Climate Change, Regenerative Agriculture and Carbon Neutrality in the Context of Tea Cultivation

Abstract

Climate change presents a significant challenge to global agriculture, impacting food security, crop productivity, and natural resources. While agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it also holds the potential to act as a carbon sink through regenerative practices. Regenerative agriculture, characterized by sustainable soil management, biodiversity enhancement, and ecosystem restoration, has emerged as a viable solution to mitigate climate impacts. In the context of tea cultivation, which is particularly susceptible to climate variability due to its C3 photosynthetic pathway, achieving carbon neutrality through regenerative agriculture is paramount. However, while soil health management is central, it alone is not sufficient to build climate resilience within a time-bound framework. Plant health management is equally crucial, as it optimizes photosynthate utilization, minimizes pest and disease risks, and ensures better crop performance, a need recognized by the United Nations. Regenerative agriculture should extends beyond soil health management by incorporating plant health principles rooted in both ancient Indian philosophy and modern scientific theories. The Element Energy Activation (EEA) principle behind IRF Technology and the Trophobiosis Theory of Francis Chaboussou are conceptually interrelated. EEA emphasizes the role of plant energy dynamics in maintaining natural resilience, while Trophobiosis Theory highlights how healthy plants, with balanced biochemical processes, exhibit greater resistance to pests and diseases. By integrating these insights, IRF Technology offers a WHOLISTIC approach to plant health management, reducing chemical dependency, enhancing crop productivity, and improving ecosystem resilience. This has been demonstrated in initiatives like the one at Lakhipara Tea Estate, Dooars, where the adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology resulted in increased productivity, reduced pesticide use, and a significant reduction in carbon footprint. In this context, the Agriculture Carbon Footprint Assessor (ACFA) Version 2.0, developed collaboratively by Inhana Organic Research Foundation (IORF) and ICAR-ATARI Kolkata, serves as a groundbreaking tool for accurately assessing carbon footprints in agriculture. This innovative platform enables corporate net-zero compliance, supports ESG objectives, and advances sustainability initiatives by providing precise carbon emissions data and promoting regenerative practices. In the tea sector, the Trustea Emission Calculator (TEC), developed using ACFA 2.0 framework, serves as a pioneering carbon computing tool. TEC offers estate-specific insights by considering agro-ecological variability and management diversity, enabling tea growers to quantify and reduce their carbon footprint effectively. This ensures transparency and accountability in sustainability efforts, supporting carbon-neutral farming and enhancing the resilience of the tea sector. Policy frameworks must integrate regenerative agriculture principles with measurable impact assessments, incentivizing carbon-neutral practices and ensuring their alignment with food security and sustainability goals. By incorporating comprehensive soil and plant health management within a regenerative framework and leveraging tools like ACFA 2.0 and TEC, agriculture can transition from being a contributor to climate change to a key solution, ensuring food security, ecological balance, and long-term sustainability.