Unpacking regenerative agriculture’s six core principles
Leveling up your regenerative knowledge? Check out our crash course to the Six Core Principles of Regenerative Agriculture with real life examples below.
When it comes to building resilient farm ecosystems, the Six Core Regenerative Agriculture Principles are the secret ingredients.
There is no set definition for regenerative agriculture, but farmers and soil scientists generally agree: the six principles, in tandem or on their own, are essential to cultivating healthy soil and working in harmony with nature’s cycles.
For a deeper understanding of the core regenerative principles and practices, read our comprehensive Guide to Regenerative Agriculture.
Understand context
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to farming. Make decisions based on the property’s unique land characteristics and climate, and the landowner’s goals. Different people could have completely different ideas on how to regenerate the exact same property, because their personal contexts are different.
Yadi Wang’s land is quite different from most in the U.S.. The Sonoran desert is sweltering hot, dry and water scarce. To cultivate the region’s first large-scale, regenerative farm, Yadi had to understand and adapt to the context of his land.
There are no hard and fast rules to learning, implementing, or transitioning to regenerative agriculture. Context is everything.
Minimize soil disturbance
Disturb the soil as little as possible, so it can maintain: natural structure, microbes, and ability to store carbon. Terms like minimal-till, low-till or no-till can be used, but remember that there may be times when a tillage event actually is appropriate – it all depends on the context.
A Delawarean family with a conventional farm the size of Los Angeles is experimenting with no-till methods. We followed up with them to see how their soil is changing. The results are promising.
Don Smith, Program Advisor and Teacher says, “Tilling soil is like a demolition crew flattening a large apartment complex – breaking apart and destroying the homes, networks and lives of countless visible and invisible soil organisms that help create soil structure.”
Maintain living roots year-round
Keep plants growing as much of the year as possible, so roots can continuously feed soil microbes and build soil health. This can be accomplished in various ways from using perennial crops, cover crops, inter-planting, poly-cropping, silvopasture, etc.
Nicole Goodman’s focus on perennial crops and forest ecology keeps living roots in the ground, which simultaneously invests in rich soil and boosts biodiversity year-round.
When managed well, livestock can mimic natural herds like bison, which helped build some of the most fertile soils.
Keep soil covered
Keep soil protected with plants like cover crops or plant residue to prevent erosion, retain moisture, and support life below ground.
Approximately 47-60% of North Dakota is dedicated to cultivating crops, and in certain areas 50% or more of North Dakota’s topsoil is gone. Two North Dakotan farmers are working in tandem to go against convention. Using cover crops to protect and replenish their soil, they are empowering resilient food systems and hope for their community.
Integrate livestock
Integrate livestock into your cropping system to cycle nutrients, stimulate plant growth, and improve soil health.
Through trial, error and multigenerational efforts, Carrie Richards amplified life on her ranch. As she moves her livestock strategically across the land, she strengthens nutrient cycles, soil health and plant diversity.
Maximize biodiversity
Grow a wide variety of plants and different animal species to create resilient ecosystems above and below the soil.
Sam Nana-Sinkam’s land was once on a corn-soy rotation. In just two years, Sam transformed the land with vibrant biodiverse plants from cover crops to hickory and persimmon.
- Check out our Guide to Regenerative Agriculture or take our mini on-demand course, Regenerative Agriculture Essentials, to dig deeper.
- Talk to your local farmers about their regenerative journey. Locate regenerative farmers near you with the help of our map.
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