Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 27 No. 8 P. 36
Regenerative agriculture is the new buzz word in sustainable farming. But what does it really mean? Does it do all it promises? How can food and nutrition experts sort facts from hype and help clients do the same?
Just pop into your local natural foods market and it won’t take long for you to spy regenerative agriculture claims on food labels. For example, Roots Potato Chips proudly positions a “Regeneratively Grown Potatoes” claim, “Meet Your Farmer” QR code, and Soil & Climate Health label icon on their packages, which are as prominent as the sea salt and barbeque flavor descriptors. Indeed, regenerative agriculture marketing is so trendy that 58 of the world’s 100 leading food companies are focusing on this form of farming, according to the Organic & Non-GMO Report.1
What Is Regenerative Agriculture?
While there is no standardized definition or regulation for the term regenerative agriculture, the concept describes an agricultural philosophy that seeks to restore imbalanced or damaged soils and ecosystems by using specific land and farming practices. After all, agriculture takes a heavy toll on our planet; it’s responsible on a global level for 26% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of land use, 70% of water use, and 78% of water pollution.2
The regenerative approach asks food systems stakeholders to ponder all aspects of the food system—cultivation, production, distribution, and consumption—through a connected web that ultimately improves the quality of life for humans and the planet. The paradigm seeks out farming and ranching techniques that work in better harmony with nature in the interest of long-term sustainable land use. Regenerative agriculture is not new; indigenous peoples have practiced a variety of similar techniques over the millennia, and producers have applied many of these age-old strategies over the decades.
“Working with nature rather than against it is the holy grail of regenerative agriculture,” says Cole Mannix, president of Montana-based Old Salt Co-Op, which connects regenerative livestock ranchers with consumers. “We want to improve soil fertility while being productive and producing a nutrient-dense food, which means carefully managing the land in terms of livestock density, length of rest, wildlife borders, and water runoff.” This is in stark contrast to most degraded agricultural lands, where livestock and crops are kept separate, the soil is disrupted when roots are severed during harvest, and crops rely on chemical inputs, Mannix adds.
“Regenerative agriculture looks at whole systems, such as soil, water, biodiversity, animals, and humans, and how to restore and improve those systems by following a set of principles aimed at improving the health of the soil and the systems,” explains Wendy Millet, ranch director at TomKat Ranch, an 1,800-acre grassfed cattle ranch in the San Francisco Bay area that focuses on holistic solutions that improve soil health, climate stability, water quality and availability, animal welfare, human health, and biodiversity.
At its very core, regenerative agriculture is all about the soil. “The microbiome of the soil is incredibly similar to the microbiome of the human gut, which we know has a huge influence on our bodies. Restoring the soil health is like restoring the health of the human gut biome. To properly diagnose an issue or improve the health of the soil or gut, you need to look at the whole system,” Millet says.
“Regenerative organic agriculture restores and builds living soil, improving its ability to sequester carbon, retain water, and support plant and human life. By integrating cover crops, compost, low-till systems, and crop-livestock integration, regenerative practices aim to heal and improve the land—not just avoid harm,” says Arianna Bozzolo, PhD, research director at Rodale Institute California Organic Center, who is studying regenerative practices in strawberry farming. “In conventional strawberry farming systems, the soil is typically fumigated before every single planting cycle, often with chemicals that harm soil life and compromise long-term fertility. In contrast, regenerative organic systems use multiyear crop rotations, integrating cover crops, compost, and sometimes animals to restore soil health between strawberry plantings. This not only improves productivity over time but eliminates the need for fumigation altogether.”
According to the Soil Health Academy,3 regenerative agriculture includes the following general principles:
• Know your context. Determine practices that are a fit for the specific farm and community, considering its relationship with the land, soil, and water.
• Do not disturb. Mirror natural ecosystems, where you won’t find bare soil, or mechanical or chemical disturbance of soil systems.
• Cover and build surface armor. Avoid disturbing the soil as much as possible to enhance water cycles and the soil microbiome.
• Mix it up. Introduce a diversity of plants, microbes, insects, wildlife, and livestock to enhance soil health without the need for intensive inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• Keep living roots in the soil. Promote plants with active root systems, such as perennials, cover crops, and trees, for as much of the year as possible to help prevent erosion and water and nutrient loss.
• Grow healthy animals and soil together. Include diverse livestock in grazing systems that support soil health by providing aeration and nutrition without the use of outside chemical inputs.
