5.2.14 (HL)—Alternative farming approaches

Alternative farming approaches respond to different parts of the ecological crisis, so each must be matched to its intended job rather than treated as one category.

Approach	Primary job	Important trade-off
Soil regeneration	rebuild soil structure, organic matter and biological function	recovery can take time
Rewilding	restore habitat and ecological processes	may reduce land available for production
Permaculture	design diverse components and useful nutrient or water loops	knowledge and management demands
Non-commercial cropping	supply households or communities outside commercial markets	limited scale or market income
Zero/reduced tillage	reduce disturbance, erosion and water loss	weed control and machinery choices may change

If erosion is the immediate problem, cover and reduced tillage address the pathway directly; if habitat loss is the priority, rewilding may fit better.

Evaluate effects on food sustainability, water quality, local economic stability, soil and biodiversity.

Alternative does not automatically mean sustainable; outcomes, scale and trade-offs still require evidence.