Regenerative Agriculture Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform: Supporting Growers in De-Risking Their Transition to Regenerative Practices

Abstract

The agriculture industry is responsible for 80% of global deforestation and 29% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. While agriculture significantly contributes to climate change, it is also one of the sectors most vulnerable to its effects. A key way forward is adopting long-term sustainable production techniques, with regenerative agriculture increasingly recognized as a critical solution to the climate crisis. However, the transition to regenerative practices is often hindered by a lack of knowledge, financial barriers, and a need for technical assistance. Our project seeks to de-risk the transition to regenerative practices for specialty crop growers by collaborating with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the creation of a Regenerative Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform (RPLP). Peer-to-peer learning networks have proven successful in assisting growers with adopting new technologies, like in the UK’s “Focus on Farmers” project. Our collaboration with WWF focused on aligning its Food Loss & Waste (FLW) Team around regenerative agricultural projects as well as developing a model for the RPLP that is both practical and impactful, ensuring it effectively supports growers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices. To accomplish this, we began by interviewing members of WWF’s FLW and Markets teams to understand their perspectives on team collaboration and WWF’s role in regenerative agriculture. We also interviewed external stakeholders, such as members of growers’ associations and program managers, to understand what sorts of components would allow the RPLP to properly support growers in their transition. These interviews were in-depth and semi-structured, allowing us to get a large scope of the interviewees' perspectives and opinions around regenerative agriculture and peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, we explored some WWF documentation and publications, as well as some external literature about growers and regenerative agriculture. From these interviews, we were able to develop some key findings and recommendations, both for WWF’s internal alignment strategy and for the components of the RPLP. These main findings are: Phase I: Internal Alignment Regenerative Agriculture Misalignment: WWF staff widely emphasized the urgent need for a set of clear, consistent organizational guidelines for regenerative agriculture aligned with WWF’s conservation mission. Collaboration Barriers: Internal collaboration is limited by team silos; a centralized, accessible project repository would enhance interdisciplinary coordination and knowledge sharing. Outcome-Driven Approach: Interviewees advocated for prioritizing outcome-based project design with clear, measurable goals to guide actions and demonstrate impact. Clarifying WWF’s Role: Staff expressed the importance of defining WWF’s role in the RPLP as a facilitator and connector rather than the main implementer. Phase II: Structure and Components of the RPLP Pilot Project: A smaller-scale pilot project is recommended to build trust, demonstrate early success, and serve as a replicable model for scaling. Community-Based Design: A community-led platform model, where WWF supports and community members lead, will foster trust, relevance, and long-term adoption. Accessibility & Inclusion: Addressing barriers such as language, cultural competency, and platform accessibility is critical to ensuring equitable participation and support. Mentorship Integration: A peer mentorship program, with compensated mentors from similar backgrounds, is vital for building trust, transferring knowledge, and sustaining engagement. This program also serves to demonstrate success stories and allow for growth within the platform. Platform Components: In-person convenings, a tiered cost-share model, data monitoring, mentorship, and education about existing grants are essential features for pilot implementation. Our findings highlight the need for a peer-to-peer learning platform dedicated to supporting specialty crop growers in transitioning to regenerative practices. By fostering both internal cohesion and external collaboration, World Wildlife Fund can position the Regenerative Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform as a powerful tool for scaling regenerative agriculture and driving meaningful change.