Regenerative Practices
There is no instruction manual on how to practice regenerative agriculture. “What it comes down to are the agricultural practices that are appropriate for a place and time. There are totally different nuances related to geographies, climate, and soil composition. What may be considered regenerative or sustainable practices in Iowa right now, may not be the same in five years, or in other parts of the US. For example, we have water issues in central Iowa in which nitrates applied on fields in the north and northwest part of the state runoff into major rivers that provide water to the greater Des Moines area. It’s the quality of water that’s the issue in Iowa right now, not the lack of access to water as it is in western states such as California,” says Angie Tagtow, DrPH, MS, RD, LD, founder and chief strategist for Äkta Strategies, a consulting firm that designs authentic solutions for systems change.
The benefits of regenerative agriculture are plentiful. These practices can improve soil health and fertility, produce healthier food, reduce carbon emissions, decrease water use and pollution, reduce use of synthetic inputs like pesticides and fertilizers, provide greater local economic development, ensure long-term viability of the land, and support fair and equitable labor and animal welfare. Regenerative farmers and ranchers even report being happier in their work.4
Millet has observed improved soil health from the impacts of adaptive grazing, as the cattle cycle carbon through grazing and depositing urine and manure. In addition, their impact encourages increased water filtration that can provide resilience in times of drought, greater greenhouse gas sequestration, improved plant production and biodiversity, and better water quality in streams through reduced erosion and runoff.
Tagtow, who owns farmland in Iowa, recounts: “Our land used to be conventional row crops, but 25 years ago we saw how degraded the soil was. We had erosion and water control problems, with water and soil running off into a creek.” Her husband took a conservation course to learn how to reconstruct a native tall grass prairie. In Iowa, prairies used to dominate, but now 80% to 85% of the state’s landscape is in agriculture with less than 0.1% remaining in prairies. “There are ecological benefits of prairies. The root systems are extensive, with native tall grass species and forbs that have flowers and reproduce. They help hold soil and moisture in place and create habitat for pollinators and critters. It’s the whole circle of life.”
With what can be a substantial shift in terms of ideology and processes, it can be challenging for conventional producers to go all-in on regenerative agriculture. It should be considered a journey, with a focus on continual observation and improvement of processes. “Even if farmers and ranchers adopt two or three regenerative practices, they are taking steps towards restoring soil health, water quality, and overall ecosystem health. For example, they could plant a cover crop to help feed the soil microbes, minimize soil disturbance to keep the soil alive, and keep the ground covered to help reduce soil erosion and carbon loss,” Millet says.
Bounty of Green Washing
The lack of clear definitions and standards for regenerative agriculture opens the possibility for greenwashing, which is rampant in the sustainability space. “Plenty of growers are not following the regenerative principles; they implement one practice and call it good, but that is not likely to truly improve the soil health and nutrient density of the food in ways that improve human health,” Millet says. Food companies are heralding their regenerative practices, such as reduced tilling, utilizing cover crops, or more holistic grazing, but they may not be sharing the whole picture. Some farms spray cover crops with herbicides after the growing cycle, which can disturb soil health. The practice of applying plastic mulch to preserve water and reduce weeds introduces plastics into the agroecosystem. And the positive impacts of livestock grazing may be difficult to apply in a concentrated animal feeding operation setting.
A recent study identified that regenerative agriculture plays a prominent role in the transition plans of large food companies, with early signs that it’s being misused by leaving out key principles and practices, such as climate justice and reducing chemical inputs. Among food companies using this term, the researchers found a lack of common definition—even among those who use it the most in their communications. Furthermore, the companies often presented soil carbon sequestration as a primary strategy, even though the potential is hotly debated and there is no reliable measurement to verify its impact. In particular, the report notes that meat and dairy companies are using carbon sequestration regenerative grazing claims to justify high production. The researchers argued that the food industry is not using regenerative agriculture to redesign the food production system, but to superimpose it on a business-as-usual model of practice.5
Regenerative Labeling
Some third-party regenerative agriculture verification programs are emerging on the landscape. In 2018, Regenerative Organic Certification was introduced, which is overseen by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, a nonprofit made up of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness. This logo may be seen on thousands of products, such as Patagonia, Nature’s Path, and Alter Eco.
“I strongly believe in the Regenerative Organic Certification as the gold standard—it ensures that soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness are upheld together. While I fully support any farming practices that reduce environmental harm and improve resilience—what in agronomy classes we often simply call good farming practices—regenerative organic agriculture pushes the conversation further by requiring a systems-level commitment to soil regeneration, biodiversity, and long-term ecological balance,” Bozzolo says.
The Ecological Outcome Verified standard of the Savory Institute’s Land to Market Program has been adopted by several food brands. Regenerative agriculture standards for foods have been introduced by the Soil Carbon Initiative, Certified by A Greener World, and Regenified, all of which emphasize building soil health, continuous improvement, and testing for positive planetary outcomes. The California Department of Food and Agriculture appointed a Regenerative Agriculture Work Group in 2023, which drafted a recommendation in 2025 on defining regenerative agriculture for state policies and programs.
