Regenerative Agriculture for a Sustainable Future
We are working to support 20 regenerative agriculture programs worldwide with our business partners by 2030, to contribute to a more sustainable value chain from plant-based raw materials to finished products.
What is regenerative agriculture,
and how does it differ from conventional and organic farming?
- Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach dedicated to restoring and improving soil health, biodiversity, water cycles, and overall ecosystem function. Regenerative farming prioritizes natural processes that rebuild soil fertility and sequester carbon, making farms more resilient to climate change.
- Conventional agriculture relies on the careful use of fertilizers and plant protection products, as well as the selection of cultivated varieties aimed at optimizing yields and on mechanization. Practiced in strict accordance with current standards and regulations, it has significantly improved agricultural productivity and effectively met global food demand. Moreover, in many countries, conventional agriculture increasingly incorporates sustainable practices and technological innovations to limit its environmental impact. However, despite these advances, it can still present challenges regarding soil health and biodiversity conservation.
- Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, but it may not always address soil regeneration.
Why is regenerative agriculture important?
This approach supports not only the environment and farmers, but also the entire value chain. While manufacturers need to safeguard their sourcing in the face of climate change, consumer demand for sustainable and local ingredients is also growing. The three pillars of regenerative agriculture are environmental, economic, and social. Regenerative agriculture offers the following distinct benefits:
- Environment – Regenerative methods have a positive impact on the biology and physiology of the soil, which helps crops be more resilient to climate change, improves water retention, and supports biodiversity.
- Farmers – It increases farm resilience, lowers input costs over time, helps improve soil health, and reduces the volatility of yields in case of adverse weather conditions.
- Consumers – Regenerative farming aims to reduce the usage of chemicals inputs in the long term thanks to a holistic approach at the farm level, improving, among other things, biodiversity.
Regenerative farming supports healthier crops with improved nutrient uptake, and it is part of the solution for more sustainable food for the future.
Key regenerative agriculture practices
The three main pillars are:
- Cover cropping – Planting cover crops protects soil from erosion, adds organic matter, stores carbon, and boosts biodiversity.
- Crop rotation and diversity – Growing different crops in sequence or together enhances soil structure and health, breaks pest cycles, and fosters biodiversity.
- Reduced tillage or no-tillage – Minimizing soil disturbance preserves soil structure and biodiversity in the soil.
Examples of other possible actions:
- Organic amendments – Adding organic matter feeds soil microbes, sequesters carbon, and boosts fertility.
- Agroecological features – Establishing hedgerows and habitats improves soil quality, fosters wildlife, and increases ecosystem resilience.
Transitioning to regenerative agriculture requires investment for the farmer and new techniques, but it provides lasting benefits in terms of resilience and the environment.
Roquette’s commitment to regenerative agriculture
As a global leader in plant-based ingredients, we are committed to promoting regenerative agriculture in our supply chain worldwide and to meeting consumer expectations and our customers’ need for sustainable and local sourcing. We work closely with our partners throughout the value chain, from farmers to our customers, to:
- Co-develop long-term programs with farmers to train them in regenerative practices, pilot new techniques in collaboration with local communities, and support the transition with financial incentives.
- Set pilot projects to measure and verify the environmental benefits of regenerative practices.
Benefits of regenerative agriculture
While it can take several years to see the full results, benefits of regenerative agriculture include:
- Improved soil health, structure and fertility
- Increased water retention and resilience to drought
- Enhanced field biodiversity
- Reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- Stable yields and improved long-term farm resilience and performance
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic, forward-thinking approach that benefits the planet, farmers, and consumers. Roquette’s pilot projects have demonstrated advances in soil quality and farmer participation, with broader impacts becoming evident through ongoing measurement over several years.
Regenerative agriculture partnerships
Since 2023, we have established new partnerships and been building on current ones to promote regenerative agriculture.
In 2023 and 2024, Roquette actively committed to regenerative agriculture and the agroecological transition by:
- Joining VIVESCIA’s TRANSITIONS program
- Becoming a member of the Pour une Agriculture du Vivant (PADV – For Living Agriculture) movement, participating in the COVALO Hauts-de-France territorial coalition, and in the first Payment for Regenerative Environmental Services
- Supporting Truterra in the United States.
These partnerships aim to improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and protect biodiversity at the heart of more sustainable food supply chains.
Looking forward
Through collective action and ongoing innovation, we are committed to strengthening the adoption of regenerative agriculture worldwide. Our partnerships empower farmers, benefit communities, and contribute to a resilient, sustainable future with high-quality plant-based ingredients sourced through environmentally responsible practices.
If you would like to discuss partnering with us on regenerative agriculture, please get in touch with our agronomy, purchasing, or sustainability team.