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A United Nations report released this summer warns the world must 

drastically change the way it produces food

 in order to meet emissions reduction goals. Some Minnesota farmers have 

 by adopting regenerative farming practices.

Mike Bredeson is an agroecologist with the 

. The agricultural research foundation is working with those farmers and large food companies to study and lift up regenerative techniques. 

taking sustainability mainstream

Healthy food needs healthy soil

Bredeson told MPR chief meteorologist and Climate Cast host Paul Huttner the approach is more of a mindset than a prescriptive set of rules.

“When you think of terms such as organic farming, it’s easy to point to a designated list of characteristics [and] say, ‘This farm is certified organic and it meets these criteria,’” he said. “Regenerative farming, instead of a certain bar to be reached, they’re on this pathway of always improving the land that they’re managing. They know that if they’re using two pesticide applications right now, their goal is to reduce that to one application and eventually eliminate that application totally.”

The approach also includes planting cover crops, which take the place of commodity crops such as corn and soybeans during the off-season. Plants capture carbon when they photosynthesize, so cover crops put the land to work fighting climate change when it typically wouldn’t. They also help keep the soil intact, which also stores carbon.   

Absolutely, say farmers

Healthy soil movement gains ground in farm country

Soil's secrets may yield a new ag revolution

Bredeson said regenerative agriculture pays off for both the environment 

. Land farmed with regenerative practices does a better job of capturing rain water and holding on to nutrients, meaning less cost for the farmer.  

“They’re not only producing as much or more, they’re seeing that by producing and using cover crops, they’re opening up more markets,” Bredeson said.

To hear more of this conversation, hit play on the audio player above.

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How do farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep productivity high at the same time? Experts say it’s possible with regenerative farming.

Regenerative farms 'producing more, opening new markets' while fighting climate change

A corn field next to Jesse Hall's farmhouse near Arlington, S.D.

Regenerative farms 'producing more, opening new markets' while fighting climate change

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