For many, the words “agriculture” and “sustainability” may seem contradictory. The large-scale industrial agricultural system we know today took shape during the Green Revolution in the mid-20th century, a period of rapid technological advancements that dramatically increased agricultural productivity but came at a steep environmental cost. Currently, agricultural and agri-food activities—including, growing, harvesting, processing, and transportation—account for roughly 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With nearly one-third of the planet’s surface being used for food production, these sectors are leading drivers of land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. While this has significant environmental consequences, it also positions agriculture as a critical player in addressing climate change. As one of the most resource-intensive industries, agriculture is uniquely positioned to lead the shift toward sustainability.
It is no surprise, then, that some of the most promising solutions to the climate crisis involve rethinking how food is produced. This is where sustainable agriculture comes in, a paradigm that national governments and international organizations are increasingly adopting. Sustainable agriculture seeks to ensure food security while minimizing environmental harm and promoting social and economic equity. By integrating socio-cultural, environmental, and economic factors, it aims to create resilient food systems that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems. Agroecology has emerged as one of the most influential approaches within sustainable agriculture. As an interdisciplinary framework and set of practices, agroecology blends insights from agronomy, social justice, and ecology to develop and implement farming techniques to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture. Agroecology considers the technological, economic, and political dimensions of food systems and is guided by thirteen key principles, including input reduction, soil and animal health, land and natural resource governance, and social equity. As climate change continues to intensify the frequency and severity of adverse weather patterns, it is clear that the agricultural sector must improve its sustainability and the ability of food systems to withstand climate shocks.
Agroecology is also central to food sovereignty—a movement spearheaded by La Via Campesina, a transnational grassroots organization that represents nearly 200 million small-scale food producers across 81 countries. Food sovereignty advocates for people’s right to healthy, sustainably produced food and their ability to control their own food systems. The movement is built on six key pillars, including prioritizing people’s food needs in policymaking, strengthening food system resilience and sustainability by valuing nature, and localizing food production to reduce the distance between producers and consumers. Additionally, the movement emphasizes placing control in the hands of local food providers while rejecting the privatization of natural resources. This offers an ‘alternative’ model of food production, one that balances adequate food production with sustainable and equitable practices.
Regenerative agriculture is a key agroecological practice that aligns with the principles of food sovereignty, aiming to enhance the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of food production. It encompasses farming techniques designed to restore soil health, increase biodiversity, improve carbon sequestration, and preserve water resources. Regenerative practices include replacing synthetic fertilizers with organic waste, reducing pesticide reliance, and mitigating the damaging effects of tillage—the intensive process of turning and mixing soil to prepare it for planting. Additionally, shifting from monocultures to diverse, rotating crops helps enhance soil quality, improve pest control, and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
A leading example of regenerative agribusiness is Brazil’s Cooperativa Mista dos Povos e Comunidades Tradicionais de Calha Norte (COOPAFLORA). This co-operative works with 28 Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon to promote the sustainable collection of non-timber forest-sourced products for nutrition and cosmetic uses. Through land management plans, COOPAFLORA collects from and helps conserve 4.1 million hectares of protected areas, ensuring sustainable resource and conservation while preventing illegal mining, logging, and agriculture that threaten the forest. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge with harvesting and farming, COOPAFLORA exemplifies how regenerative agribusinesses can support local livelihoods, preserve biodiversity, and restore degraded ecosystems. Moreover, research has shown that households experience greater food security with increased adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. Thus, transitioning to a more regenerative agriculture system supports sustainability, reinforcing the importance of transitioning toward more sustainable food systems.
The fast development of agricultural technology (AgTech), including artificial intelligence, also provides promising opportunities to enhance sustainability within the sector. Aiming to make farming more efficient, sustainable, and profitable, AgTech refers to any approved technology that uses fewer materials and energy, generates less waste, and causes fewer negative environmental impacts. One such example is Ecorobotix, a Swiss company that has developed tractors equipped with AI-powered high-resolution cameras and plant-recognition algorithms. These technologies can precisely target and spray crops with herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers only where needed, reducing the use of these crop protection products by up to 95%. This precision technology not only optimizes costs for farmers but also minimizes pollution, making it a significant step toward environmentally friendly, technology-driven agriculture.
Similarly, Québec’s Mila AI Institute is leveraging machine learning, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence to promote regenerative agriculture through its Data-driven Insights for Sustainable Agriculture (DISA) project. In collaboration with local organizations in Rwanda, DISA integrates innovative technologies with local knowledge and human-centred approaches to address the consequences of conventional, resource-intensive farming, which has led to severe soil degradation affecting over 40% of Rwanda’s agricultural land. By providing policymakers with data-driven evidence on the benefits of regenerative agriculture, DISA encourages policies that support a transition from extractive, high-input farming models to knowledge-intensive, nature-positive, and net-zero systems. Ultimately, this approach strengthens climate resilience, food security, and sustainable farming practices, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can complement agroecological principles.
As the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the demand for food will continue increasing, requiring production to grow by 70% in the next 25 years to avoid worsening food insecurity. However, as climate change disrupts supply chains and agricultural activities, it is clear that this must be achieved without further degrading ecosystems or accelerating climate change. We now stand at the precipice of a new Green Revolution—one driven by sustainability, regenerative farming, and cutting-edge technology that balances food production with environmental stewardship. With agriculture employing nearly 30% of the global workforce, a sustainable transition will not only reshape agricultural practices but also transform economies, food systems, and livelihoods worldwide.
This is an article written by a Staff Writer. Catalyst is a student-led platform that fosters engagement with global issues from a learning perspective. The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.
Edited by Aimee Wang
Béatrice is a final-year McGill student majoring in International Development Studies, with minors in Political Science and Hispanic Studies. She is passionate about international relations and socio-economic development. As a staff writer for Catalyst, she looks forward to examining issues relating to human rights, food security, and youth and women’s empowerment.