Regenerative Agriculture Practices in Poland, Germany, and Belarus: A Comparative Assessment of Their Adoption

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly promoted as a pathway towards sustainable food production, climate resilience, and the restoration of soil ecosystem functions. However, evidence on the actual uptake of regenerative practices and the factors influencing their adoption remains limited. This study compared the self-reported prevalence of 17 soil-health-oriented regenerative practices among farmers in Poland, Germany, and Belarus using a questionnaire survey conducted in 2025 (N = 150). The survey also examined farmers’ motivations, perceived barriers, knowledge sources, and definitions of regenerative agriculture. Adoption frequencies were assessed using a five-point Likert scale and analysed using non-parametric statistical methods. Several practices, including crop rotation and soil pH management, were widely implemented across all three countries and showed only slight variation. In contrast, more complex, system-based practices, such as agroforestry, biological soil monitoring, and crop–livestock integration, showed lower and more variable levels of adoption. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the observed cross-country patterns. Although some associations weakened after stratification, many significant differences persisted. Across all countries, improving soil health was the primary motivation for adopting regenerative agriculture, whereas financial constraints and limited equipment access were the main barriers. Digital media served as the primary source of knowledge about regenerative agriculture across the surveyed countries, although in Belarus, peers and neighbours also represented a highly important source of information. Farmers in all three countries expressed a preference for online communication channels for further learning about regenerative agriculture; however, Polish and Belarusian farmers prefer social media, whereas German farmers preferred webinars and dedicated websites. In-person training sessions also attracted considerable interest among Polish and Belarusian farmers, but were the least preferred information source among German respondents. On the basis of these results, targeted investment support and direct financial incentives appear to be key priorities for promoting the further uptake of regenerative agriculture across all surveyed countries. However, communication and knowledge-transfer strategies are likely to require greater adaptation to country-specific preferences, although digital media are likely to represent the most effective primary channel for disseminating information on regenerative agriculture.