Agriculture : Understanding the continuum from conventional to regenerative

Credits dendoktoor

Agriculture is often framed in extremes: “good” versus “bad,” “sustainable” versus “conventional.” In reality, farming systems exist on a continuum, shaped by different practices, goals, and environmental impacts.
From highly input-dependent systems to approaches focused on ecosystem restoration, each agricultural method influences soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, and long-term productivity in different ways.

Understanding this spectrum helps farmers, companies, and policymakers move beyond labels and focus on practical progress.
This article explores the main agricultural approaches along this continuum and provides simple, concrete examples of how farms can move toward more sustainable and nature-positive practices.

The 6 main agricultural types from least to most sustainable

1. Conventional or industrial agriculture

Conventional agriculture prioritises maximising short-term yields and economic efficiency by using high levels of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, mechanisation, monocultures, and intensive tillage (frequent or deep ploughing of the soil). Its core practice is reliance on external chemical inputs to achieve predictable, high output across large areas¹.
While this system has supported global food production, it often degrades soil health, reduces biodiversity, and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions through energy-intensive practices².

Monoculture: credits Konyvesotto

Get started: By regularly testing and monitoring the soil, farmers can pinpoint nutrient gaps, reduce unnecessary fertiliser use, lower costs, and improve the long-term soil health and productivity.

1 final_position-paper_regenerative-agriculture_v3-final.pdf
2 Synergistic conservation approaches for nurturing soil, food security and human health towards sustainable development goals – ScienceDirect

2. Improved conventional or efficiency-based agriculture

Efficiency-based systems still depend on external inputs intensively but focuses on efficiency gains. Practices include precision fertilisation, targeted pesticide application, and improved irrigation, to reduce waste and cost without fundamentally redesigning the system.

It can lower input use and environmental harm compared with conventional methods. However, the underlying reliance on synthetics persists, and systemic soil and biodiversity issues remain largely unaddressed.

Targeted pesticide application : credits Lxz2208180358

Get started: By applying pesticides only where and when pests are present, farmers can reduce chemical use, protect beneficial insects, cut costs, and maintain stable yields.

3. Sustainable agriculture

Sustainable³ agriculture combines food production with environmental protection. Typical practices include reduced tillage, crop rotations, improved nutrient management, and moderate use of agroforestry. It aims to balance production with ecological protection.

These systems typically improve soil quality and reduce pollution, but they do not transform the entire system, as they still rely on some external inputs.

Agroforestry patches : credits npTruong28

Get started: By introducing small agroforestry elements, such as trees or shrubs within fields, farmers can improve soil structure, enhance biodiversity, support pollinators, and manage water and nutrients more naturally.

_{3 What is sustainable agriculture? | Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (UC Davis)}

4. Agroecological agriculture

Agroecology ⁴applies ecological principles to the design of farming systems. It promotes biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and energy efficiency through practices such as polycultures, diversified rotations, soil cover, and integrated pest management to mimic natural ecosystems.

Agroecological systems often show higher resilience, improved soil health, increased biodiversity, and lower dependency on external inputs than conventional or standard sustainable systems.

Polycultures : credits Bruttos

Get started: By planting polycultures, farmers can reduce pest pressure naturally, improve nutrient cycling, and stabilise yields through increased biological diversity.

_{4 Agroecology for a sustainable agriculture and food system: from local solutions to large-scale adoption | Annual Review of Resource Economics}

5. Organic or biological agriculture

Organic⁵ agriculture prohibits synthetic chemicals and GMOs and emphasises crop rotations, organic soil inputs, and natural pest controls. It is a well-established, regulated system with clear standards.

Organic farming generally improves biodiversity and reduces pollution compared with conventional systems. However, outcomes depend on management choices, as mechanical tillage and external organic inputs are still commonly used.

Cover cropping : credits James Fowler

Get started: By planting cover crops in the off-season, farmers protect soil from erosion, increase organic matter, suppress weeds, and improve soil fertility for future crops.

_{5 – The four principles of organic agriculture | IFOAM – Frontiers | agroecological approaches to sustainable development}

6. Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture⁶ aims to actively restore ecosystems functions within agricultural landscapes. Common practices include minimal or no tillage, cover crops, diverse crop rotations, and livestock integration.

Although definitions vary, regenerative practices often overlap with agroecological and organic methods, but with an explicit emphasis on ecosystem outcomes, soil carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery, and long-term resilience⁷.

Regenerative agriculture : credits lailieeeee

Get started: By adopting no-till practices, farmers avoid turning the soil. This helps preserve soil structure, protect microorganisms, reduce erosion, and build soil carbon, improving water retention and long-term fertility.

_{6 Regenerative agriculture—a definition and philosophy – PMC – Global application of regenerative agriculture: a review of definitions and assessment approaches | MDPI}
_{7 Importance of regenerative agriculture: climate, soil health, biodiversity and its socioecological impact | Discover Sustainability}

The big picture: The agricultural sustainability continuum

To compare farming approaches meaningfully, it helps to look beyond labels and assess how systems function in practice. Seven key indicators help describe where a farm sits on the sustainability continuum.

Primary goal: This reflects the main objective of the farming system: whether it prioritises short-term yields, input efficiency, or the restoration and long-term improvement of ecosystems.
Input dependency: This indicator measures reliance on external inputs such as synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and chemical products. Lower dependency often signals more self-sufficient, ecologically integrated systems.
Soil management: How soil is managed over time has a direct impact on fertility, water retention, erosion, and productivity. Practices such as intense tillage, crop residue management, and organic matter inputs all play a role.
Biodiversity integration: Biodiversity can be incidental or deliberately integrated. Functional biodiversity supports pollinators, soil organisms, natural pest control, and ecosystem services that underpin agricultural production.

Yield stability & climate resilience: This measures a system’s ability to maintain yields under stress, such as droughts, extreme weather, or pest outbreaks. More resilient systems are better adapted to climate variability.
Farmer knowledge & autonomy: Some systems rely heavily on external recommendations and inputs, while others require deeper observation, decision-making, and local knowledge from farmers.
Ecosystem outcomes: This indicator looks at the overall environmental impact of farming practices, including greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon storage, water quality, and ecosystem health.

Comparison of agricultural systems and integration of sustainability into practices

Conclusion

Sustainable agriculture is not about instant transformation or rigid labels. Every farming system has room to improve, and meaningful change often starts with small, practical steps. The transition doesn’t start with labels such as “good” or “bad” practices, but with understanding where you are today, and choosing the next step forward.

For farmers, progress means choosing practices that strengthen resilience and profitability over time. For companies, it means supporting farmers where they are today and encouraging gradual, context-specific improvements rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

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