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RESEARCH

OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE THE ADOPTION OF REGENERATIVE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THROUGH BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED TECHNOLOGIES

This was research conducted for a masters' degree in agtech and innovation at the RAU; submitted in 2022. Get in touch to find out more or discuss Blockchain in Agriculture.

Image by Markus Spiske

AGRICULTURAL ADAPTATION STRATEGIES  TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Agriculture in Southeast Asia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Climate related events over the past few decades including floods,

droughts and weather pattern change are already having significant impacts on agriculture and are predicted to increase over the next 50 years. Adaptation strategies exist and are being developed at multiple levels of abstraction from international policy to changes in farming practices.

This report assesses the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Southeast Asia, multi-stakeholder adaptation strategies, challenges with sustainability and impacts on climate change mitigation. Farming frameworks such as climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions and conservation agriculture are evaluated along with a host of specific

farming practices, management approaches and technologies. It is critical that frameworks and policies are effectively rolled out using

mechanisms from community engagement to technology adoption enabling information and education dispersal. Policies and frameworks

are only effective if farmer practice changes on the ground.

Image by Markus Spiske

NO-TILL DRILL AND INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT

This paper explores the framework of integrated crop management (ICM). The no-till drill is examined to understand how it contributes to the goals of ICM. A model no-till drill is defined to explore the prominent features and their alignment to ICM.

Green landscape with mountains in the background

THE CONNECTED FARM:
PRECISION FARMING WITH FIELDMARGIN

This report lays out the rationale for using a Farm Management System, to accelerate the adoption of precision agriculture on a small to medium mixed farm in the UK. A SWOT analysis and implementation plan are included, along with insights into the value added and drivers for the digitisation of farm data and future potential benefits that come with it.

On the Laptop

SUSTAINABILITY IN UK DAIRY FARMING:
INVESTIGATION OF ENTERIC METHANE
MITIGATION STRATEGIES

This report looks at sustainability issues in the UK dairy sector. Specifically, it focuses on the impacts of enteric methane production in the rumen of dairy cows. The report looks at the global and national context, highlights the source of enteric

methane, and then looks at mitigation strategies presented in the academic literature. Finally, the report highlights the challenges inherent in adopting mitigation strategies, applicability to the UK and global dairy sector, and proposes recommendations for future research

Image by Stijn te Strake

CROP ROTATION AND SOIL SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN AGRICULTURE

This report explores the concept of soil sustainability, what it is, why it is important and how it is being addressed. Crop rotation in agriculture is discussed as a practice, looking at the history, goals, benefits, specific examples, and the impact of crop rotation on soil.

Image by Dietmar Reichle

To discuss this research, or commission your own projects please get in touch

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Your organisation might ask us to research topics including, but not limited to, these examples:

Research Topics for Startups

  1. Market Analysis of Regenerative Agriculture Practices:

    • Trends in adoption of regenerative farming methods.

    • Competitive landscape among regenerative agricultural startups.

    • Consumer demand for regenerative agriculture products.

  2. Impact of Blockchain on Traceability in Agricultural Supply Chains:

    • Case studies of blockchain implementations in agriculture.

    • Benefits of increased transparency and traceability.

    • Challenges and solutions for blockchain adoption in farming.

  3. Economic Benefits of Regenerative Farming for Smallholders:

    • Cost-benefit analysis of transitioning to regenerative practices.

    • Long-term financial gains from improved soil health and productivity.

    • Success stories from smallholder farmers.

  4. Sustainable Agriculture Business Models:

    • Exploration of various business models supporting sustainable farming.

    • Case studies of successful sustainable agribusinesses.

    • Revenue streams and profitability of sustainable farming practices.

  5. Consumer Attitudes Towards Regenerative Agriculture:

    • Survey-based analysis of consumer preferences for regenerative products.

    • Impact of sustainability certifications on purchasing decisions.

    • Strategies for marketing regenerative agriculture products.
       

Research Topics for Corporates

  1. Corporate Strategies for Scaling Regenerative Agriculture:

    • Best practices for integrating regenerative agriculture into corporate farming.

    • Impact of regenerative practices on corporate sustainability goals.

    • Metrics for measuring success in regenerative agriculture initiatives.

  2. Financial Implications of Carbon Sequestration on Farms:

    • Evaluation of carbon credit opportunities for regenerative farms.

    • Case studies of farms benefiting from carbon sequestration.

    • Long-term financial impacts of soil carbon storage.

  3. Supply Chain Management for Sustainable Agribusiness:

    • Analysis of sustainable supply chain practices in agribusiness.

    • Benefits of sustainability-focused supply chain management.

    • Case studies of successful supply chain transformations.

  4. Investment Opportunities in Regenerative Agriculture:

    • Identification of promising startups in regenerative agriculture.

    • Market trends and growth potential for regenerative investments.

    • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies for investors.

  5. Impact of Policy and Regulation on Regenerative Farming:

    • Analysis of current policies supporting regenerative agriculture.

    • Recommendations for policy improvements.

    • Comparative study of regulatory environments across regions.
       

Research Topics for Venture Capital Firms

  1. Evaluating the ROI of Regenerative Agriculture Investments:

    • Financial performance analysis of regenerative agriculture projects.

    • Success metrics and benchmarks for regenerative investments.

    • Long-term economic benefits of investing in regenerative practices.

  2. Future Trends in Sustainable Agriculture Finance:

    • Emerging financial instruments supporting sustainable agriculture.

    • Case studies of innovative financing models.

    • Opportunities and challenges in sustainable agriculture finance.

  3. Economic Impact of Regenerative Agriculture on Rural Communities:

    • Case studies of rural communities benefiting from regenerative farming.

    • Economic benefits and job creation from sustainable agriculture.

    • Social impact and community resilience through regenerative practices.

  4. Strategies for Funding Regenerative Agriculture Startups:

    • Analysis of successful funding strategies for agtech startups.

    • Case studies of venture capital investments in regenerative agriculture.

    • Recommendations for structuring investment deals.

  5. Assessing the Market Potential for Regenerative Agriculture Products:

    • Market analysis of consumer demand for regenerative products.

    • Growth potential and market opportunities.

    • Competitive landscape and positioning strategies.
       

Cross-Sector Research Topics

  1. Technological Innovations Supporting Regenerative Practices:

    • Overview of technologies enhancing regenerative agriculture.

    • Case studies of successful technology integrations.

    • Future trends and potential innovations.

  2. Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Regenerative Agriculture:

    • Methods for quantifying ecosystem services provided by regenerative farms.

    • Economic and environmental benefits of ecosystem services.

    • Case studies of successful ecosystem service valuations.

  3. Consumer Trends in Sustainable Food Products:

    • Analysis of shifts in consumer behavior towards sustainable foods.

    • Impact of sustainability certifications and labels.

    • Strategies for brands to capitalize on consumer trends.

  4. Impact of Regenerative Practices on Soil Health and Crop Yields:

    • Literature review on the benefits of regenerative practices.

    • Case studies demonstrating improvements in soil health and productivity.

    • Long-term impacts on farm profitability and resilience.

  5. Sustainability Metrics and Reporting for Agribusiness:

    • Best practices for measuring and reporting sustainability in agriculture.

    • Key performance indicators for regenerative agriculture.

    • Case studies of effective sustainability reporting.

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