Governance
EARA Strategic Plan 2025–2030
Introduction and context
The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) was founded at the end of 2023 by a coalition of pioneering European regenerative farmers. Their initiative stems from the urgent need to fundamentally change the current agricultural and food system. Our ecosystems, both public and personal well-being, are under great pressure and show clear signs of decline. Regenerative agriculture is seen as a promising solution to reverse this trend – it restores soil health, promotes biodiversity and increases the resilience of farms, while also providing economic opportunities.
EARA serves as an independent, farmer-led coordination and advocacy organization of the regenerative agriculture movement at the European level 1 . We are firmly rooted in the practical experience of innovative farmers from all corners of Europe, and work together with allies in the chain and society. Our goal is to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture in Europe by promoting ecological, economic and social renewal, starting with the restorative management of living soils 1 . In this policy plan for 2025–2030, we outline how EARA wants to achieve this mission.
The period 2025–2030 is crucial. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP/CAP) is being revised towards the next term after 2027, providing a unique opportunity to put regenerative agriculture at the heart of European policies. At the same time, the movement of regenerative farmers is growing rapidly; EARA wants to connect, strengthen and give this growing community a voice at the highest level. In this plan, we describe our mission and vision, strategic objectives, planned activities and milestones, as well as the organizational and financial frameworks within which we operate. This policy plan must be submitted to the members of EARA for approval and will guide our joint efforts until 2030.
Mission and vision
Mission: EARA’s mission is to enable a system-wide transformation of the European agri-food sector by stimulating and scaling up regenerative agriculture practices. We support and connect regenerative farmers and their allies to achieve ecological restoration, economic viability and social renewal in agriculture together. We do this through advocacy, knowledge sharing and facilitating joint actions at the European level.
Vision: We envision a future in which regenerative agriculture is the norm. In this vision, European agricultural ecosystems are healthy and resilient, contribute to climate solutions, and provide prosperity and independence to farmers. Consumers, policymakers and businesses recognise and support the value of regenerative agriculture, creating widespread social acceptance. EARA strives for a Europe in which farming communities flourish – young people see a future in agriculture again, biodiversity is recovering, and farmers are valued as guardians of the soil and landscape. This vision drives all our activities and strategic choices.
Strategic objectives 2025–2030
For the period 2025–2030, EARA has formulated six strategic objectives that stem directly from our mission, statutes and the needs of the regenerative agriculture community:
1. Political Advocacy for Regenerative Agriculture
We are committed to reforming policies and regulations at the European level in favor of regenerative agriculture. A spearhead in this is influencing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. In concrete terms, this means that EARA brings the voice of regenerative farmers to Brussels: we formulate policy proposals, work with government agencies and build alliances (e.g. with landowner organisations and sustainability networks) to embed regenerative principles in new policies. Success in this area means that regenerative agriculture will be a recognised pillar of EU policy by 2030, with clear incentives and support for farmers who regenerate.
2. Growth of the affiliated farming community
A strong alliance requires a growing and active constituency. EARA aims to increase the number of affiliated farmers to have an engaged, thriving and growing member-community by 2030, spread across as many European countries as possible. We want to involve regenerative pioneers from all regions, as well as new farmers who want to take the step towards regeneration. Members will have access to knowledge, a network of like-minded people and influence in the policy debate. Community growth also means diversity: special attention is paid to involving young farmers, and different types of business (arable farming, livestock farming, horticulture, etc.). By growing, we can generate more impact and form a stronger voice towards the market and government.
3. Broad societal acceptance of regenerative agriculture
EARA wants regenerative agriculture to be widely supported in society by 2030. We achieve this through awareness and education: sharing farmer success stories, presenting research results on the benefits of regeneration, and organizing public events and demonstrations. We seek dialogue with consumers, media, educational institutions and NGOs to increase understanding and support for regenerative practices. Our farmer-led research has already shown that regenerative farms can produce competitively and sustainably (e.g. almost equal yields with 61% less fertilizer and 20% higher margins) – we will actively promote such results. An indicator of success is that terms such as “regenerative agriculture” and its value are known to a wide audience and regularly receive positive attention.
4. Social innovation and youth participation
Regenerative agriculture offers room for social innovations, such as new forms of organisation, revenue models and community initiatives. EARA wants to strengthen this by actively involving and supporting young people. We aim to prepare the next generation of farmers as leaders of the movement. Specifically, we will set up youth programs – for example, a youth council or “young ambassadors” within EARA – and collaborate with agricultural schools and youth organizations. Youth participation means that their voices are included in policy positions and that we support their ideas, for example through innovation challenges or internships. In 2030, regenerative agriculture must be co-shaped by a new generation that embraces social and technological innovation.
5. Economic benefits for chain partners
EARA is committed to engaging and benefiting companies in the food chain from regenerative agriculture. This includes food processors, retailers, investors, and brands that process and sell regenerated products. We encourage partnerships in which chain parties reward regenerative farmers for ecosystem services and quality, for example through regeneratively certified products or long-term purchase contracts. We will also inform the business community about the economic opportunities: regenerative agriculture can contribute to risk management (climate resilience), cost savings (less input use) and brand value (responding to consumer demand for sustainable food). Our goal is that by 2030, regenerative agriculture is clearly embedded in value chains – with concrete examples of companies that have shifted their sourcing and see a business case in regeneration. This will strengthen farmers’ financial independence and attract more investment to regenerative projects.
6. Prosperity and independence of farmers
Ultimately, the movement stands or falls with the well-being of the farmers themselves. EARA’s commitment is that regenerative farmers achieve a healthy income position and greater independence. This means: higher net margins through more efficient use of resources, diversification of revenues (e.g. agroforestry products, carbon credits) and less dependence on subsidies or expensive inputs. Through knowledge exchange and research, we help farmers to improve their business economic performance in conjunction with ecological performance. We also advocate fair prices and remuneration of farmers for their contribution to public goods (soil management, biodiversity). In 2025–2030, we aim for member farmers to see an upward trend in their returns on average and feel supported by a community that collectively stands up for their interests. The success of this objective will be demonstrated by indicators such as farmers’ income, cost recovery, and the ability of farmers to weather crises (such as drought or price fluctuations) independently.