Regenerative Agriculture Principals
Regenerative agriculture has to be deep work. If we are to regenerate a food system, we need to consider the whole system. In our mind, regenerative agriculture is not about carbon credits for commodity corn growers, or solely engaging in the practices to increase yield and decrease input costs.
This is about bringing life back to what is broken, dying, and dead. Part of this work is shining a light on the darker parts of agriculture that got us to where we are, and work together to envision and act upon policy solutions that consider both environmental and social justice.
While regenerating soil health is of utmost importance, it’s important not wander too far afield from a holistic view of both the microbiological, animal, and human communities. Here is an excellent article on “The Relational Work of Systems Change,” By Katherine Milligan, Juanita Zerda & John Kania in the Sanford Social Innovation Review.
If you would like to dig in to the global social justice aspect of farming, A Growing Culture is an impressive organization with a stellar newsletter. If you are looking for a definition of regenerative ag, the Regenerative Organic Certification folks do a good job. If you are ready to launch into the technical aspects of regenerative agriculture and soil health, from experience we recommend looking to courses and publications through Integrity Soils, CSU’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems, Advancing Eco Agriculture, Understanding Ag, and Paicines Ranch. There are a plethora of avenues to receive regen ag training these days, but BGO recommends these women-led programs from the positive experiences the BGO team has had taking their courses and workshops.
While this is deep work that goes beyond simply building soil health, often soil health principals are used interchangeably for regenerative ag principals. We’re a big fan of Nicole Master’s “Soil Health Principals” from For the Love of Soil:
Maintain soil groundcover and protection
Living roots for as long as possible
Incorporate livestock and/or their manures (where feasible)
Diversity, diversity, diversity
Optimize plant photosynthesis
Reduce disturbance - minimize killing your underground livestock
Manage for what you want, not what you don’t want
The actions which arise from these principals are influenced by your specific climate and circumstance