Last month, I had the privilege of representing Regeneration International at the Uzbek-German Expert Dialogue on Agroecology in Uzbekistan, alongside my dear friend and colleague André Leu, Director of Regeneration International. It was an incredible experience to bring our global network’s voice to this important conversation on transitioning Uzbekistan’s agriculture toward sustainability and climate resilience.
André shared powerful global insights on regenerative agriculture, drawing on decades of experience worldwide. He emphasized how practices like soil regeneration, biodiversity enhancement, and ecological balance can restore degraded lands, improve farmer livelihoods, and strengthen food security. His message was clear: regenerative agriculture is not just a trend—it’s a global solution to the interconnected climate, food, and biodiversity crises.
For my part, I spoke about the importance of community-led approaches to natural resource management, and creating abundance-especially in seasonal rainfall regions like Zimbabwe. I also offered a reframing of the widespread mislabelling of “overgrazing,” highlighting it as “mismanaged grazing.” Sharing how, when livestock is holistically managed with local communities at the helm, land can heal, livelihoods can flourish, and dignity can be restored. I also joined a field visit to the Navoi region, where we explored the challenges of pasture degradation and salinization—and shared how holistic grazing practices have worked in Southern Africa. The land in Navoi region is beaming with potential, and I look forward to how we will continue to design together with farmers to create abundant landscapes for all life.
What made this gathering so meaningful was the spirit of cross-continental learning and solidarity. Experts like Kaie Laaneväli-Vinokurov from Estonia, Baitemir Naizabekov from Kyrgyzstan, José van Noordenburg from the Netherlands, Dr. Raymond Briscoe from Afghanistan, Simon Chevalking from MetaMeta, and Roman Kemper from Bonn University enriched the dialogue with diverse experiences, from smallholder dairy systems to water-smart irrigation and pasture innovation.
For André and me, this was not just about presenting solutions, but about listening, connecting, and weaving global relationships that strengthen the regenerative movement. Our participation helped open doors for collaboration between Central Asia and the wider regenerative community, and deepened the global conversation on how agroecology can serve both people and planet.
As we left Uzbekistan, one thing remains, across all regions: agroecology is a paradigm shift, not just a set of practices. It’s about rethinking the relationships between soil, water, seeds, animals, farmers, and communities—and it will take all of us, across borders and sectors, to bring this vision to life.
I’m grateful to have been part of this important moment and look forward to continuing to build bridges between regenerative leaders around the world. And Congratulations to the government of Uzbekistan for opening their doors to discussing this huge possibility.
The post Carrying Regenerative Voices to Central Asia: Reflections from Uzbekistan appeared first on Regeneration International.
