Regenerative agriculture is caring for Brazilian farmers greatest asset: their land

Complex problems require complex solutions. There’s no question that the puzzle of global food security is a challenge. How can we kickstart agricultural productivity by the necessary 50% to feed a global population projected to reach 10 billion people in 2050??

Regenerative agriculture is rising in agriculture policy and development circles, thanks to its promise of climate-smart farming practices that can lift crop yields while conserving soils that sequester vast amounts of carbon. It’s an incentivizing approach that could serve as a boon for food security and a bulwark against climate change.

But the practice is no mere buzzword for the farmers who practice it every day. Cassio Kossatz is a second-generation farmer and agricultural director of K2 Agro group farms, located in Ponta Grossa in southern Brazil. The family farming operation covers 4,000 hectares dedicated to growing soy, corn, beans, wheat, and barley.

Kossatz says that no-till farming – a regenerative agriculture technique that minimizes soil disruption and helps keep carbon in the ground – is not only vital to their farm operation. It’s fundamental to their way of life.

“This region of the Campos Gerais is the cradle of no-till farming,” says Kossatz. “It is not an option; it is a matter of survival. If we hadn't implemented the system, there probably wouldn't be any more agriculture in the region, because the area would be very degraded.”

To ensure sustainable production on his farm, Kossatz has turned to other regenerative practices like intercropping, to protect his soil between crop cycles. His investment in regenerative agriculture is deepening through his participation in the Bayer Carbon Farming initiative, which is building the evidence base for regenerative agriculture across value chains and geographies.

In Brazil, Bayer PRO Carbono is the leading carbon farming initiative in the region, generating credibility and buy-in for regenerative agriculture practices among growers. Since its inception in 2020, the program has expanded to include more than 2,000 growers like Kossatz, covering more than 200,000 hectares of farmland. The program is building an evidence base for carbon farming in Brazil and across Latin America – making the case to growers that regenerative agriculture will have a positive impact on their soil, productivity, and bottom lines.

As a native of Brazil, it’s an effort that is especially close to my heart. I connected with Fábio Passos , Head of Carbon Venture for Bayer Crop Science in Brazil, and Antonio Everaldo, Executive Program Manager, Carbon Venture, to learn more about how this innovative program is setting the trajectory for sustainable farming in Brazil and across Latin America.

“Growers tend to think about their farm operations in terms of their crops, but it’s about their systems,” says Passos. Whether growing corn, soy, cotton, or other commercial crops, it’s the use of regenerative agriculture practices – such as no-tillage, crop rotation, and the use of cover crops – that move the needle on sustainability. The program is shifting mindsets among growers in the program as more participants are adopting a systems-thinking approach to their operations.

“What will be the changes that we propose for them in practice, and how can they produce more with low risk and in the end, sequester more carbon in the soil?” Passos says.

Technology plays a key role in measuring the success of the program. Growers can use Bayer’s Climate FieldView technology to track evidence in the correlation between the presence of carbon in soil and gains in productivity – making the case that regenerative agriculture is good for their businesses. The idea behind this technology is simple: prove to farmers that engaging in regenerative agriculture best practices yields better outcomes. Climate FieldView tool has also made it easier for Kossatz to develop management strategies on the farm, allowing him to make the best decisions for the health of his most important asset.

“The greatest asset for a farmer is the land,” he says. “We see lots of examples of farmers doing the right thing: conserving forests, water and soil. I fight for what I believe in. We see that there are many benefits in conservation practices, such as keeping the soil protected from a rain, which would cause erosion, taking away nutrients.”

The carbon farming program in Brazil is a centerpiece of Bayer’s ambitious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in select agriculture markets. Doing so requires changing systems-thinking to transform crop value chains, reducing emissions across the crop system.?

That aligns with growing interest in regenerative agriculture from the private sector, as agribusiness looks to achieve net-zero in their operations to meet growing consumer demand for climate-friendly practices. PepsiCo has pledged to scale regenerative farming across 7 million acres by 2030, while Nestle is investing 1.2 billion Euros in sustainable agriculture across its operations, among numerous recent commitments from the private sector.

Interest in carbon farming is an inflection point for the agriculture sector, and the Bayer Carbon Farming Initiative is a waypoint for growers and businesses navigating the transition.

“Growers are feeling that demands are changing,” Everaldo says. “This is a unique opportunity to test a new business model and new solutions for low carbon products. It’s a simple equation: We are looking to increase yields while using fewer resources.”

“This is a path with no turning back,” adds Passos. “Consumers are asking for this and shareholders are asking for this, so now we need to demonstrate the value of this transformation.”

For growers, regenerative agriculture is an opportunity to do the right thing for their businesses and for the planet. Kossatz sees it as a chance to build on the conservation legacy begun by his father, Celso.

“I see this as an opportunity to fight climate change and to position agribusiness as a solution,” he adds. “The conservationist practices on the farm started with my father, I just continue them. Now, by being part of the PRO Carbono Initiative, we've been able to intensify best practices in regenerative agriculture and to see its value to our farm.”