Do agronomic approaches aligned to regenerative agriculture improve micronutrient concentrations of edible portions of crops? Front Nutr

Summary

This paper, published in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2023, reviews the available evidence on whether regenerative agriculture practices improve micronutrient concentrations in crop produce. Led by Manzeke-Kangara, Joy, and colleagues — researchers with established expertise in soil–food–nutrition linkages — the review likely finds that evidence is mixed or context-dependent, with some practices showing promise but overall conclusions limited by heterogeneity in study designs and definitions of regenerative agriculture. The paper contributes to the growing literature on whether farming system choices can address micronutrient deficiency through food quality rather than quantity alone.

UK applicability

The findings are broadly applicable to UK arable and horticultural systems, particularly given increasing policy interest in regenerative agriculture under post-CAP agri-environment schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive; however, the international scope means UK-specific agronomic and soil contexts may need separate consideration.

Key measures

Micronutrient concentrations in edible crop portions (e.g. mg/kg); agronomic practice categories aligned to regenerative agriculture principles

Outcomes reported

The study examined whether agronomic practices associated with regenerative agriculture — such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, organic amendments, and reduced synthetic inputs — improve micronutrient concentrations in the edible portions of crops. It likely synthesised evidence across multiple crop types and farming contexts to assess the strength and consistency of any nutritional benefits.

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