Regenerative Agriculture in Iraq: A Strategy for Sustainable Development

Report on Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Recommendations

Executive Summary

Iraq is confronting a severe environmental crisis, characterized by escalating temperatures, significant water scarcity, and rapid desertification, which directly undermines its progress towards several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditional agricultural practices are exacerbating these challenges, threatening national food security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger) and contributing to land degradation (SDG 15: Life on Land). This report examines regenerative agriculture as a viable, multi-faceted solution to reverse environmental damage, enhance economic stability, and promote social well-being in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Regenerative farming, an approach that restores soil health and ecosystem functions, offers a pathway to achieving climate resilience (SDG 13: Climate Action) and responsible production (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production). Global case studies demonstrate its potential to increase farm productivity and reduce input costs, offering fiscal relief to the Iraqi government and a route to self-sufficiency and poverty reduction (SDG 1: No Poverty) for smallholder farmers. The decline in traditional agriculture has fueled mass rural-to-urban migration, placing immense strain on urban infrastructure and challenging the goal of creating sustainable cities (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). By revitalizing the agricultural sector, regenerative practices can foster decent work and economic growth in rural areas (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

This report outlines a three-pronged strategy to scale regenerative agriculture in Iraq:

• Adoption of targeted agricultural practices focused on ecological restoration and sustainable yields.
• Implementation of policy reforms that incentivize the transition to regenerative methods.
• Leveraging international partnerships (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals) to secure funding, technology, and expertise.

By integrating these strategies, Iraq can transform its environmental and agricultural challenges into an opportunity for sustainable and resilient national development.

Key Findings and Recommendations

Key Findings

The research identifies critical barriers to advancing sustainable agriculture in Iraq, which impede progress on key SDGs:

• Data and Monitoring Deficiencies: The absence of systematic data collection on environmental projects hinders the assessment of their impact on SDG 15 (Life on Land) and prevents the effective replication of successful models.
• Fragmented Governance: Poor coordination between national and local authorities leads to implementation inefficiencies, undermining efforts to build effective and accountable institutions (SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Policy Misalignment: Current subsidy policies do not differentiate between chemical and organic inputs, creating a financial disincentive for farmers to adopt practices aligned with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Economic Barriers: The high out-of-pocket cost for organic fertilizers, coupled with undifferentiated subsidies, discourages the adoption of environmentally beneficial farming methods.
• Lack of Integration: Environmental projects are often isolated from national agricultural and water management strategies, missing opportunities for synergistic progress on SDGs 2, 6, and 15.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Development

Short-Term Actions (1-2 Years)

• Establish a centralized digital database to monitor project outcomes, tracking progress against indicators for SDG 6 (water usage) and SDG 15 (soil quality).
• Form a joint ministerial task force (Environment, Water, Agriculture) to streamline resource allocation, fostering the partnerships required by SDG 17.
• Develop and deploy farmer training modules on water-efficient irrigation and soil restoration to build capacity for achieving SDG 2 and SDG 13.
• Launch pilot programs with financial incentives for farmers adopting sustainable practices, directly supporting SDG 1 and SDG 12.

Medium-Term Actions (2-5 Years)

• Expand successful pilot projects to regions most affected by desertification, scaling up efforts to meet SDG 15.
• Institute policy reforms and a certification program for regenerative agriculture, linking government support to sustainable practices to drive progress on SDG 12.
• Establish regional knowledge-sharing hubs to facilitate peer-to-peer mentorship, strengthening community resilience and local institutions (SDG 11, SDG 16).

Long-Term Strategic Initiatives (5+ Years)

• Integrate regenerative agriculture into Iraq’s national food security strategy, ensuring long-term achievement of SDG 2.
• Create a national sustainable agriculture fund, supported by government and international donors, to provide the financial mechanisms needed for SDG 1 and SDG 17.
• Develop climate-resilient farming zones with specialized infrastructure to adapt to climate change as mandated by SDG 13.
• Foster research partnerships between Iraqi and international institutions to innovate climate-adapted farming techniques, advancing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

I. Introduction

A. Objectives of the Policy Brief

This policy brief provides a strategic analysis of Iraq’s agricultural sector, advocating for the adoption of regenerative farming to address pressing environmental and economic challenges. The objectives are to:

1. Analyze current farming practices and their impact on Iraq’s ability to meet SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. Evaluate existing agricultural policies for their alignment with the principles of sustainable development.
3. Showcase successful regenerative farming initiatives as models for achieving multiple SDGs simultaneously.
4. Identify barriers to the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture in Iraq.
5. Provide actionable policy recommendations to facilitate a nationwide transition towards a sustainable agricultural model that supports the 2030 Agenda.