Putting It Into RD Practice
So, what are the key takeaways for dietitians as they offer food and sustainability advice to clients and communities? “As RDs, our role is expanding to consider not just individual health, but the well-being of our food systems and communities. Regenerative agriculture practices can offer a more holistic framework that goes beyond sustainability, focusing on soil health, biodiversity, farmer worker equity, and climate resilience. Yet, our recent national Food + Planet and Today’s Dietitian 2025 Sustainability Insights Survey shows that most RDs rate their knowledge of these topics as limited. However, not all regenerative claims are equal, as industry greenwashing and unclear standards persist. By relying on credible evidence and learning more about diverse production methods like agroecology and equitable sourcing practices, RDs can help advance food systems that truly benefit people and the planet,” says Chris Vogliano, PhD, RD, director of global research, Food + Planet.
Bozzolo suggests that dietitians can encourage consumers to ask if food at the farmers market is Regenerative Organic Certified, buy local and in-season directly from farmers, and support brands that are transparent about their sourcing and certifications. “The more consumers ask for regenerative organic products, the more the food system will shift in that direction.” Millet agrees, “Most importantly, vote with your fork.” She also suggests that you get to know your farmers, ranchers, and the food you buy, and watch documentaries, such as Kiss the Ground, The Common Good, and Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there).
Do your part by raising your voice in support of regenerative practices in your community and being a regenerative consumer. Talk to farmers or ranchers in your region to learn about how food is grown, ask your neighborhood markets and restaurants about their commitment to sourcing regeneratively produced foods, research food brands to discover more about their practices, and follow regenerative practices at home, such as composting, avoiding chemical inputs, and growing some of your own food.
Tagtow urges, “The message to dietitians is to ask questions: be curious and engage in conversations about agricultural production and its core impacts on human, economic, ecological, and social health. Check your own biases and use critical thinking to ask the right questions and connect the dots. Dietitians were introduced to sustainable food systems more than 30 years ago, and we weren’t prepared to ask the questions that dig deeper into the issues. But today, we can and should be engaged in these discussions.” She shares a quote by Fred Kirschenmann: “Sustainability is a process, not a prescription. It is a journey we embark on together.”
— Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, is a plant-based, sustainability nutrition expert and cofounder and executive director of the nonprofit Food+Planet, which empowers dietitians to advance sustainable diets.
Common Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Planting cover crops, such as legumes, offers protection for the soil from water and nutrition loss, a natural source of nitrogen, weed suppression, and a potential revenue stream.
Rotating crops helps manage pests and diseases naturally, build soil fertility, and break pathogen cycles without synthetic inputs.
Avoiding or reducing mechanical tilling of the soil prevents disturbing the soil structure and protects from water and soil loss.
Introducing animals into the farming system through holistic grazing mimics the way large herds like bison moved across grasslands, providing nutrition for the soil.
Avoiding or reducing fossil fuel-based inputs helps build soil health and encourages alternative systems for managing pests.
Favoring composting organic material to build soil instead of relying on petroleum-based fertilizers that are more prone to runoff.
Supporting agroforestry, which mimics forest systems by integrating trees and shrubs with persistent root systems into crop and animal agriculture.
Sequestering more carbon in the soil to reduce the climate impact of farmland and increase resilience.
Cultivating conservation borders, like hedgerows and riparian buffers, to act as habitat for
beneficial organisms and help protect water quality and mitigate flooding.
Nurturing communities by producing healthy food that supports human health, while being mindful of fair labor practices, social inequities in agriculture, and animal welfare.
References
1. More certified regenerative foods are popping up on store shelves. SCS Global Services website. https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/more-certified-regenerative-foods-are-popping-up-on-store-shelves. Published May 2, 2023. Accessed July 30, 2025.
2. Ritchie H, Rosado P, Roser M. Environmental impacts of food production. Our World in Data website. https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food. Published 2022. Accessed July 30, 2025.
3. TomKat Ranch. California State University, Chico, Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems website. https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/demos/tomkat-ranch.shtml. Accessed July 30, 2025.
4. Sher A, Li H, Ullah A, Hamid Y, Nasir B, Zhang J. Importance of regenerative agriculture: climate, soil health, biodiversity and its socioecological impact. Discov Sustain. 2024;5:462.
5. Navigating regenerative agriculture in corporate climate strategies. New Climate Institute website. https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/navigating-regenerative-agriculture-in-corporate-climate-strategies. Published September 26, 2024. Accessed July 30, 2025.
