Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters

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Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters

Part One of Two on Regenerative Agriculture

It has been more than 45 years since the concept of regenerative agriculture was first formally articulated. Robert Rodale introduced the term in the late 1970s to describe farming systems designed to restore ecological health rather than simply sustain depleted resources (Rodale, 1983). In the years that followed, thinkers and practitioners such as Wes Jackson and organizations like The Land Institute helped move regenerative agriculture from a conceptual framework into applied practice, emphasizing soil health, perennial systems, and long-term resilience (Jackson, 1985). More recently, producers like Gabe Brown have brought regenerative agriculture into mainstream agricultural conversations by demonstrating that ecological restoration and farm profitability are not mutually exclusive (Brown, 2018). Yet despite its growing visibility, many still ask a basic question: what is regenerative agriculture? 

For those of us who came of age during the height of the sustainability movement, regenerative agriculture can feel like a rebranded version of familiar ideas. Sustainability still matters, but sustainability often focuses on maintaining current conditions. Regenerative agriculture goes further. It is not just crop rotation, cover crops, or the inclusion of legumes—though those practices may be part of it. At its core, regenerative agriculture is an attitude toward the land that seeks to give back more than it takes. As a Christian, I view this as a clear expression of stewardship: caring responsibly for what God has entrusted to humanity. Farming, in this view, is not only about short-term yields or the bottom line. It is about future generations, about feeding a growing population, and about improving the condition of the land rather than passing along its degradation. 

From a Biblical perspective, agriculture has always been central to humanity’s role on earth. In Genesis, God placed Adam in the garden “to tend it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15, New King James Version) or “cultivate and protect it” (Genesis 2:15, YALL Bible [emphasis added]). Agriculture, then, is more than an economic activity—it is a vocation rooted in spiritual responsibility, care, and hope. Even today, farming remains one of the clearest reminders of the possibility of growth, harvest, and regeneration (2 Corinthians 5:17). With that in mind, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets aside approximately $700 million for pilot programs supporting regenerative agriculture, this moment should not be dismissed or met with skepticism alone (USDA, 2023). Instead, it should be seen as an opportunity to more fully align modern agricultural systems with enduring principles of stewardship—doing more of what God intended with the land He has given us. 

In Part Two, I'll shift from principles to practice--what regenerative agriculture actually looks like on the ground, ad how producers can engage with it realistically.

References

Brown, G. (2018). Dirt to soil: One family’s journey into regenerative agriculture. Chelsea Green Publishing. 

Jackson, W. (1985). New roots for agriculture. University of Nebraska Press. 

New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson. (Original work published 1769). 

Rodale, R. (1983). Breaking new ground: The search for a sustainable agriculture. The Futurist, 17(1), 15–20. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). USDA announces funding to advance climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. https://www.usda.gov 

YALL Bible. (2024). Yall Publishing.