Ammar Sabilarrohman
Dwi Wanna
Nana Wu
Neng Nana
Nana
For decades, the global food system has been locked in a paradigm of extraction—prioritizing yield at the expense of ecological integrity and rural vitality. In recent years, "regenerative agriculture" has emerged as the buzzword of choice for those seeking a corrective. However, as the movement scales, a critical debate has surfaced: is regeneration defined by the specific practices a farmer employs, or by the actual results they produce on the land?
Olivia Boothman, Projects Manager at the Global Farm Metric, argues that the future of farming lies not in a rigid checklist of methods, but in an outcomes-based framework. This shift is now being solidified by the launch of the Regen10 Outcomes Framework, a globally co-developed initiative designed to harmonize how we measure, support, and incentivize the restoration of our planet’s food systems.
Main Facts: Shifting the Paradigm
The core contention of the new framework is that regenerative agriculture is not a monolithic set of rules. While principles such as "no-till farming," "cover cropping," or "managed grazing" are useful, they are merely tools—not the goal itself.
The Regen10 Outcomes Framework posits that true regeneration must be defined by:
- Ecological Health: Measurable improvements in soil carbon, biodiversity, and water quality.
- Human Health: Enhanced nutritional value of food and the economic prosperity of farming communities.
- Contextual Adaptability: Recognizing that a "solution" in the dry plains of Australia may be detrimental in the wet hills of Cornwall.
By focusing on outcomes, the framework allows for regional nuance, enabling farmers to act as stewards of their specific landscapes rather than technicians following a one-size-fits-all manual.
Chronology: A Personal and Professional Evolution
The rise of this framework is the result of years of observation and cross-sector collaboration.
- 2020: The Catalyst: For Olivia Boothman, then a farm vet in Cornwall, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a profound wake-up call. As supply chains faltered, she witnessed local farmers stepping up to feed their communities, exposing the fragility of globalized food systems and the resilience of localized production.
- 2020–2021: The Deep Dive: During long, on-call shifts, Boothman immersed herself in agricultural literature, exploring concepts like the 4per1000 initiative and the holistic stewardship philosophies found in James Rebanks’ English Pastoral.
- 2022: The Groundswell Moment: At the Groundswell Festival, Boothman observed the industry’s reliance on the "five principles" of regenerative agriculture. While practical, she realized these principles risked becoming a "new dogma" if not tied to tangible, site-specific outcomes.
- 2023–2024: The Development of Regen10: Bringing together NGOs, farmers, Indigenous groups, and policymakers, the Regen10 collective began distilling years of feedback into a singular, globally recognized framework that anchors all stakeholders in a shared language of success.
Supporting Data: Why "Outcomes" Outperform "Practices"
The challenge with defining regenerative agriculture through practices alone is the risk of "greenwashing" and tactical failure. For example, applying "no-till" practices without considering the specific soil type or local climate can lead to unintended consequences, such as increased reliance on herbicides.
The Problem of Context
A farm is not a static factory. It is a living, evolving ecosystem influenced by:
- Historical Land Use: Centuries of past management determine current soil health.
- Economic Pressures: Smallholder farmers and industrial operations face vastly different financial realities.
- Climate Variability: As seen in drought-prone regions, sometimes the "ideal" regenerative practice must be set aside to ensure the immediate survival of the ecosystem.
Data suggests that by focusing on outcomes—such as the percentage increase in soil organic matter or the return of native species—farmers retain the agency to pivot their strategies. This autonomy is essential for long-term buy-in from the agricultural community.
Official Responses and Stakeholder Alignment
The development of the Regen10 framework involved extensive consultation with diverse stakeholders, including the Global Farm Metric (GFM), which provides the underlying data infrastructure.
Industry experts highlight that the framework functions similarly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Just as the SDGs do not dictate exactly how a nation should achieve gender equality or clean energy, the Regen10 framework does not dictate how to farm. Instead, it provides the "common language" that allows a banker in London, a policymaker in Brussels, and a farmer in Kenya to agree on what "success" looks like.
"When I started," says Boothman, "people were primarily focused on carbon sequestration. Now, through these consultations, we have broadened the scope to include social and community outcomes, ensuring that farming regenerates people as much as it restores the soil."
Implications: The Road Ahead
The shift toward an outcomes-based model has massive implications for the future of the food system:
1. Investment and Finance
Investors and banks are increasingly under pressure to demonstrate the "sustainability" of their portfolios. A clear, outcome-based framework provides the metrics needed for "green bonds" and sustainability-linked loans, ensuring that capital flows to those who are actually improving land health, rather than just those who tick a box.
2. Policy and Regulation
Governments are currently drafting post-subsidy agricultural policies. The Regen10 framework provides a template for public-money-for-public-goods schemes. Instead of paying farmers to simply plant cover crops, governments can pay for verified outcomes—such as cleaner water or increased local biodiversity.
3. Empowerment of the Farmer
Perhaps the most significant implication is the restoration of the farmer’s role as an expert. By moving away from rigid protocols, the framework trusts the farmer’s on-the-ground knowledge. It encourages a culture of continuous improvement, where the question is not "Am I regenerative?" but "How much better is my land, my community, and my business today than it was yesterday?"
4. A Dynamic Definition of Success
The framework recognizes that regeneration is a process, not a destination. No farm can be "fully" regenerative because nature is always changing. By setting a framework that allows for continuous assessment, the industry can move away from the "all or nothing" debates that have previously hampered progress.
Conclusion: A Vision for the Future
The journey from a curious vet in Cornwall to a global advocate for farm metrics highlights a vital shift in the agricultural zeitgeist. We are moving beyond the simplistic era of "do this, don’t do that" and entering an era of sophisticated, site-specific, and outcomes-driven stewardship.
As the Regen10 Outcomes Framework gains traction, it offers a beacon of clarity in a crowded field of environmental claims. By grounding our efforts in the actual health of our soils, the prosperity of our farmers, and the vitality of our communities, we move closer to a food system that does not just "do less harm," but actively heals the landscapes upon which all life depends.
For those interested in exploring the framework, the Regen10 website serves as a hub for global cooperation, providing the tools and references necessary to align local farming efforts with global ecological targets.
Basiran
Asep Darmawan
