Guanjie (Adil) Huang is an HBA 2024 Candidate. He spent his summer working at the Centre of Building Sustainable Value, as part of the Ivey Undergraduate Summer Research Internship program.
When the term “sustainability” is thrown around, it often seems like a nebulous concept, just a fashionable term that corporate giants and policymakers use to appease the masses. But as I submerge myself into the world of regenerative agriculture, I find sustainability to be neither vague nor distant. It is a present, tangible mission. As a business school student, I have gotten involved by helping to set standards and define metrics to measure and encourage this change.
A Legacy of Eroding Soils
The very essence of our planet revolves around the soil beneath our feet. Yet, our current and past agricultural methods have degraded this life-sustaining layer, posing threats to biodiversity ecosystems and even triggering climate change. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that one-third of agricultural soils are degraded, while the demand for food is anticipated to skyrocket by nearly 60% by 2050. The need for sustainable and regenerative practices has never been more evident.
Sowing Seeds of Regeneration
Amidst this challenge, the rise of regenerative agriculture brings a glimmer of hope. Fundamentally, regenerative agriculture is an approach to food and farming systems that emphasizes conservation and rehabilitation. Its farming techniques focus on restoring and enhancing soil health to reverse environmental damage and combat climate change.
My involvement in the project “Methodology to Assess, Benchmark, and Incentive Regenerative Agriculture” at the Centre for Building Sustainable Value (BSV) has been a truly enlightening experience. Under the supervision of Sergio Lazzarini and Jean-François Obregon, my fellow interns and I have mapped out the potential impacts of regenerative agriculture using the Theory of Change model, identified stakeholders, and begun to understand the farm-level and socio-economic advantages of this agricultural model. Together with my colleagues Ellen Kempton and Rubaina Singla, we have also set up the metrics to measure and quantify those outcomes.
Our mission is clear: to arm farmers with the management tools and knowledge they need for a smooth transition to regenerative practices. This project stands as both a rigorous, metric-based evaluator and a guiding light for farmers, investors, and other stakeholders. By educating the public about the hazards of industrial farming and offering sustainable alternatives, this initiative is not just changing farming practices, but transforming lives. Particularly, these changes aim to establish safe, secure, and sustainable supply chains that bolster the capacity of individuals and communities to deliver value. In this ideal scenario, businesses and governments would provide funding and policy reforms for long-term impact,; farmers would utilize these resources for better farming practices and even improve their living conditions, and consumers would benefit by accessing healthier food options.
Highlights from the Project
One thing that I want to highlight is our multi-stakeholder approach. While many previous frameworks and metrics prioritize corporate interests, ours held the farmers in high regard. This project insofar has organized three workshops to gather farmers’ insights and refine our project accordingly. One of the most impressive sentiments echoed by the farming community that struck a chord was, "agriculture should be regenerative by nature." Even though the phrase “regenerative agriculture” is widely -used in academia and business, it might not fully capture the essence of the project’s practices and purposes. Indeed, this observation led us to shift our vocabulary from "Regenerative Agriculture" to "Sustainable Food Production," a more representative term.
The Path Ahead
This project was more than just an academic or professional experience; it showed me the deep connection between our actions and the environment. Throughout this journey, my perspective transformed - not just about farming but our responsibility towards a sustainable future. Every choice we make moulds our planet's fate. Thus, adopting regenerative practices are not just a progressive step for agriculture, but a critical healing touch our planet urgently needs.
As a business student, I have come to understand that sustainability is not a final destination but an unending journey of exploration, progress, and growth. My journey has just begun, and I am eager to delve deeper, ensuring that every step taken is a stride towards a sustainable tomorrow.
