REALMS: A journey towards healthier soils, environment and food

Conventional agriculture has come under widespread criticism for its negative effects on soil health and biodiversity, and its significant contribution to climate change. Reliance on chemical fertilisers and monoculture practices has led to soil degradation, reduced biodiversity and increased greenhouse gas emissions, which have accelerated climate change and its impacts. Agricultural activities are responsible for approximately 10-12% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, underscoring the urgent need to reform current food production practices.

In response to these challenges, Regenerative Agriculture (RA) has emerged as a promising alternative that focuses on working in harmony with natural ecosystems. RA aims to restore soil health and enhance biodiversity, thereby addressing the root causes of climate change. Its principles include understanding the context, minimising soil disturbance, maximising crop diversity, maintaining soil cover, ensuring the presence of living roots throughout the year, and integrating livestock into farming systems. A key aspect of RA is the use of nature-based solutions, such as biocontrol methods, which utilize natural agents to manage pests and diseases, reducing the need for synthetic pesticides and minimising chemical run-off and associated environmental impacts.

With funding from The IKEA Foundation, SNV and its partners have been implementing the Regenerative Agricultural Practices for Improved Livelihoods and MarketS (REALMS) project in Western Kenya and Western Rwanda since November 2020. The project aims to create enabling conditions for the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices at all levels: production by smallholder farmers, markets by small and medium enterprises, and policy support through a strengthened enabling environment.

In August 2024, the REALMS project held a three-day learning event in Kigali and Rubavu to celebrate and reflect on the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from the past four years of project implementation. The learning event brought together farmers, SMEs, researchers, government agencies and donors to discuss the impact of the project on farmers' livelihoods, markets and the policy environment. The REALMS project has focused on three interrelated pathways to transform agriculture in Kenya and Rwanda. Through a retrospective analysis, project partners and stakeholders identified key successes, challenges and opportunities for scaling and sustainability.

Farmers

Farmers still face several barriers to the adoption of RA practices. The lack of supportive agricultural policies is a major barrier, leaving farmers without adequate support structures. In addition, the benefits of RA take time to materialise and require a long-term investment which often discourages farmers. The lack of raw materials to produce RA inputs and the scarcity of RA inputs and services further hamper adoption. Critically, farmers find it difficult to switch to RA products because there are no established markets willing to pay a premium for such products.

These challenges can be addressed by increasing farmers' knowledge of the environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture (RA), establishing Farmer Field Schools (FFS) as cooperatives to improve market access, integrating gender- and youth-specific needs into FFS training for inclusivity, and training more farmers in local production methods to facilitate adoption. Building evidence of RA's benefits, such as better yields and soil health, will also encourage wider adoption and reduce perceived risks.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

The main challenges for SMEs in the regenerative agriculture (RA) sector include the lack of a standardized certification for RA products, which hinders market access, reduces consumer confidence, and impacts operational efficiency. Additionally, access to finance remains a significant barrier, with over 25% of African SMEs citing the cost and availability of finance as major constraints. Limited collateral and financial literacy further exacerbate this issue, as many SMEs are perceived as high-risk borrowers by formal financial institutions. Moreover, unstructured last-mile distribution channels and inefficient logistics lead to higher costs, delays, and spoilage, undermining their competitive advantage and scalability.

To support SMEs in the regenerative agriculture (RA) sector, simplifying the certification process is key, such as reducing administrative burdens, fees, and providing technical assistance to help SMEs meet RA standards. Improved access to finance can be achieved through tailored financing mechanisms and raising awareness of funding opportunities, while offering capacity building on investment readiness. Strengthening last-mile distribution networks by linking SMEs with distributors and consumers, alongside leveraging technology for logistics optimization, will ensure smoother market access and better operational efficiency for RA products.

Effective advocacy for RA requires adequate resources. Efforts must be well-funded to ensure that they reach policymakers and other relevant stakeholders. This includes human resources capable of conducting outreach, organising events and engaging at all levels. Without these resources, advocacy efforts may struggle to gain traction and influence policy changes that support the adoption of RA.

Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) are essential for enabling collaboration in the RA field but require time to mature and establish trust among stakeholders. To ensure success, it is important to encourage ownership of MSPs by local governments and align strategies with national priorities. High-quality research is also critical for shaping RA policy; however, it requires funding and partnerships between academia, government, and NGOs to ensure robust, contextually relevant findings. Making this research accessible through user-friendly formats, like infographics or policy briefs, can help inform farmers, policymakers, and the public more effectively.

Transforming agriculture towards regenerative practices is essential to reverse the negative trends associated with conventional agriculture. By embracing nature-based solutions and focusing on sustainability, the agricultural sector can play a key role in combating climate change, restoring biodiversity and ensuring food security for future generations.