Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Regenerative Agriculture
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary, believes regenerative agriculture could assist farmers in boosting profitability while simultaneously reducing their reliance on expensive chemical inputs.
He participated in a roundtable discussion with federal officials and farmers at Black Leg Ranch in North Dakota on Thursday. Kennedy noted that farmers' cautiousness regarding changing their practices stems from their narrow profit margins. "Farmers are conservative because they’re operating on razor-thin margins, so they’re scared to do something innovative," he said. "They need to see it work in action."
Kennedy expressed worries about contemporary production methods, stating, "We have a farm system that is addicted to chemically intensive agriculture that’s destroying the soil; it is depleting micronutrients in our food; it’s making the farmers sick." He emphasised that proving the economic advantages of regenerative agriculture will motivate more farmers to consider switching their practices.