Regenerative Agriculture

Crop diversity improves the health of our water—and our climate

Agriculture in the Upper Mississippi River Basin remains far too reliant on just two crops—corn and soybeans. These crop monocultures have decreased the economic, social, and environmental health of the region. In 2017, 96% of the harvested cropland in Illinois and 94% in Iowa were dedicated to corn and soy. Greater agricultural diversity is needed […]

Soil degradation costs U.S. corn farmers a half-billion dollars every year

One-third of the fertilizer applied to grow corn in the U.S. each year simply compensates for the ongoing loss of soil fertility, leading to more than a half-billion dollars in extra costs to U.S. farmers every year, finds new research from the University of Colorado Boulder published last month in Earth’s Future. Long-term soil fertility is on […]

Alter Eco® commits to regenerative agriculture with new charitable foundation and packaging design

Sustainable Chocolate Trailblazer Asserts Vision to Transform Global Cacao Supply Chain Alter Eco®, a sustainable chocolate-centric food company that helps mitigate climate change through regenerative agriculture, today announced two new ways it will strengthen its commitment to cacao cultivation that has a positive impact on the planet. As the new charitable arm of the company, […]

Prairie strips see strong and growing interest

The Iowa State University STRIPS project (Science-based Trials of Row-crops Integrated with Prairie Strips) is gaining traction among a growing number of Midwest farmers who are seeing benefits such as reduced soil erosion and nutrient loss and improved water quality and wildlife habitat. The main goals of the STRIPS project were to evaluate the impact […]

Kentucky’s tuition-free sustainable agriculture program honors Wendell Berry

Sterling College (VT) sponsors the Wendell Berry Farming Program based in Henry County, Kentucky—a “work college” experience for students motivated to farm sustainably and strengthen rural communities. With grant support from the NoVo Foundation, the program hopes to draw students from generational farm families or those with a strong desire to farm. Students attend for […]