What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a restorative form of farming that promotes biodiversity with a focus on healthy, living soil.
Regenerative principles recognize that every decision we make as a farmer — including how we graze our animals, how we treat the soil and what type of inputs we choose to use on the land — has a consequence. These principles are significantly different than conventional agriculture, in which the intention is often to extract the greatest productivity from the land in the short term, at the expense of soil health. Rather, the intention of regenerative agriculture is to increase the land’s ability to heal and restore itself, so the productivity below the soil surface remains abundant.
In 2021, Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas became a Savory Global Network Hub — one of only 33 learning hubs around the world certified to equip farmers, ranchers and pastoralist communities with the tools and knowledge to regenerate grasslands according to the Savory Institute’s land management model. Heifer Ranch can now host and teach other farmers on holistic management, including planned grazing, land planning, financial planning and ecological monitoring.
“In Savory, we’re practicing holistic management,” said Donna Kilpatrick, Heifer Ranch Manager and Land Steward. "Everything is connected. One of the main things we’re trying to do is manage in a way that nature can heal itself.”
In her eyes, the prospect of the Ranch’s future — the future of an abundant, thriving ecosystem — is bright.
“Things are changing,” she said. And that once-crumbly soil? “I think in 10 years it’s going to be like chocolate cake.”
Recently, Heifer Ranch Manager and Land Steward Donna Kilpatrick and Nicolette Hahn Niman, rancher, attorney and author of Defending Beef, hosted a live chat to discuss food, farming and climate change and the important role that animals play in growing a better world.
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"My biggest hope for the Ranch is that we continue to be a leader for other farmers to adopt these practices, advancing this important style of farming that is informed by nature, healing for the Earth and pleasing to all things living on the land."
Have you ever wanted to start a regenerative farm from scratch?
Heifer USA team recently travelled to North Carolina to visit Grass Grazed Farm, a regenerative farm where founders Derrick and Paige Jackson have established and grown a successful business in just two years. Learn the process and hear their much-needed advice!
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Project Officer/ Community Development /Child Labour/Climate Change Advocate/Cocoa Technical Officer at CARE
1yClimate change mitigation is a duty for every living individual.# regenerative agriculture # climate smart practices #improved yield and income of farming households. Kudos to Heifer
Regional Program & Partnerships Director
2yWell now is time to change development pathways too and link RA with other interventions such as value chain. Excelente article!