they work out connections between systems, no matter if they are small or big operations.\ \ Firstly, they are highly sophisticated in their models of value creation. They dare to re-think the entire system around the land, and not just focus on one function or segment of the value chain. The bigger the land biodiversity, the more carbon it can store, and the greater its capacity to give humans what we subsist and thrive on: food, fiber and fuel.\ \ Secondly, the most promising innovations are highly collaborative. They have an added way of doing things - which is the way of community. Community driven-regeneration is at the heart of true innovations. Efforts fare best when many stakeholders are involved, from shareholders all the way to end users, in true systems thinking fashion: * Local textile manufacturing is supported through hands-on community education on carbon farming techniques (Fibershed) * Large conglomerates invest in building relationship with their suppliers (Danone) * Trusted carbon marketplaces need strong community governance, for example, to co-develop robust indicators for impact project measurement (Regen Network)