Can We Grow Regenerative Organic at Scale?

Michelle Donath
Jul 8, 2024
5 min read

Updated: Jul 13

And could Australia lead the way, or is that wishful thinking wrapped in compostable cling wrap?

Organic eating has become a kind of shorthand for “doing better". But in a country like Australia, known for its vast landscapes, export-heavy farming, and supermarket duopolies, it’s fair to ask:

Can organic agriculture actually feed us all?

Or is it just a boutique ideal, fine for inner-city farmers markets, but not scalable for regional Australia or global exports?

This isn’t about bashing convention or glorifying kale. It’s about being honest: if we want healthy food systems, what would actually need to change?

Why Pesticides Matter (Beyond Just Dirty Dozen Lists)

This isn’t about scaring anyone into a $14 punnet of strawberries. It’s about understanding what we’re being exposed to, and what that means for our bodies and our ecosystems over time.

Pesticides are designed to disrupt. They kill pests, weeds, fungi, and other “invaders". But the thing is… our biology isn’t always great at telling the difference.

Even low-dose, long-term exposure can impact:

Brain development in children
Chronic inflammation and immune regulation
Hormonal balance (many pesticides are endocrine disruptors)
Gut health—altering microbiome diversity
Environmental contamination (soil, water, pollinators, wildlife)

And while the dose may make the poison, the reality is:

Some of us are swimming in it. And we don’t even know it’s happening.

Why Some Bodies Struggle More

Certain genetic variants can reduce your ability to detoxify or neutralise pesticides efficiently.

Gene	Role	When It’s Less Efficient...
GSTs	Detox of pesticides + pollutants	More oxidative stress + inflammation
PON1	Breaks down organophosphates	Linked to slower pesticide breakdown
CYPs	Liver phase I metabolism	Can create reactive intermediates

Takeaway: Some people can handle small exposures. Others can’t.

What Is Organic?

In Australia, the organic label means:

No synthetic pesticides or herbicides
No artificial fertilisers
No GMOs
Strict certification (ACO, NASAA)

But organic doesn’t guarantee soil health or sustainability. Some organic farms are biodiverse, lush microcosms. Others are still monocultures, just without glyphosate.

Organic vs. Regenerative

Criteria	Certified Organic (AU)	Regenerative (AU)
Pesticide Use	No synthetic chemicals	Focus on soil regeneration; may vary
Soil Health Focus	Encouraged, not required	Core principle
Biodiversity Practices	Varies by farm	Built-in to approach
Carbon Sequestration	Not required	Goal: draw carbon into soil
Certification	ACO/NASAA etc.	No formal standard (yet)

Can We Farm Organically and Regeneratively?

Short answer: Yes. And we probably should.

But there’s often confusion between organic and regenerative, like they’re two different tribes. The truth is, they are different tools. And the real power? Comes when they’re used together.

Organic focuses on what you don’t use: no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers.

Regenerative focuses on what you build: healthier soil, better water retention, more biodiversity.

You can do one without the other. But when you combine both, farming without synthetic inputs and prioritising soil health, microbial diversity, and ecological balance, you get the gold standard:

Organically regenerative farming.

It’s not about being purist. It’s about being smart.

Focus	Organic Farming	Regenerative Farming	Organically Regenerative 🌱
Synthetic Inputs	None	Sometimes allowed	None
Soil Health Practices	Optional or inconsistent	Core principle	Built in
Focus on Biodiversity	Varies by farm	Required	Prioritised
Carbon & Water Systems	Not a standard metric	Central focus	Measured and improved
Certification	ACO, NASAA (can be costly)	No unified system yet	Depends—many go uncertified

This is the future of farming, less extractive, more intelligent. But it needs support, time, and a shift in how we measure “success".

And honestly? It needs us, as eaters, buyers, and citizens, to back the farms doing it right.

So… Can We Scale Organic Regen in Australia?

Let’s dig into it, literally and figuratively.

Yields: Will We Run Out of Food?

Compared to conventional farming, organic systems can produce 5–35% lower yields, especially early on.

But that can change over time, especially with regenerative methods that rebuild soil, water retention, and plant resilience.

But here’s what’s often missed: yield isn’t everything. If what we grow is nutrient-poor, stored too long, or wasted, we’re still malnourished, just with full shelves.

Food Waste

Australia throws out 7.6 million tonnes of food every year. That’s over 300kg per person, and 30% of that isn’t coming from restaurants or warehouses.

It's coming from us. This equals around 2.5 million tonnes per year and costs each household up to $2,500.

So before we talk about needing “more food,” I think it’s fair to ask:

Are we even using what we already have?

Let’s Be Honest, We’ve All Done It

You buy the bag of spinach with optimism. It melts into the crisper like it never existed. You cook once and tell yourself you’ll eat leftovers tomorrow. Then tomorrow becomes three days, and suddenly, it’s a biology experiment. We’ve all been there.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about noticing.

Because when we throw food away, we’re not just wasting money. We’re wasting:

The water it took to grow it
The fuel it took to transport it
The nutrients it could’ve given your body
And the greenhouse gases it releases as it rots in landfill

That’s a lot riding on a bag of slimy lettuce.

It’s Not Just Households

Food waste is everywhere, in farms, factories, cafes, supermarkets. Perfectly edible food gets rejected because it’s the wrong shape, size, colour, or timing. A box of bananas can be discarded just because it’s a little too ripe to look good on the shelf.

But here’s the part that matters:

We have influence. As buyers. As eaters. As people who ask better questions.

If we buy the imperfect produce, supermarkets order more of it.
If we support growers who pick to order, less sits in cold storage.
If we normalise leftovers, food stops being disposable.

We’re not powerless. We’re part of the system. And that means we’re part of the solution.

What’s Already Happening in Australia?

OzHarvest rescues surplus food and redistributes it to people in need.
Love Food Hate Waste (NSW Government) helps households reduce kitchen waste.
Foodbank Australia works with farmers, retailers, and manufacturers to rescue usable food.
Community compost programs are growing in cities and suburbs.

My Tips to Reduce Food Waste

Plan meals with flexible ingredients (e.g., roasted veg → soup → frittata)
Learn how to store produce properly (herbs in water, carrots in sealed containers)
Use peels, stems, and bones for broths, hello, Flourish Finish!
Compost food scraps if possible, even apartment systems exist
Get curious about what’s “still good”, best before ≠ bad

What we waste often contains the very nutrients we need most. The parsley stems you toss? Packed with apigenin and folate.

What About Farmers? The People in the Middle of All This

We need to be clear: Farmers are not the problem, they’re the ones stuck between a rock and a rigid system.

They're under pressure to keep yields high while input costs climb.
Most don’t control pricing, especially in commodity markets.
Switching to organic or regen practices is risky, time-consuming, and expensive.

The truth? Many farmers likely want to do better. But they don’t have the bandwidth, safety net, or systemic support to shift.

What Could Help Aussie Farmers Shift to Regenerative Practices?

Support Type	Real Examples / Ideas
Transition Grants	Pay farmers to rebuild soil over 3–5 years
Local Regen Hubs	Demo farms, community compost, knowledge share
Price Incentives	Premiums for biodiversity, soil testing, carbon
National Regen Label	Like organic but for ecosystem health
Debt Relief Models	Tied to environmental outcomes
Training Pathways	On-farm apprenticeships in regen methods