Unlocking future of Sri Lanka's tea sector through regenerative agriculture

As global agriculture faces mounting pressure to adapt to climate change, consumer expectations, and stricter sustainability regulations, Sri Lanka's iconic tea industry finds itself at a critical juncture.

- By NITIN RAO- HEAD OF PLANNING AND INNOVATION, SOLIDARIDAD ASIA

While the country's lush estates and smallholder networks have long supplied some of the world's finest teas, the sector must now pivot towards future-facing practices that ensure long-term resilience, competitiveness, and environmental stewardship. One such pathway is regenerative agriculture - a system of farming that not only sustains but actively restores ecosystems.

Regenerative agriculture: A step beyond sustainability

Unlike conventional sustainable agriculture that seeks to do “less harm,” regenerative agriculture aims to actively improve the health of soils, biodiversity, water systems, and carbon cycles. This approach is especially relevant to Sri Lanka’s tea landscapes, which are vulnerable to soil erosion, declining productivity, and climate volatility.

Regenagri, a globally recognised regenerative agriculture certification, offers tea estates and smallholder networks a structured, stepwise framework to adopt regenerative practices. These include enhancing soil organic matter, integrating agroforestry, minimising chemical inputs, and promoting biodiversity — all validated through science-based indicators and third-party verification.

Crucially, these practices don’t just restore the land — they also lead to increased productivity, improved soil fertility, and greater input efficiency, making the transition economically viable for growers.

Sri Lanka has already made history in this space.