Infodoc : Sciences, Techniques et Culture

This thesis explores how global (re)insurers can support nature-positive regenerative agriculture insurance solutions. It begins by unpacking the definitions of nature and nature-positivity and traces the historical roots of regenerative agriculture through organic farming, soil conservation agriculture and agroecology -- a potentially transformative framework grounded in biodiversity. It highlights regenerative agriculture co-optation, conventionalization and agroecology marginalization risks. It makes the case for a principles- and ecological state outcomes-based approach rather than practices-based standards, reflecting how nature-positivity is most meaningfully understood as nature's resilience from an insurance sector perspective, in the context of ecosystems managed under radica[...]

This thesis explores how global (re)insurers can support nature-positive regenerative agriculture insurance solutions. It begins by unpacking the definitions of nature and nature-positivity and traces the historical roots of regenerative agriculture through organic farming, soil conservation agriculture and agroecology -- a potentially transformative framework grounded in biodiversity. It highlights regenerative agriculture co-optation, conventionalization and agroecology marginalization risks. It makes the case for a principles- and ecological state outcomes-based approach rather than practices-based standards, reflecting how nature-positivity is most meaningfully understood as nature's resilience from an insurance sector perspective, in the context of ecosystems managed under radical uncertainty. Building on work from Baumgärtner [2007] recognizing the insurance value of biodiversity to manage environmental stochasticity, the thesis proposes to leverage both Husson et al. [2024] agronomic regenerative agriculture framework -- centered on photosynthesis, homeostasis and agrobiodiversity -- and the Savory Institute [2025]'s Ecological Outcome Verification scheme to define a research agenda focused on the relationship between ecosystems' degradation levels, regeneration capital intensity and ecological states' transition paths' risk proles. Assessing the potential role of technology and carbon farming in the context of scarce regenerative agriculture economics data, it advocates for a true "nature-based" low risk/high ecological return strategic approach to regenerative agriculture, centered on degraded pastures in agronomic deadlocks.