Regenerative agriculture and the future of soil health

This project will examine how changes in federal farming and pesticide policies affect the environment and small farmers. The current administration sends mixed signals: supporting soil health in some areas while cutting climate programs and allowing greater pesticide use in others. This uncertainty puts farmers and communities at risk, especially those who rely on healthy soil for their livelihoods. The project will work directly with small farms in California’s San Joaquin Valley to study how pesticide use and regenerative practices, such as crop diversity, influence soil health, biodiversity, and long-term farm resilience. By producing clear, farm-level evidence, this project will provide practical tools for farmers and science-based guidance for policymakers, helping ensure that decisions about regenerative agriculture are driven by evidence rather than politics.

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