Three Trends Enabling the Transition to Regenerative Agriculture

Healthy soil is the foundation of our food system. 95% of the food we eat is produced directly or indirectly on topsoil, but the soil that remains is increasingly degraded. Stemming from an urgent need to manage our soils better, produce more food at less cost, and address climate change mitigation, we see regenerative agriculture as the next frontier, taking a more central role in sustaining agricultural production in the near- and medium-term.

It is helpful to think about regenerative ag as a system of practices, ranging from cover crops, crop rotation, no till, reduced use of synthetic inputs, to integrated crop and livestock systems and managed grazing. Some of these practices are already being implemented to varying degrees across our agricultural system, while others are emerging. It is not an all or nothing approach.

In this report, we emphasize three key trends in the industry that are pushing forward regenerative practice adoption: 1) biologicals, 2) carbon / climate-smart commodities, and 3) data and the digital ag revolution.