Farm Advisors: Driving Regenerative Agriculture
Farm advisors, including agronomists, ag retailers, crop consultants, and lenders, are among the most trusted sources of guidance for farmers. Their recommendations influence management decisions on millions of acres of farmland across North America.
The Nature Conservancy believes that unlocking the full potential of farm advisors is key to accelerating regenerative agriculture at the pace and scale needed to achieve positive outcomes for farmers, communities, and nature.
Why Now?
Farm advisors play a vital role in promoting regenerative agriculture practices. Our goal is to strengthen and expand their role, aiming to:
- Empower advisors with the knowledge and resources to effectively deliver regenerative agriculture services.
- Encourage business model innovation that benefits the environment, businesses, and farms.
- Unify stakeholders around a shared roadmap for leveraging this pathway to its full potential.
- Connect farmers to reliable advice and tools to adapt to new markets and public programs rewarding regenerative farming.
Our Work:
Our Farmer Advisor strategy focuses on three key areas:
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Farmer Advisor Roadmap: A collaborative framework developed with industry and conservation partners to identify barriers and opportunities, guiding investments and actions to strengthen farm advisors' role in regenerative agriculture.
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Retailing Outcomes Initiative: Led by TNC, this initiative partners with agricultural cooperatives to shift the sector's focus from input sales to farm performance outcomes, fostering regenerative farming practices and long-term business sustainability.
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Ag Retailer Equipment Cost-Share Program: This program facilitates the acquisition of regenerative agriculture equipment by providers, enabling them to offer these solutions to farmers.
By aligning efforts and addressing critical gaps, we strive to build sustainable collaborations that go beyond individual projects, ensuring agriculture's resilience, productivity, and profitability. Trusted advisors are instrumental in making this vision a reality.