Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative is an emerging term that is still developing. The basic concept is that rather than degrading soil, water, and ecosystems and exploiting labor due to the impacts of toxic chemicals and other practices, regenerative farming aims to enhance the productive capacity of the land, its people and the biological communities linked to that land. Soil-building is the primary activity. Regenerative farming would typically mean no till, spreading of compost and/or planting of cover crops, use of livestock in ways that mimic nature, elimination or large reductions in chemical use, a focus on crop diversity and rotations. There is now an effort in the private sector to establish certifications for this approach, see the Regenerative Organic Alliance, Land to Market EOV, A Greener World, and Audubon. We expect the use of the term and the production approach to grow rapidly in the years ahead.

Here an overview of current and recent ROC projects that promote regenerative agriculture:

• Roots of Change Meat Pavilion at Terra Madre Americas
• Growing GRASS(currently on hold due to USA funding freeze)
• Tranformation of California’s Meat Supply Chain
• Healthy Soils Promotion

Here are some useful links to learn more about regenerative agrculture:

1)  Regenerative Agriculture Resources

• Audubon Conservation Ranching Program
  • Audubon Conservation Ranching aims to stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers.
  • Video: Hoofs on the Ground, Wings in the Sky
• Bioneers
  • A non-profit organization focused on inspiring and realizing a shift towards living on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other, and future generations. Bioneers acts as a hub for social and scientific innovators with solutions for environmental and social challenges.
    • Regenerative Agriculture

• Kiss the Ground
  • An audience-supported nonprofit promoting regeneration and healthy soil as a viable solution for our climate, wellness, and water crisis. Since 2013, they’ve inspired millions to participate in the Regenerative Movement through storytelling, education, and partnerships.

• • • Guide to Regenerative Agriculture
    • Stories of Regeneration
    • Courses on Regenerative Principles
    • Common Ground film
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• Noble Research Institute
  • An independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges.
    • • What is Regenerative Agriculture

• NRDC (National Resources Defense Council)
  • NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature.
    • • Regenerative Agriculture 101
      • Composting 101
• Rainforest Alliance
  • An international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal.
    • • What is Regenerative Agriculture
• Regeneration International
  • Promote, facilitate and accelerate the global transition to regenerative food, farming and land management for the purpose of restoring climate stability, ending world hunger and rebuilding deteriorated social, ecological and economic systems.
    • • Trails of Regeneration
• Regenerative Farmers of America
  • Access free resources and begin your regenerative journey. Every person has the ability to grow this movement whether you live in an apartment or 10,000 acres! Find resources on how you can make a difference for the planet and bring regenerative agriculture to your little slide of the world!
• Soil Health Institute
  • The Soil Health Institute is a global non-profit with a mission of safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils through scientific research and advancement. The Institute brings together leaders in soil health science and the industry to conduct research and empower farmers and other landowners with the knowledge to successfully adopt regenerative soil health systems that contribute economic and environmental benefits to agriculture and society.
    • • Soil health is the foundation for regenerative agriculture
• Savory Institute
  • Expanding the Holistic Management framework into global consciousness with urgency as all life depends on it.
    • Holistic Management
    • Land to Market
• The Nature Conservancy
  • Making the highest possible impact on the climate and biodiversity crises between now and 2030, developing breakthrough ideas, amplifying local leaders and influencing policy.
    • Regenerative Food Systems
    • Foodscapes: Accelerating a Regenerative Food Systems Transition
• TomKatRanch
  • TomKat Ranch has three priority initiatives that leverage their land-based learning laboratory, unique partner ecosystem, and convening capabilities to inspire the transition of five million acres of rangeland to regenerative management over the next five years. They focus on holistic solutions that improve soil health, climate stability, water quality and availability, animal welfare, human health, economic prosperity, and biodiversity.
    • Regenerative Ranching Methods
    • Regenerative Ranching Toolkit

2)  Examples of Regenerative Agriculture in Action

• White Oak Pastures, Regenerative Farm, Bluffton, GA.
  • Regenerative, six generation 5,ooo acres family farm in south Georgia, pasture-raising 10 species of livestock, eggs, organic vegetables, honey, and other things.
    • • A Model Regenerative Farm
      • One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

• TomKat Ranch, Regenerative Cattle Ranch, Pescadero, CA
  • TomKat Ranch is an 1800-acre grassfed cattle ranch in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our team of ranchers, scientists, and advocates look to nature to guide our landscape management in support of our values. Over the next five years, we want to have inspired the transition of one million acres of California rangeland to regenerative management.
    • • .
• Stemple Creek Ranch, Regenerative Ranch, Tomales, CA
  • Working in harmony with Mother Nature to promote optimal biodiversity that ensures the long term health and productivity of the ranch. We use regenerative, organic agricultural practices, which means we seek to enhance and rehabilitate our entire ecosystem by focusing on soil health and increasing carbon in our land.
    • • Regenerative, carbon-neutral family ranch
      • Worm love and regenerative agriculture
      • Stemple Creek Ranch survives Covid-19 by selling direct to consumers
• Farmer’s Footprint: Regeneration – The Beginning This film features the trials, learnings and victories of the four generation Breitkreutz family from Stoney Creek Farm transitioning from conventional farming to regenerative agriculture in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

3)  Northern California Meat Portal | Where to Buy Regenerative Meat

This platform provides resources for the regional regenerative meat community such as contact information and resources on markets and opportunities and a regenerative meat purchasing guide.

4)  ROC’s Flipping the Table Podcast Episodes Related to Regenerative Agriculture

		S6 – Ep#11 – Diana Donlon of SoilCentric on why regeneration and history indicate a brighter future. December 16, 2024.
		S6 – Ep#8 – Cole Mannix, Old Salt Co-op, on improving the land and the lives of those who raise good meat for Montanans. Sep 13, 2024.
		S6 – Ep#2 – Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott, an inspiring indigenous millennial working to heal our land through stewardship. February 24, 2024.
		S6 – Ep#1 – Rick Clark, a large-scale Midwestern regenerative organic farmer from Indiana, shares his story of transition away from conventional commodity agriculture to the center of the film Common Ground. January 16, 2024.
		S5 – Ep#12 – Jim Kleinschmit of Other Half Processing and the Growing GRASS Climate Smart Commodities Partnership Project. Farm boy and entrepreneur Jim Kleinschmit started a company called Other Half Processing to ensure that the hides and other byproducts from cattle and bison are fully utilized.
		S5 – Ep#11 – Will Harris Regenerates An Entire Community Through White Oak Pastures. After decades of economic decline around the Harris family’s farm, Will experienced an epiphany that led to a journey to what we now call regenerative agriculture.  November 15, 2023.
		S5 – Ep #10 – Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell share their story of the making of Common Ground and why regenerative agriculture must become the norm. October 18, 2023
		S5 – Ep#9 – The long strange trip of Loren Poncia of Stemple Creek Ranch. September 20, 2023
		S5 – Ep#7 – What does Grassfed Meat really mean with Carrie Balkcom of the American Grassfed Association. July 18, 2023
		S5 – Ep#6 – Deep Connections: Healthy Soil Leads to Healthy Plants, Animals and Humans. June 13, 2023
		S5 – Ep#4 – How Cliff Pollard and Cream Co, Inc. provide the missing middle link in creation of West Coast regional regenerative meat supply chains. April 8, 2023