Regenerative Agriculture
Farming practices that actively rebuild soil health and biodiversity rather than simply avoiding harm.
Definition
Regenerative agriculture is a set of farming practices focused on rebuilding soil organic matter, restoring biodiversity, and improving the water cycle, going a step beyond sustainable agriculture's goal of minimizing harm toward actively improving the land over time.
Common regenerative practices include cover cropping, reduced or no tillage, diverse crop rotations, and integrating livestock grazing in ways that mimic natural grassland ecosystems. These practices increase the amount of carbon stored in soil while often improving crop resilience to drought.
In Practice
A farm that plants cover crops between growing seasons instead of leaving soil bare is practicing regenerative agriculture, protecting and rebuilding soil health year-round.