Regenerative agriculture and net-zero: mapping the evidence

Regenerative agriculture (RA) has the potential to aid progress towards net-zero in the agri-food system, while increasing sustainability and resilience of UK agriculture (for example, by reducing artificial fertiliser needs and soil erosion). However, measuring the contribution of RA to reaching net-zero is hampered by a lack of readily available, transparent and collated evidence of impacts.

This project aims to use systematic mapping methodology to collate and summarise existing evidence for the impact of five representative RA practices (cover crops; integrating livestock; minimum or zero tillage; intercropping; under-sowing) on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural yield. We will use pre-defined search and inclusion criteria, co-developed with food system stakeholders, to collate evidence from scientific and ‘grey’ literature. Relevant data will be extracted to identify research patterns and gaps to inform future research, policy and practice. Outputs will include a searchable database of evidence, a research paper, and a policy brief.

Project lead: Richard Francksen, Newcastle University

Project members: Nicola Randall, Harper Adams University; Jennifer Hodbod, University of Leeds; Fiona Fraser, Scotland’s Rural College; Samuel Eze, Harper Adams University; Payton Yau, Scotland’s Rural College; Leonidas Rempelos, University of Lincoln​

Findings

• Research in temperate-oceanic climates on five agricultural practices, representative of regenerative agriculture, has increased over time, with steady growth from the 1990s and a sharp rise after 2020, reflecting growing research interest.
• Research heatmaps reveal clear gaps in knowledge, with some regenerative practices, such as intercropping and reduced tillage, receiving substantial attention, while others, like livestock integration and undersowing, remain underexplored. Most studies focus on agricultural yield, with far fewer examining greenhouse gas emissions—primarily nitrous oxide (N₂O)—leaving significant gaps in understanding other gases and broader environmental impacts.
• Very few studies have examined multiple regenerative practices being used together, despite their common application in real farming systems. This limits insights into potential synergies, trade-offs, and their combined effects on both productivity and sustainability.
• There is a need for more consistent and comprehensive research into the impacts of regenerative agriculture, particularly on how different regenerative practices interact, their environmental impacts beyond yield and N₂O emissions, and their application in temperate-oceanic climates.

Suggestions for further research

Future research should prioritise addressing key knowledge gaps in regenerative agriculture within temperate-oceanic farming systems. This includes examining the roles of livestock integration and undersowing, particularly their impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural yield. Studies should also assess the combined effects of multiple regenerative practices, identifying potential synergies or trade-offs in productivity and environmental outcomes. Beyond nitrous oxide (N₂O), research should explore broader greenhouse gas emissions, including whole-farm impacts related to fertiliser and machinery use. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the sustainability of regenerative practices across varying climatic conditions and soil types. Additionally, a more comprehensive approach is required to assess the environmental, economic, and social implications of regenerative agriculture, including its scalability and adoption potential across diverse farming systems. Addressing these gaps will provide a clearer evidence base to support more effective and sustainable implementation of regenerative practices.