Cover crops in U.S. regenerative agriculture: a case study

As Agroforestry Partners has been fundraising to plant more trees on American farms, one of the consistent responses that I've received from investors is that the 20-year term of our projects is too long. There are ways for us to work around this issue, but I am beginning to view our term length as an asset and less of a liability. Our new report below references a recent article published in PNAS that shows faltering repeat cover cropping practices after adoption. Cover crops are a quick farm sustainability solution, but they need broader ecosystem support in order for farmers to continue their use. We believe that stakeholders within the regenerative agriculture movement are working to raise this support structure. However, the case study on cover crops shows me that the inherently long tail on tree planting is exactly what impact investors should pursue in this moment.

Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture: A Practical Guide for Farmers and Agribusinesses Farmers today face tough challenges: soils are degrading, weather is less predictable, inputs are expensive, regulations are tightening... Many producers already apply certain regenerative principles without calling them that. In this guide, I break down what the transition actually involves, and how farms and agribusinesses can integrate these elements without disrupting productivity or profitability. https://lnkd.in/dvTtkM4K

In the quest for sustainable agriculture, researchers have turned to the ocean for innovative solutions. A recent meta-analysis published in *Plant-Environment Interactions*

🌱 ADM & Bayer Unite for Regenerative Agriculture in Hungary! 🇭🇺 ADM expands its re:generations™ program with Bayer, enrolling 30,000 acres of sunflower and soybean farms for the 2025 harvest. This initiative empowers farmers with financial aid, agronomic support, and digital tools to adopt regenerative practices—like cover cropping, minimal tillage, and crop rotation—to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and carbon reduction. By scaling sustainable methods, ADM and Bayer aim to build resilient food systems and revitalize rural communities across Europe. 🌾 #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #AgriInnovation #SoilHealth #ADM #Bayer #ClimateSmartAg #AgroEurope #GreenFarming #AgTech https://lnkd.in/gHpWnbVV

🚜 'Sustainable innovations for regenerative agriculture' is the subject of the next in the current series of SCItalks, SCI's free online talks that tackle vital issues in science and innovation. 🌲 Regenerative agriculture seeks to create a more sustainable and resilient farming system by embracing techniques like reducing soil disturbance, integrating livestock and using crop rotation to reduce the broader environmental impacts of food production. 🔬 Its adoption requires scalable, science-led innovation as well as enthusiastic farmers with an appetite to change - and the curiosity to experiment. 💡 The talk will be given by Dr Harry Langford, an environmental scientist and agri-tech innovation specialist at the UK Agri-Tech Centre focused on advancing crop productivity in a sustainable way. https://lnkd.in/ecfdbVDA ⏲️ This online talk takes place on Wednesday 29 October at 4pm. The talk is free but you should register in advance at the link below. https://lnkd.in/dzyRn43r

🌱 Biocontrol: Innovation Driving Sustainable Agriculture The global biocontrol market is set to surpass $15 billion by 2029, up from less than $1 billion in 2010, a clear sign that sustainability and innovation are reshaping crop protection. Eléphant Vert is at the forefront of this shift, combining proprietary biosolutions with top industry partnerships to deliver effective, field-ready solutions. By integrating biocontrol, precision tech, and resistance management, EV is helping farmers boost productivity while reducing chemical reliance — aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal and global food security initiatives. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecq9YMzs 💡 How do you see biocontrol shaping the future of sustainable farming? #Agribusiness #SustainableFarming #CropProtection

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲? The promise of regenerative agriculture rings loud across the global food system. It's a phrase on the lips of ag investors, food processors, and agribusiness leaders, with its rapid adoption showing a global commitment to climate-smart farming. While this momentum is inspiring, we believe it's essential to look beyond the immediate promise to understand how regenerative practices truly fit into the broader climate resilience picture. While it delivers resilience at the soil level, a secure farm business must address the threats across its entire operations. That's why in our latest article we look at the inherent challenges of its implementation and whether it’s enough on its own to save farmers from the escalating impacts of climate change. 𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲: ・The vulnerabilities that lie within the transition period, with its upfront costs and potential yield dips, that can expose farms to greater financial shock. ・The overlooked dependency on key agrochemicals for cover crop termination and the price fluctuation risk this introduces. ・Why soil health alone doesn't secure crucial assets like storage facilities, irrigation systems, or address critical issues like succession planning. Regenerative agriculture undoubtedly creates a valuable foundation for improving a farm's resilience to climate related hazards, but is it enough to save farmers from climate change? 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eQNzgQmC Our Climate Resilience Ratings aim to bridge the gap by providing a comprehensive view of farm business' resilience. We deliver an objective Resilience Rating alongside actionable recommendations that target specific vulnerabilities. This approach is taken to provide a full picture of resilience to inform decisions for both long-term security and short-term profitability. We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on regenerative agriculture. #regenerativeagriculture #climatesmart #agriculture

I am often asked: “Is soil health really working?” “Is it worth all the effort?” These are valid questions, yet they often stem from a narrow focus on crop yield as the ultimate measure of agricultural performance. For many, if a research project or management practice does not lead to an immediate increase in yield, it is considered unworthy of attention. However, as Rillig et al. (2019) emphasize in “Why farmers should manage the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis”, this perspective is limited. A yield-centric approach overlooks the broader objectives of long-term sustainability and yield stability of agroecosystems. Their argument, while centered on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), extends to the wider context of regenerative agriculture: we must value ecosystem processes that sustain productivity over time, even if their short-term effects on yield appear minimal. Regenerative practices, such as maintaining ground cover, reducing tillage, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing soil organic matter, may not always result in immediate yield gains. Yet they strengthen the ecological foundation of farming systems, improving nutrient retention, water regulation, soil structure, and biological resilience. To achieve meaningful transformation, agricultural systems must be repurposed and redesigned to enhance ecosystem services rather than solely maximize production. Regional governments and policymakers can accelerate this shift by supporting incentive programs that lower production costs for farmers adopting sustainable practices and by investing in long-term soil health research. Therefore, the question is not whether soil health “works,” but whether our current cropping systems allow it to. Yield remains important, but sustainability ensures that yields persist

PepsiCo and Soil Capital have announced a long-term strategic #partnership to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture among rapeseed oil farmers in the #UK, #France, and #Belgium. https://lnkd.in/gXrXVuQs

What happened This Week In Regenerative Agriculture? 1. Farmland LP and Carbon Friendly Submit First Verified U.S. Regenerative Agriculture Carbon Credits to Verra 2. Federal Report Gives Regenerative Ag a Boost—Now Farmers Want Real Help, Not Just Praise 3. Klim's ‘Digital Companion’ Bridges the Field-to-Boardroom Gap for Regenerative Agriculture 4. McDonald’s Commits $200 Million to Regenerative Ranching in Its Largest U.S. Sustainability Investment Yet 5. Cairnspring Mills Reimagines Flour as the Next ‘Craft Revolution’ Through Regenerative Wheat and Community Partnerships Subscribe to TWIRA for FREE to learn more! https://lnkd.in/evvfuKFi #newsletter #regenerative #food #ag