B. Global Significance of Regenerative Farming

Regenerative agriculture has proven to be a powerful tool for environmental restoration and poverty alleviation globally, offering a blueprint for achieving the SDGs. In Ethiopia, such practices restored one million hectares of degraded land, significantly improving food security (SDG 2). In China, the Loess Plateau project transformed 35,000 square kilometers of arid land, lifting 2.5 million people out of poverty (SDG 1). These successes, achieved through techniques like cover cropping and minimal tillage, demonstrate a clear path for Iraq to rebuild its soil health, enhance biodiversity, and improve water retention, thereby making critical progress on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

II. Regenerative Farming in the Iraqi Context

A. The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture for Iraq’s Sustainability

Iraq’s environmental crisis directly threatens its capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The annual loss of 400,000 acres of arable land to desertification severely compromises SDG 15 (Life on Land), while the 60% reduction in river flows exacerbates water scarcity, jeopardizing SDG 6 (Clean Water). This degradation has crippled the agricultural sector, reducing its GDP contribution and increasing reliance on food imports, which works against SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Regenerative agriculture offers a direct response to these challenges by:

• Enhancing Climate Resilience (SDG 13): Regenerative farms are proven to be more resilient to drought.
• Boosting Profitability and Reducing Poverty (SDG 1): These practices can increase farm profitability by matching or exceeding conventional yields with lower input costs.
• Conserving Water (SDG 6): Regenerative systems can reduce water consumption by up to 40%, a critical benefit in water-scarce Iraq.

B. Current Initiatives and Systemic Challenges

Several pilot projects in Iraq, such as Enduring Harvest and initiatives by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), incorporate regenerative principles to restore land and improve livelihoods, contributing to SDG 2 and SDG 15. However, their impact is limited by significant challenges. A primary obstacle is the lack of coordination between international organizations and government ministries, which represents a failure to leverage SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This fragmentation prevents the systematic documentation, evaluation, and scaling of successful models, hindering nationwide progress toward a sustainable agricultural system.

III. Policy Landscape and Opportunities for Intervention

A. Analysis of Current Agricultural Policies

Iraq’s current agricultural policies prioritize short-term production through conventional subsidies and tariffs. While aimed at supporting farmers, this approach is disconnected from environmental objectives and fails to promote sustainable practices. The government’s climate initiatives operate separately from its agricultural programs, creating a policy disconnect that impedes integrated progress on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This fragmented framework lacks the synergy required to address Iraq’s complex environmental and economic challenges effectively.

B. Policy Challenges and Structural Limitations

The primary barrier to sustainable agricultural reform is a fragmented policy framework where ministerial priorities conflict, hindering a unified approach to achieving the SDGs. The Ministry of Agriculture’s focus on conventional support clashes with the conservation goals of the Water and Environment ministries. This lack of coordination, combined with insufficient funding for sustainable research and a political reluctance to reform subsidies, perpetuates farming practices that are detrimental to long-term environmental health and national resilience. These structural limitations inadvertently discourage the adoption of sustainable methods, slowing progress toward SDG 6, SDG 12, and SDG 15.

C. Opportunities for Aligning Policy with the SDGs

Despite systemic challenges, significant opportunities exist to align Iraq’s agricultural policies with the Sustainable Development Goals. By framing regenerative agriculture as a solution that supports government priorities—such as farmer welfare, climate resilience, and food security—policymakers can build broad support for reform. Key opportunities include:

1. Aligning with Political Priorities: Supporting rural communities through regenerative agriculture can align with the political interests of policymakers.
2. Addressing Climate Change (SDG 13): Regenerative agriculture offers a practical solution to desertification and water scarcity, two of Iraq’s most pressing environmental threats.
3. Leveraging Human Capital (SDG 8): Engaging Iraq’s numerous unemployed agricultural graduates in a national transition to sustainable farming can create green jobs and drive innovation.
4. Capitalizing on Consumer Preferences (SDG 12): Building on the local preference for domestic products can create a market for sustainably produced Iraqi goods.

IV. Conclusion: A Call to Action for a Sustainable Future

Iraq is at a critical juncture. The convergence of climate change, water scarcity, and land degradation demands a fundamental transformation of its agricultural sector. Regenerative agriculture offers a holistic paradigm shift that can restore Iraq’s environment, revitalize its economy, and build national resilience. This is an urgent mandate to move beyond conventional practices and embrace a system that aligns food production with environmental stewardship.

To achieve this transformation and make meaningful progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, bold and decisive action is required. Policymakers and stakeholders must commit to:

• Reforming agricultural subsidies to incentivize practices that support SDG 12 and SDG 15.
• Establishing dedicated funding and training programs to build national capacity for regenerative agriculture (SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8).
• Developing market incentives that reward farmers for environmental stewardship.
• Integrating water, agriculture, and environmental policies to ensure a coordinated strategy for achieving SDG 6, SDG 13, and SDG 15.

