Summary
This discourse analysis examines regenerative agriculture as a binding storyline uniting nine distinct discourses—ranging from profit-focused restoration to agroecology and First Nations perspectives—across diverse actors in Australia and the United States. By characterising this discourse coalition, the authors reveal how RA's transformative potential is both strengthened by its heterogeneity and weakened by internal tensions that render it vulnerable to co-optation and greenwashing. The work contributes to understanding how RA discourse functions as a social construct rather than a singular, unified movement.
Regional applicability
Whilst this study was conducted in Australia and the United States, its analytical framework for understanding RA as a discourse coalition is applicable to United Kingdom contexts, where RA narratives similarly span environmental restoration, organic and agroecological movements, and farmer-led innovation. UK policymakers and practitioners should be alert to the same co-optation and greenwashing risks identified here when integrating RA concepts into agricultural policy and certification schemes.
Key measures
Discourse identification and characterisation; narrative themes; tensions within RA discourse coalition
Outcomes reported
The study identified and characterised nine distinct discourses contributing to regenerative agriculture (RA) discourse through analysis of 96 organisational texts and 22 interviews. The analysis examined how these discourses form a coalition whilst also identifying internal tensions that may expose RA to co-optation and greenwashing.
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