MPI to look into regenerative farming practices

Funding will be provided through the Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) co-investment fund.

MPI chief science advisor Dr John Roche said that MPI saw regenerative farming as a set of practices that, in isolation or collectively, could result in improved outcomes for land, animals, and growers.

“Regenerative agriculture is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ activity with prescribed inputs and outputs,” Roche said.

He said that some practices New Zealand farmers already used could be considered regenerative.

“By determining which farming practices have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and human health and wellbeing in the New Zealand context, we’ll be able to confidently share these regenerative practices widely with farmers,” he said.

“An important part of these projects will be turning the findings into practical information for farmers, to help them adopt methods that are shown to work.”

MPI’s director investment programmes, Steve Penno, said there was increasing interest from farmers and the wider community in regenerative agricultural practices.

“We’re looking to define what regenerative agriculture means from a New Zealand perspective, and develop a sound evidence base to test and confirm what works in our soils, climates, and farming systems,” he said.

“We’re excited about what the future may hold in the regenerative agriculture space and we encourage anyone who thinks their idea might be eligible to get in touch.”