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Dr. Saturnina Halos, a leading figure in biotechnology and chair of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, is passionate about this movement. She explains that regenerative agriculture is all about enhancing traditional farming methods with scientific innovations to not only increase productivity but also heal and sustain our ecosystems.

"Farmers have been doing their best for centuries, but some practices have turned out to be harmful to the environment," Dr. Halos shares. "Now, science is helping us correct that."

At the core of regenerative agriculture is the idea of restoring soil health and improving the entire agricultural system. It's a balancing act between maximizing crop yield and minimizing the environmental impact. Technologies—both old and new—are being reassessed to determine how they can sustain agriculture without degrading the land.

Take synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, for example. While they've long been used to boost crops, they also have a downside. Traditional pesticides don’t discriminate, killing beneficial insects along with pests, and they can also pose risks to animals and humans. Synthetic fertilizers, meanwhile, can alter soil composition, making it less fertile over time.

That’s where biofertilizers and biopesticides come in. Dr. Halos points to biofertilizers, some of which were developed at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños. These natural alternatives can reduce the need for inorganic fertilizers by as much as 50%, while also promoting plant resilience against drought. The bonus? They encourage deeper root growth, leading to stronger plants.

Biopesticides, too, are changing the game. One example currently under review by the Department of Agriculture is aimed at controlling the fall armyworm, a destructive pest that’s been hard to eliminate with commercial pesticides. This biopesticide contains bacteria and fungi that specifically target pests while minimizing harm to livestock, people, and the environment.

But these aren’t brand new discoveries. Halos reminds us that natural alternatives like the Neem tree have been used for centuries, particularly in India. The Neem tree has been recognized since the 1950s for its pesticidal and fertilizing properties. "Farmers have known about it for a long time," says Dr. Halos, "but it hasn’t gained widespread use due to marketing and accessibility issues."

Another exciting frontier of regenerative agriculture is genetically engineered crops. According to Dr. Halos, crops like Bt corn and Bt eggplant contain genes that naturally fend off pests, dramatically reducing the need for synthetic pesticides. There are also crop varieties in development that can more efficiently use nitrogen, which means farmers can use less nitrogen-based fertilizer—another win for the environment.

"The primary goal of regenerative agriculture is food security," says Dr. Halos. "But we’re also looking at methods that protect the land and make farming safer for everyone."

In short, regenerative agriculture is about growing the future. It’s about harnessing science to farm smarter, not harder, ensuring that the earth can keep providing for generations to come. And it’s about farmers and scientists working together to create a sustainable, productive, and environmentally friendly agricultural system. Because, at the end of the day, healthy soil means healthy crops—and that’s something we can all benefit from.