Europe's farms brace for fertiliser shocks as regenerative farming shows resilience

Europe faces fertiliser and energy-price shocks due to the Iran war and Hormuz disruption, but regenerative farming—using compost, manure, cover crops, and rotational grazing—can maintain yields while drastically cutting synthetic fertiliser and pesticide use. Case studies across Greece, Spain, and the Basque Country show improved soil health and biodiversity, plus on-farm energy and shorter supply chains. Yet adoption remains limited (around 2% fully regenerative; 5–10% transitioning) because of labour intensity, upfront costs, and policy barriers in the CAP; stronger training, funding, and incentives are needed to scale this resilience.