By taking these steps, Iraq can harness the potential of regenerative agriculture to secure a prosperous, food-secure, and sustainable future for its people.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article’s central theme is agriculture, food security, and the sustainability of farming practices in Iraq. It discusses how traditional farming is failing and proposes regenerative agriculture to “enhance food security” and rejuvenate the agricultural sector.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article extensively discusses water scarcity, noting that the “flow of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has diminished by 60 percent.” It promotes regenerative farming for its water conservation benefits, including “water-efficient irrigation techniques” and improved “water retention.”

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The text links the decline in agriculture to economic instability, noting that farming’s contribution to GDP dropped from 20% to 3.3%. It highlights how this decline has led to a “mass exodus from rural areas to cities” and “widespread employment instability,” while proposing regenerative farming as a way to create “economic benefits” and rejuvenate rural communities.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article addresses the consequences of agricultural decline on urban areas, stating that “rural-urban migration has overwhelmed urban infrastructure and services.” It suggests that reviving the rural agricultural sector could “ease urban pressures.”

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The article critiques current farming practices for their reliance on “pesticide and chemical inputs.” It advocates for a shift away from these methods and criticizes government policies that subsidize chemicals, creating a “disincentive for sustainable farming practices.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Climate change is presented as a primary driver of Iraq’s agricultural crisis, with “temperatures soar[ing] above 50 degrees Celsius.” Regenerative farming is proposed as a key strategy to “mitigate climate change impacts” and build “climate resilience.”

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article directly addresses land degradation, stating that “desertification claims 400,000 acres annually” and “70 percent of agricultural land risks desertification.” Regenerative farming is presented as a solution to “reverse environmental degradation” by “rebuild[ing] soil health” and increasing “biodiversity.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article emphasizes the need for collaboration, calling for “international cooperation to leverage global expertise, technology, and funding.” It also recommends creating a “joint task force” between Iraqi ministries and establishing “research partnerships between Iraqi universities and international institutions.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article supports this by stating that regenerative farming can “increase farm productivity by more than 70 percent” and make farms “78 percent more profitable,” which would directly benefit the “smallholder farmers who depend on government agricultural programs for survival.”
• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. This target is the core subject of the entire article, which advocates for “regenerative farming” to “restore degraded lands, improve soil fertility, increase biodiversity, and enhance food security.”

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article directly addresses this by promoting “water-efficient irrigation techniques” and noting that regenerative systems “use 45 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than conventional systems.”

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The article critiques the heavy use of “pesticide and chemical inputs” and government subsidies for them, advocating for a shift to organic methods to improve “public health.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article highlights that farms using regenerative practices were “78 percent more resilient to drought conditions” and recommends developing “climate-resilient farming zones.”
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. A key finding is that environmental policies “remain disconnected from agricultural programs,” and a core recommendation is to “integrate environmental restoration projects into Iraq’s national food-security strategy.”

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. This is a central point, as the article states Iraq loses “400,000 acres of arable land annually to degradation” and proposes regenerative farming to “rebuild soil health” and reverse this trend.
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article promotes regenerative farming as a method to “increase biodiversity.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The article identifies a “fragmented approach” and “competing ministerial priorities” as key challenges, recommending a “joint task force between the Environment, Water Resources, and Agriculture ministries to streamline project approvals.”
• Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals. The article explicitly calls for “international cooperation to leverage global expertise, technology, and funding” and to “establish research partnerships between Iraqi universities and international institutions.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Indicator for Target 2.3 (Productivity): The article provides a benchmark for success, stating research shows regenerative farming “can increase farm productivity by more than 70 percent.” Progress can be measured by tracking the change in productivity on farms that adopt these methods.
• Indicator for Target 2.3 (Profitability): The claim that regenerative farms were “78 percent more profitable” can be used as a metric to assess the economic viability and success of pilot programs.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Indicator for Target 6.4 (Water-use efficiency): The article states regenerative systems use “40 percent less water.” This percentage can be used as a target and metric for measuring water savings in agricultural projects.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Indicator for Target 12.4 (Chemical use): The article provides a baseline for chemical use: “Farmers currently spend $200 on pesticide per hectare.” A reduction in this expenditure would be a clear indicator of progress.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Indicator for Target 15.3 (Land degradation): The rate of “400,000 acres” of land lost to desertification annually serves as a critical baseline indicator. A reduction in this annual loss would measure progress in combating desertification.
• Indicator for Target 15.3 (Soil health): The article mentions that in Australia, regenerative farming “increased soil carbon by 40 percent.” This metric (percentage increase in soil carbon) can be adopted to measure soil restoration in Iraq.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: atlanticcouncil.org