Perspectives on ‘regenerative outcomes’ and associated research needs: insights from consultation with participants in four sectors – arable, dairy, sheep & beef, and viticulture

This reports outlines the outcomes and research needed by representatives of four key New Zealand agricultural sectors (dairy, sheep and beef, arable, and viticulture). The outcomes being sought by representatives of these sector groups included: decisions based on long-term outcomes; achieving pride in farming; increasing profitability rather than merely increasing production; continuous learning; and positioning New Zealand as a world leader in regenerative agriculture.

This research conducted a series of sector-specific online working groups, complemented by survey questionnaires. Through these mixed quantitative and qualitative data collection processes, researchers elicited from participants: their views on what makes a farming system ‘regenerative’ (i.e. what outcomes does it achieve?), the relative importance of these different outcomes, indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these outcomes, what is currently working well and not well in New Zealand (NZ), and a comparison with international experiences, where to focus future research. This report presents these data.