Regenerative agriculture, a term coined by organic farming researchers at the Rodale Institute in the 1980s, consists of holistic farming practices that aim to improve soil health and reverse climate change by expanding biodiversity, improving the water cycle, increasing organic matter in soil structure, and transferring carbon from the atmosphere to the soil. Proponents of regenerative agriculture avoid using chemical pesticides and advocate for methods like crop rotation, livestock rotation, composting, no-till farming, agroecology, and agroforestry. Regenerative agriculture increases the amount of arable topsoil, which results in a healthier, better food system.

The following regenerative agricultural practices aim to improve the well-being of our environment by increasing soil fertility, biodiversity, water retention and cleanliness, and soil carbon sequestration.

1. __Promote biodiversity__. [Cover crops](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-cover-crops-to-benefit-your-garden) and crop rotation are two of basic principles of sustainable agriculture that lead to greater biodiversity. Farmers plant cover crops with no intention of harvesting them in order to protect the soil. Without cover crops, soil is vulnerable to weather erosion, which causes beneficial nutrients to dry out and wash away or blow away. Farmers rotate crops by growing a different type of crop in the same location each growing season. This ensures that [nitrogen-fixing plants](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-nitrogen-fixing-plants-enrich-the-soil) like legumes can add nutrients to the soil that other plants absorb. 
2. __Eliminate or decrease tillage__. Creating healthy soil is one of the predominant goals of the regenerative agriculture movement, and decreasing tilling is one of the best regenerative practices for improving soil. Tilling simultaneously causes soil erosion and releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Eliminating tillage increases carbon sequestration—a process wherein plants transfer carbon from the air into the soil—and helps reduce global warming.
3. __Reduce the use of artificial fertilizers__. Synthetic fertilizer is not conducive to regenerative systems because it creates an imbalance of microbes in soil, impeding the natural processes by which plants absorb nutrients. This results in an agroecosystem with weak plants that become dependent on artificial fertilizer. In addition, artificial fertilizer worsens the climate crisis due to the negative effects of chemicals seeping into water sources and the atmosphere. In general, a regenerative farming system aims to preserve a completely natural relationship between plants and soil organisms.
4. __Use regenerative grazing management for livestock__. Traditional livestock feedlots lead to increased water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and low nutrient forage. Instead, a regenerative grazing system mimics the natural grazing patterns of animals. Methods like time control grazing ensure that rangeland has sufficient time to regenerate between grazing periods. This results in an increase in soil carbon deposits, water retention, plant and insect biodiversity, and improved pasture conditions.

Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.
Over the last few centuries, standard land use and industrial farming practices have caused a decrease in land suitable for food production. Instead of creating soil that’s rich in nutrients and sequestered carbon, these practices reduce soil arability. One potential way to reverse the negative effects of industrial agriculture is a system of agricultural principles called regenerative farming.


Over the last few centuries, standard land use and industrial farming practices have caused a decrease in land suitable for food production. Instead of creating soil that’s rich in nutrients and sequestered carbon, these practices reduce soil arability. One potential way to reverse the negative effects of industrial agriculture is a system of agricultural principles called regenerative farming.


Regenerative Agriculture: 4 Regenerative Farming Practices

Regenerative agriculture, a term coined by organic farming researchers at the Rodale Institute in the 1980s, consists of holistic farming practices that aim to improve soil health and reverse climate change by expanding biodiversity, improving the water cycle, increasing organic matter in soil structure, and transferring carbon from the atmosphere to the soil. Proponents of regenerative agriculture avoid using chemical pesticides and advocate for methods like crop rotation, livestock rotation, composting, no-till farming, agroecology, and agroforestry. Regenerative agriculture increases the amount of arable topsoil, which results in a healthier, better food system.

What Is Regenerative Farming?

The following regenerative agricultural practices aim to improve the well-being of our environment by increasing soil fertility, biodiversity, water retention and cleanliness, and soil carbon sequestration.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Promote biodiversity. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-cover-crops-to-benefit-your-garden' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-cover-crops-to-benefit-your-garden","linkCopy":"Cover crops","category":null}'>Cover crops</a> and crop rotation are two of basic principles of sustainable agriculture that lead to greater biodiversity. Farmers plant cover crops with no intention of harvesting them in order to protect the soil. Without cover crops, soil is vulnerable to weather erosion, which causes beneficial nutrients to dry out and wash away or blow away. Farmers rotate crops by growing a different type of crop in the same location each growing season. This ensures that <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-nitrogen-fixing-plants-enrich-the-soil' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-nitrogen-fixing-plants-enrich-the-soil","linkCopy":"nitrogen-fixing plants","category":null}'>nitrogen-fixing plants</a> like legumes can add nutrients to the soil that other plants absorb. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Eliminate or decrease tillage. Creating healthy soil is one of the predominant goals of the regenerative agriculture movement, and decreasing tilling is one of the best regenerative practices for improving soil. Tilling simultaneously causes soil erosion and releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Eliminating tillage increases carbon sequestration—a process wherein plants transfer carbon from the air into the soil—and helps reduce global warming. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Reduce the use of artificial fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizer is not conducive to regenerative systems because it creates an imbalance of microbes in soil, impeding the natural processes by which plants absorb nutrients. This results in an agroecosystem with weak plants that become dependent on artificial fertilizer. In addition, artificial fertilizer worsens the climate crisis due to the negative effects of chemicals seeping into water sources and the atmosphere. In general, a regenerative farming system aims to preserve a completely natural relationship between plants and soil organisms. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Use regenerative grazing management for livestock. Traditional livestock feedlots lead to increased water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and low nutrient forage. Instead, a regenerative grazing system mimics the natural grazing patterns of animals. Methods like time control grazing ensure that rangeland has sufficient time to regenerate between grazing periods. This results in an increase in soil carbon deposits, water retention, plant and insect biodiversity, and improved pasture conditions. </li></ol>

4 Basic Regenerative Farming Practices

Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described &quot;Gangster Gardener.&quot; Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.

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Over the last few centuries, standard land use and industrial farming practices have caused a decrease in land suitable for food production. Instead of creating soil that’s rich in nutrients and sequestered carbon, these practices reduce soil arability. One potential way to reverse the negative effects of industrial agriculture is a system of agricultural principles called regenerative farming.

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Regenerative Agriculture: 4 Regenerative Farming Practices