Regenerated Soils

Improving soil health and function on all US farm and range land.

Through policy priorities 1, 5, 6

1. Reversed soil loss/erosion:
   Transition from ~4.6 tons per acre average loss to net gain/regeneration.
2. Reversed desertification:
   Bare ground re-covered on rangelands and covered with cover crops on all farmland.
3. Restored soil function:
   Increased water holding capacity, soil fertility, and nutrient density of the food produced.
4. Resilience to flood, drought and fire risks:
   Rebuilt “soil sponge” by increasing water infiltration rates, holding capacity and moisture; increased local rainfall; and prolonged vegetative growth.
5. Replenished clean water sources & rain making:
   Increased water absorption, allowing aquifers, springs, and rivers, and whole watersheds to be revived; increased plant cover to provide more respiration, cooling, and cloud seeding/localized rain.
6. Reduced water pollution & dead zones:
   Reduced fertilizer, runoff, and water contamination that impacts fish, bird, and insect populations.
7. Restored biodiversity:
   Farm and rangelands/grasslands as net contributors to habitat creation instead of loss, leading to the reintroduction/reappearance of species.
8. Reversed global warming:
   Drawdown of millions of tons of CO2 into soil and biomass, reduced nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer reductions, increased cooling through more land covered with living plants, reduced food waste and methane emissions.
   a. Soil carbon gains/sequestration from net loss to net gains (.01 – .4% SOM annually, depending on context), with a long-term target of 3-6% organic matter for all agriculture soils.
   
9. Regenerative management (mindsets):
   Agricultural decision making framework is based on the six principles of regenerative agriculture and/or utilizing TEK (traditional Ecological Knowledge) contexts.