Global Regeneration: 21 Projects Driving Self-Reliance

This article from Regeneration International details 21 innovative projects advancing regenerative agriculture and self-reliance worldwide, selected from over 200 applications in their 'Five Innovations for Regeneration' micro-grants competition across 60 countries. It highlights finalists and honorable mentions with specific, actionable examples of regenerative practices. One standout is Durga’s Den in Jamaica, a demonstration farm on the North Coast promoting self-reliance through regenerative agriculture techniques. In partnership with the hotel industry, it repurposes organic waste into inputs for vermicomposting, composting, and animal feeding systems. Community members receive hands-on training via workshops and work exchanges, learning practical skills in these methods. The project emphasizes reforestation using agroforestry techniques, integrating trees with crops to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and long-term productivity. Another key example is Grow a Farmer in Uganda, which integrates information communication technology (ICT), permaculture design, and value-added business strategies into a 'three-dimensional model' for small-scale farmers. Since 2008, it has supported over 360 farmer groups, training them in ecosystem regeneration while building self-sustaining communities. Farmers cultivate coffee, fruit, corn, and bananas using farmer-to-farmer learning, fostering innovation and skill transfer for lasting impact. The model empowers farmers to process and market their produce, creating economic resilience. The article underscores measurable outcomes like scaled training goals—aiming for 150,000 farmers annually over four years—and highlights how these projects address soil degradation, food security, and community empowerment through context-specific regenerative methods. Other mentions include diverse initiatives like integrated livestock systems and urban greening, providing practitioners with replicable strategies grounded in real-world data and outcomes from the 2016 competition.