Urban regeneration. Nature in cities.
With stark gray edges and crowded skylines, cities have long focused on human design and disruption of the landscape.
Across agriculture, corporate supply chains, urban design, and finance, regeneration is being positioned not just as a sustainability add-on, but as a core strategy for long-term value.
1. Regenerative Agriculture: From Niche to Agrarian Revolution
Regenerative agriculture is spreading rapidly, especially in Europe and the US. According to Earth.org, farmers can produce just as much food while improving soil health by applying methods such as cover crops, composting, and reduced tillage (Earth.org). With over 60% of agricultural soil in the EU already degraded, farmers like Nick Padwick at Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk are experimenting with microbial “teas” from compost to restore soil life – a shift increasingly seen as vital to national food security (The Guardian).
2. Corporate Movement Gains Speed
Major corporates are now anchoring their climate strategies in regeneration. McDonald’s has placed regenerative agriculture at the heart of its “Routes to Regen” program, aiming to cut emissions 16% by 2030 through measures like cover cropping and reduced tillage (Reuters). Unilever and Nestlé are also announcing regenerative commitments across their supply chains (Mitsui Report). While Unilever has built a comparatively stronger track record in sustainability, Nestlé’s claims are still viewed with more skepticism – raising the question of how deeply these strategies will be implemented versus simply marketed. We will stay on the ball.
3. AgTech and Finance as Accelerators
Regeneration is increasingly powered by technology. AI, digital twins, and biological inputs are defining agricultural innovation, with Agmatix CEO Ron Baruchi highlighting them as key trends (Beef Magazine). Policy is also reinforcing momentum: the US 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act, rewards producers of low-carbon fuels such as bioethanol – with the highest incentives flowing to those integrating regenerative farming practices that improve soil health and cut emissions.
Investment flows are also surging. RFSI reported over $1.17 billion raised in early 2025 alone for regenerative food and agriculture systems – a record compared to previous years (RFSI).
4. Regenerative Urbanism
Regenerative principles are extending into cities and architecture. Consultancy SJ Group and developers in Singapore and Hong Kong are showcasing how buildings can move from “less bad” to net-positive. Projects such as Singapore’s Labrador Tower and Hong Kong’s I·PARK 1 embody a shift toward architecture that restores ecosystems as well as houses humans (Business Insider).
5. The Blue Economy: Rising to the Surface
This year may also mark a turning point for regenerative ocean economies. The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and the Blue Economy & Finance Forum are aiming to redirect global capital into ocean-positive investments, from regenerative aquaculture to coastal restoration (World Economic Forum).
From microbes to megacities, from soil to the sea, regeneration is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It is being recognized as the production logic of the future: a way of creating value by restoring the very systems on which life and business depend.
One insight is clear: regenerative impact is economically inevitable.