Stephen Wood and Steve Rosenzweig: Leaders in Regenerative Agriculture
Stephen Wood is a senior scientist for agriculture & food systems at The Nature Conservancy, where he applies science to support TNC’s 2030 goals through work on agriculture and food systems. His research interests span agroecology, climate change, land use change, biodiversity, and freshwater science.
Steve Rosenzweig, a principal scientist at General Mills, leads regenerative agriculture research and outreach programs. He advocates for the adoption of regenerative practices by farmers and measures their impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, climate, and farm economics in key ingredient sourcing regions.
The Ogallala Aquifer: A Case Study in Western Kansas
In western Kansas, the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer poses a significant threat to agriculture and rural communities' long-term viability. This challenge faces companies like General Mills, which sources wheat from the region, prompting a reevaluation of how to promote regenerative agriculture within the specific context of this landscape.
Regenerative Agriculture: A Global Effort
Over 100 companies have committed to advancing regenerative agriculture by 2030, setting a significant goal. However, achieving durable environmental gains requires understanding the context-specific challenges and drivers, going beyond just farm-level practices.
The Importance of Landscape-Scale Approaches
The Nature Conservancy and General Mills have collaborated to develop a landscape-scale, learning-centered approach to regenerative agriculture. This method identifies the unique defining challenge of a region, such as groundwater depletion in western Kansas, and uses real-world evidence to adapt strategies over time.
Why Landscapes Matter
Agricultural landscapes face diverse challenges, from groundwater depletion in western Kansas to nutrient runoff in the Upper Midwest. These challenges are shaped by ecological, market, and institutional factors, necessitating tailored strategies.
Overcoming Strategic Challenges
The variety of regenerative agriculture's benefits, including soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and economic resilience, presents a strategic challenge. Funders often focus on a single outcome or prescribed practices, ignoring the complex web of stakeholder priorities. A landscape-scale strategy overcomes this by identifying the defining challenge, fostering alignment among stakeholders, and mobilizing both farm-level changes and broader system shifts.
In the case of western Kansas, the defining challenge is not just expanding regenerative agriculture but reducing pressure on the Ogallala Aquifer over time.