‘RegenAgri’ – a boon for tea industry

Context: The RegenAgri certification
represents a transformative opportunity for the age-old tea industry, offering
a pathway to revitalization and long-term sustainability. Given the industry’s
challenges, including environmental degradation, fluctuating markets, and
labour-related issues, adopting regenerative agricultural practices could
emerge as a ‘survival strategy’ for the 200-year-old sector. This requires a
holistic approach to convince all stakeholders of the tea industry to come
together on a common platform.

Key points

·      
Sustainability and soil health:
RegenAgri focuses on practices that restore soil health, conserve water, and enhance
biodiversity – critical needs for tea plantations that have long relied on
intensive monoculture farming.

·      
Economic viability:
By improving ecosystem services (such as pollination and nutrient cycling),
these methods can reduce dependency on chemical inputs and lower production
costs while potentially commanding higher prices for sustainably produced tea.

·      
Climate resilience:
Tea plantations are highly vulnerable to climate change. RegenAgri-certified
practices can help build resilience by improving soil carbon sequestration and
reducing emissions.

·      
Global market alignment:
As consumers and retailers increasingly prioritize sustainable and ethically sourced
products, RegenAgri certification aligns the industry with evolving market
expectations. ‘RegenAgri’ is a global initiative that supports regenerative
agricultural practices, which aim to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and
ecosystem services.

·      
Promoting Regenerative Practices for
Carbon Sequestration: RegenAgri works with tea farmers to
adopt sustainable practices that increase organic matter in the soil, enhancing
its capacity to store carbon. These practices include-

Ø 
Cover cropping -
Growing cover crops reduce soil erosion, enhances soil structure, and increases
organic matter, capturing atmospheric CO.

Ø 
No-till or reduced tillage - Reduces
soil disturbance, preventing carbon release and promoting carbon retention.

Ø 
Crop rotation and diversification -
Boosts biodiversity and soil health, improving long-term carbon sequestration.

Ø 
Agroforestry and perennial crops -
Incorporates trees and long-term vegetation, which are effective carbon sinks.

Ø 
Integrated livestock management -
Proper grazing techniques improve pasture health and carbon storage in
grasslands.

·      
Measurement and monitoring of carbon
sequestration: RegenAgri employs technologies such
as-

Ø 
Soil testing -
Regular testing to measure organic carbon levels.

Ø 
Remote sensing and data analysis -
Monitoring changes in vegetation and soil health.

Ø 
Life cycle assessments (LCA) -
Quantifying carbon footprints and the net sequestration achieved.

·      
Linking tea farmers to carbon
markets: Through its certification and advisory services,
RegenAgri enables farmers to-

Ø 
Demonstrate carbon gains -
Certified farmers can prove that their practices sequester carbon.

Ø 
Earn carbon credits - Farmers
can monetize the sequestered carbon by selling carbon credits in global carbon
markets. These credits are purchased by industries and companies aiming to
offset their emissions.

Ø 
Participate in sustainable supply
chains - RegenAgri connects farmers with corporations that
value sustainable practices, offering incentives beyond carbon credits.

·      
Economic and environmental benefits: Farmers’
revenue - Carbon credits provide an additional income stream, encouraging the
adoption of sustainable practices.

Improved
soil health - Enhanced productivity and reduced dependence on
synthetic inputs.