denly people are interested in hedgerows and other kinds of biodiversity on their farms because there ’ s a financial incentive ,” he says .
Recent scientific research by Tommy Fenster , collaboratively funded by Ecdysis Foundation , a research and development nonprofit that addresses scalable regenerative agricultural practices where he is an employee , and Cal State East Bay , where he is a graduate student , compared regenerative and conventionally farmed almond orchards in California to determine whether an increase in regenerative practices corresponded to improved environmental and economic outcomes .
“ We found out that these regenerative farms were about twice as profitable as their conventional counterparts in the almond ( orchards ),” says Fenster . His research contributes to the framework of formally defining a regenerative system , noting that once a farmer engaged in more than four regenerative practices , they start working synergistically , producing a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts , he says . And while almonds are grown under notill conditions as a standard practice , Fenster says avoiding tillage alone isn ’ t necessarily going to help create these positive outcomes .
The goal of research like Fenster ’ s is to provide scientific methodology that demonstrates to farmers they can shift their agricultural practices to improve the environmental health of their farms and their economic outlooks , says Fenster , who works with organizations like AgEmerge and Community Alliance with Family Farmers on outreach efforts .
But it ’ s important to meet farmers where they are , says Tiffany . Starting with a single practice , such as growing cover crops or applying compost , can serve as an entry point for farmers who aren ’ t necessarily practicing in a sustainable manner . “ Ideally , once folks really start appreciating the many co-benefits of regenerative practices , such as increasing biodiversity while also improving soil health and water infiltration , they begin to develop a more ecological or systems-based understanding of their farm ,” says Tiffany . And in the end , regenerative agriculture is not just about carbon sequestration , climate change or food production . “ At its best , we ’ re also stewarding the natural world , providing the habitat and the clean water and the clean air that everybody enjoys . Farming can also destroy all of those things ,” says Garza . “ There is not now , and there wasn ’ t in the past , a time when the landscape wasn ’ t shaped by humans . And so it ’ s up to us to do it well and to build the world that we want to leave to our children .”
Jennifer Junghans holds degrees in biological sciences and horticulture , and writes about food systems , wildlife and conservation . More at www . jenniferjunghans . com .
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