Restoring Agroecosystem Biodiversity: The Role of Regenerative Agriculture in Reversing Monoculture-Induced Declines

The contemporary global food system has grown increasingly vulnerable, largely as a result of the far-reaching agricultural changes triggered by the Green Revolution of the 1940s. This era saw the widespread adoption of high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs), synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and large-scale irrigation systems. While these innovations significantly boosted food production, they also caused substantial drawbacks, including a sharp decline in crop genetic diversity, soil degradation, and heightened susceptibility of agricultural systems to climate change and pest or disease outbreaks. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 75% of the world’s crop diversity disappeared between 1900 and 2000. This paper presents a critical evidence synthesis examining the ecological impacts of regenerative agriculture (RA) on biodiversity in systems previously dominated by monoculture. The analysis included studies from diverse global biomes, qualitatively synthesizing observed changes in three key biodiversity metrics: soil microbial diversity, beneficial insect/pollinator abundance, and sward/plant species richness. The methodology emphasizes identifying consistent patterns of biodiversity reversal, assessing the context-specificity of regenerative agriculture’s success, and highlighting knowledge gaps regarding long-term, landscape-scale effects. Regenerative agriculture is a principles-based approach to agricultural production that seeks to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the ecological footprint associated with input-intensive conventional farming systems. Its practices such as crop diversification, use of organic soil amendments, minimizing synthetic inputs, and adopting agroecological methods have shown promise in rebuilding soil health and enhancing ecosystem resilience. A shift from the current extractive, yield-focused farming paradigm to a regenerative, systems-based approach could provide a sustainable means of meeting future food demands. The paper further emphasizes the importance of supportive policies, financial incentives, and dedicated research to promote the global adoption of regenerative farming, thereby safeguarding food systems against future shocks.