Regenerative agriculture and circular nutrients

CIRCULANDIA helps farmers move to regenerative practices that rebuild soil health, store carbon and support biodiversity – while nutrients from local side streams are returned to the fields instead of going to waste.

Regenerative agriculture is recognised in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal as a key action for nature. Practices such as crop rotation, cover crops and reduced tillage improve soil carbon storage, water retention and habitats for pollinators. Globally the movement is growing, through initiatives such as the 4 per 1000 soil carbon initiative.

Why it matters

The stakes are high. Producing synthetic nitrogen fertilisers is highly energy-intensive, emitting roughly 6–10 kg CO?e per kilogram of nitrogen, and keeps Europe dependent on imported gas and fertilisers. Nutrient runoff from farmland pollutes rivers and seas: in the Baltic Sea, agriculture is the largest diffuse source of nutrients, and eutrophication remains the dominant problem. At the same time, the EU is off-track on several of its biodiversity targets. Yet the transition is not easy.

Farmers often lack locally relevant guidance, there is no universally accepted definition or certification for regenerative agriculture, and practical, scalable and cost-effective monitoring and verification methods are still needed.

How CIRCULANDIA moves it forward

While no standard or certificate for regenerative farming exists, there are established definitions and various industry driven frameworks in use as foundations for incentive programmes and sustainability reporting. CIRCULANDIA will benchmark regenerative farming methods, criteria and standards across Europe and globally to establish a common understanding and help guide scalable demonstrations and solutions for farmers, companies and municipal actors.  

Finnish Meteorological Institute will measuring the benefits with their satellite-based CARBS-system for monitoring, reporting and verifying soil carbon changes and demonstrating the applicability of the system for municipal and region level as well as food chain climate assessment. By turning municipal and citizen-generated organic side streams, such as green waste, food waste and horse bedding into safe, high-quality compost, fertilisers and growing media will close nutrient loops. The Baltic Sea Action Group’s regenerative farming courses will support building skills through farm management tools and peer learning for farmers. And for the farmers to have a stable market for their produce, action is required to creating demand by linking regenerative farming to public food procurement.

The demonstrations

The demonstration takes place in the City of Vantaa and the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Finland. Vantaa makes 400 hectares of municipal farmland available for regenerative practices and for introducing the soil carbon monitoring system. Vantaa also develops a food governance model that aligns land use, procurement and food policies. Local organic side streams are mapped and tested with fast, modular composting technologies.

The solutions are replicated in Møre and Romsdal, Norway, on 100 hectares of public and private land, and in the European Metropolis of Lille, France, which improves the quality of local compost for soil restoration.

What we aim to achieve

• 15–20 % lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional farming
• 3–5 % mitigation of soil carbon losses, with better nutrient and water retention
• Up to 20 % more biodiversity, measured by crop diversity and periods of green cover
• 3–5 new local biostreams turned into 2 000–4 000 tonnes of compost
• At least 200 new participants in regenerative farming training

Regenerative agriculture and circular nutrients form one of CIRCULANDIA’s three interlinked value chains. Healthy soils supply local food systems, and the nutrients that return to the fields close the loop.

Are you interested to hear more?

Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) – Leads regenerative farming and circular nutrient activities, including demonstrations, capacity building and replication.

Contact:
kaj.granholm@bsag.fi