Regenerative agriculture rebuilds soil, cuts input costs, and makes farms more resilient – offering a practical, future-focused way to strengthen South Africa’s food system.
South Africa’s agricultural system is increasingly vulnerable. Climate volatility, declining soil health, rising input costs, and an aging, shrinking base of commercial farmers are placing growing pressure on the country’s ability to feed itself. At the same time, smallholder and emerging farmers continue to face systemic barriers to participating in the formal food economy.
There is no single solution to these challenges – but rather, a promising and practical shift is gaining momentum: regenerative agriculture. It is not just a different way of farming, but a different way of thinking about the relationship between land, productivity, and resilience.
The State of Farming in South Africa
Much of South Africa’s agricultural land is used for monocropping, which involves planting the same crop repeatedly on the same land. While this model has historically supported high volumes of production, it comes at a cost: depleted soils, reduced biodiversity, increased dependency on chemical inputs, and heightened vulnerability to drought and disease.
The economic model underpinning this system is also under strain. Commercial input costs have risen dramatically in recent years, particularly fertilisers and pesticides. At the same time, climate uncertainty is making production less predictable and more risky. As a result, many farmers – especially smaller commercial operations – are exiting the sector altogether.
Meanwhile, many smallholder farmers continue to farm on degraded land with limited support. Without reliable access to finance, markets, or technical advice, their potential to contribute to a more inclusive and food-secure economy remains largely untapped.
Regenerative agriculture offers a pathway to address these interconnected challenges: ecological, economic, and social.
What Regeneration Looks Like in Practice
Regenerative agriculture involves adapting practices to local conditions, but typically includes:
- Reduced or no-till farming, which helps retain soil structure and moisture
- Cover cropping, to prevent erosion and promote soil fertility
- Diverse crop rotations, which help manage pests and improve nutrient cycling
- Managed grazing, which mimics natural herd movement and enriches pastureland
- Composting and organic amendments, to increase the soil’s organic matter and reduce chemical reliance
How Regenerative Agriculture Differs from Organic Farming
Regenerative agriculture is sometimes confused with organic farming, but the two approaches are distinct. Organic farming is largely defined by what it avoids—no synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or genetically modified seeds. While these exclusions can reduce environmental harm, they do not necessarily result in improved soil health or increased resilience.
Regenerative agriculture is focused on outcomes. It aims to rebuild soil organic matter, restore biodiversity, improve water retention, and increase the long-term viability of farming. Practices like cover cropping, rotational grazing, and minimal tillage are used not just to reduce impact, but to actively restore ecological function. The focus is on regeneration, not just sustainability.
This distinction matters, particularly in the South African context, where degraded land, water scarcity, and climate stress are all intensifying. We do not just need to farm differently; we need to reverse the damage that had already been done.
Impact Amplifier’s Role in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture
Impact Amplifier is leading a national initiative with the African Climate Foundation to help build a more sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive farming sector in South Africa. Read more about the project here.
This initiative includes:
- Developing policy recommendations that support regenerative outcomes
- Creating financial mechanisms to de-risk the transition for farmers
- Strengthening data systems to track soil health and ecosystem performance
- Facilitating technical support for farmers at various scales and in different contexts
- Building market infrastructure that rewards regenerative practices through procurement and certification
This work is grounded in collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain, including commercial and smallholder farmers, financiers, policymakers, and technical experts, and informed by practical experience from farmers already leading the way.
Looking Ahead
Regenerative agriculture is not a silver bullet, nor is it a return to the past. It is a future-forward strategy that combines ecological intelligence with economic pragmatism. It has the potential to make South African farming more resilient, more inclusive, and more viable in the face of climate and economic uncertainty.