Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative Agriculture

Sustainable Farming From the Ground Up

Food production is estimated to be responsible for one-quarter¹ to one-third² of the world’s green house gas (GHG) production. Just over 50% of these gases are attributed to crop production and land use for human and livestock consumption¹.

Regenerative agriculture or ‘regen ag’ is a system of farm practices which actively regenerates and revitalizes the soil. Healthier soil results in not only higher crop yields, but also increased green-house gas sequestration. Avena partners with farmers, researchers, civil societies and customers to identify and promote regenerative agriculture farming practices.

These practices aim to:

• minimize soil disturbance,
• maximize soil coverage, and
• increase crop diversity.

Maintaining living roots in the soil, for as much of the year as is possible, also supports the soil microbiome and encourages plant and animal biodiversity.

Crop Rotations

Regenerative Farm Partnerships

Pulses, as a part of a crop rotation, are a good example of how a crop can be naturally regenerative to the soil. They pull nitrogen from the air and deposit or fix it into root nodes which are left in the soil for the next year’s crop. If intercropped in the same year, pulses share nutrients with other crops via the root system microbiome.

Pulses develop early, providing dense cover that crowds out weeds, reducing the need for herbicides. They also nourish soil microbes, helping to create a more diverse microbiome that better fights disease-causing bacteria and fungi.

Pulses do not require irrigation. They also have shorter roots and extract water from a shallow depth, leaving moisture for future crops, like oats, with deeper roots.

Learn more about pulses and oats as inherently sustainable crops

2021:

• Avena initiated a Field to Market Canada innovation project for peas and oats. This provided baseline sustainability metrics for these locally grown crops.

2022:

• Avena and commercial partners supported experimental plots that trialed intercropping, cover cropping and new varieties of pulses and oats. These were showcased during the annual Customer and Farmer Appreciation Day (CAFAD). This event was attended by farmers, civil societies, researchers, and food and beverage manufacturing companies who are looking to make a positive impact using regenerative farming practices.
• Avena set up the Avena Sustainability Advisory Panel (ASAP) to bring together members of the value chain to discuss and direct sustainability and regenerative ag initiatives at Avena.

2023:

• Results of ‘Living Lab’ field crop trials demonstrating intercropping and cover cropping, supported by Bob’s Red Mill and HIPPEAS Snacks, were shared at CAFAD.

2024:

• Avena works with Nathan Pelletier’s group at the UBC PRISM lab to establish the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Avena’s oat and pulse ingredients. This work provides scope 1, 2 and 3 metrics for Avena’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy.
• Avena implements several multi-year regen ag projects ‘Harnessing the Power of Regen Ag Partnerships’ where farmers are supported by commercial companies. Testing and reports are provided by ‘Collective Impact Ag’.