What is Regenerative?

Allen R Williams, Ph.D.

Etta Hills Farm

Understanding Ag, LLC

Regenified, LLC

Many people are hearing the term “regenerative” used more and more in reference to

agriculture and food. The question is, “What does Regenerative really mean”? The

founders of Understanding Ag and Regenified (Gabe Brown and Allen Williams) define

Regenerative as:

Farming and Ranching in synchrony with nature to repair, rebuild, revitalize, and

restore ecosystem function, starting with life within the soil and expanding to life

above.

Understanding Ag is the leading regenerative agriculture and food consulting group in

the world. Understanding Ag has helped farmers, ranchers, and growers implement

regenerative principles and practices across more than 37 million acres in North

America and has worked with farmers in dozens of other countries across six

continents.

The founding partners of Understanding Ag have been featured in multiple

groundbreaking documentaries that include: Kiss the Ground, Common Ground, Roots

So Deep, Carbon Cowboys, Farmers Footprint, A Regenerative Secret, Rethink Meat,

and A World Without Cows.

The most important thing to know about regenerative agriculture is that it is a journey,

not a destination. No farm is perfect, and no farm has fully regenerated soil and

ecosystems. We do not even know what perfect is, but we do know what is better and

is improving.

So, how do you know if a farm is genuinely on the regenerative path or is simply using

the terminology? The answer is clear – Do they have the data and information to prove

their progress?

At Etta Hills Farm, we have been tracking our progress from the day the farm was

purchased. The land was severely degraded at purchase and has been on the path of

regeneration since that time.

So, what have we documented?

 The percentage of bare and exposed soil has decreased from more than 40% to

under 5%.

 The soil microbial population (the life within the soil) has improved more than

300%.

 The ability to capture rainfall and infiltrate it into the soil has improved more than

200%.

 Beneficial insect, bird, and wildlife populations have improved significantly.

 Etta Hills Farm has now documented more than 160 different plant species

growing on the farm with many of those species being native to the landscape.

 The nutritional data on the foods produced by Etta Hills farm is significantly better

than foods produced on conventional farms.

 Eddy Covariance Flux Towers monitor our Green House Gas (GHG) fluxes every

moment of every day.

So, ask your farmer about their journey and about their documentation of their

regenerative progress.

At Etta Hills Farm, we are serious about our regenerative journey. We meticulously

document our progress through careful measurement and science. We routinely share

our data. Come join us on our journey. Visitors are welcome at the farm.