Farm systems and regenerative agriculture – key interactions and potential consequences

A FARM SYSTEM is an ecosystem that is managed to deliver food and fibre products to support humans. There are several elements in that ecosystem, including physical and biological assets (internal stocks) and management inputs. Farm systems are not discrete entities. They have inputs from beyond the farm gate (external stocks such as fuel and fertiliser) and connections with remote markets. They also produce environmental externalities such as greenhouse gases (GHG) and nutrient export to receiving waterbodies. Farm systems are therefore complex and understanding the many direct and indirect interactions between the constituent elements is a key requisite for competent management.