Andrea Illy, chairman of the Trieste-based coffee company illycaffè, has authored a new book titled “La società rigenerativa” (The Regenerative Society). Published by Egea, the book outlines a proposal for a new economic model that moves beyond a singular focus on profit to create a more balanced relationship between human activity and natural systems. The work presents a case for rethinking production and value creation in the context of a finite planet.
The book argues that the prevailing extractive economic logic, which treats natural resources as limitless, is unsustainable. Drawing on scientific and philosophical principles, Illy advocates for a paradigm shift toward regeneration, with a particular focus on agriculture. The text champions regenerative agriculture as a method to rebuild natural capital, such as soil health, that has been depleted by conventional industrial farming practices over the last century.
Four key principles of regenerative agriculture are detailed: nourishing soil microbiota with organic carbon, actively promoting biodiversity, replacing industrial agrochemicals with natural microbiology, and creating a dynamic balance between cultivated land and natural reserves. The book reportedly includes practical case studies, such as experimental regenerative coffee plantations in Ethiopia and Guatemala, to illustrate these concepts. It also addresses common critiques of the model, including issues of scalability and the lack of a universally accepted definition, proposing that continuous study and adaptation are the solution.