Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Effect of Regenerative Agriculture on Soil Health, Ecosystem Services and Economic Performance in a Commercial Olive Orchard in Southern Spain

Milagros Torrús‐Castillo; Giovana P. F. Macan; Blanca B. Landa; José A. Gómez

Soil Use and Management · 2026

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Summary

This study evaluates the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in a commercial olive orchard in southern Spain, assessing their combined effects on soil health, the provision of ecosystem services, and farm economic performance. By examining real-world conditions on a working farm, it provides grounded evidence of trade-offs and synergies between ecological and financial outcomes in a Mediterranean perennial crop system. The paper likely contributes field-scale data relevant to ongoing debates about the feasibility of transitioning Mediterranean olive cultivation towards more sustainable management approaches.

UK applicability

The findings are geographically specific to Mediterranean olive systems and are not directly transferable to UK farming conditions or crop types; however, the methodological framework for simultaneously assessing soil health, ecosystem services and economic viability under regenerative management has broader applicability to UK perennial and horticultural systems.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon (%); microbial biomass or activity; soil aggregate stability; biodiversity indicators; ecosystem service metrics; yield (kg/ha or t/ha); gross margin or net profit (€/ha)

Outcomes reported

The study likely measured changes in soil health indicators, ecosystem service delivery, and economic performance under regenerative management compared to conventional practices in a commercial olive orchard. Outcomes probably include soil biological, chemical and physical metrics alongside profitability or cost-benefit assessments.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Regenerative & agroecological farming systems
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Spain
System type
Permanent crops / olive orchard
DOI
10.1111/sum.70181
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-06o

Topic tags

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