As corporations and investment firms alike have taken increasing interest in funding efforts to mitigate or reverse humanity’s impacts upon climate and biodiversity, projects that utilize ‘regenerative’ agriculture practices have received unprecedented support. However, exactly which metrics and indicators should be used to evaluate the purported environmental and social benefits of such programs remains an open question, even among those operating within similar agricultural contexts. Without clear metrics to define success and guide investment decisions, we risk dissipating this early momentum towards a regenerative food system.

With a focus on real asset investors and corporate supply chain managers, this project seeks to define the various key performance indicators for investments in regenerative permanent crop agriculture. We plan to do this using a review of existing literature and in-depth interviews with stakeholders such as producers/producer groups, asset managers, and other industry experts. We hope to provide a research-driven assessment of the best available methods, benchmarks, or standards for managers to focus on within several performance measurement categories. We also aim to complement this assessment with a set of recommendations regarding how various stakeholders can incentivize the adoption of these practices, prospectively covering topics such as offtake agreements and fund manager compensation structures. This content will be supplemented with real-world case studies that provide readers with insight into how the approaches that we describe can be applied in practice.

Student research team: Colin Custer, Alex Healey, Harrison Meyer, Ryan Smith

From seaweed farming to oyster cultivation, our coasts represent some of the world’s most dynamic and vital regions of food production. As climate risks and development pressures rise in coastal ecosystems, there is increasing attention from both researchers and policymakers on the potential of oyster aquaculture and kelp cultivation as opportunities to mitigate the effects of climate change, while providing nutritious food sources and enhancing natural resources. Onshore, similar efforts to bolster resilience on coastal land-based farms through improving soil health, cover cropping, and other conservation agriculture practices have gained significant traction in recent years. Comparatively less discussed is how these regenerative approaches on land and at sea can be effectively integrated for regenerative approaches in coastal foodscapes.

From gathering seaweed to use as fertilizer on farms to burying crushed oyster shells as a soil conditioner, marine food sources played a key role in nutrient cycling for coastal farmers in New England. This sea-to-soil connection faded from common practice in the 20th century with the rise of chemical fertilizers and commercially available mulches. Our project will focus on the coastal foodscapes of New England, drawing on the already well-established shellfish and algae aquaculture industries in Maine and the burgeoning southern New England sector, to re-establish this connection. Our research will explore the relationship between regenerative practices on land and at sea, the historical use of and future opportunity for effective integrated approaches, and the policy priorities at the national and regional levels that would be required for systems change in coastal foodscapes. Ultimately, we aim to frame how to effectively couple aquaculture and agriculture businesses as a holistic, systems-level approach to regenerative practices along New England’s coastline.

Student research team: Kelly McGlinchey, Ryan Clemens

We believe fighting climate change starts with soil. Healthy soils have the potential to capture large amounts of carbon emissions through regenerative agriculture. Increasing soil organic matter improves soil quality, encourages below-ground carbon storage, and decreases erosion. As a result, healthy soils support biodiversity, water retention, and crop yields. Unfortunately, conventional agriculture practices have historically led to carbon emissions and soil degradation worldwide. Management practices have the potential to improve soil quality and carbon capture. Policy is key to defining and supporting best management practices.  Soil policy can include any number of efforts to increase soil health and quality through financial, technical, and educational support. Currently, most soil policy initiatives focus upon on-farm management practices that improve soil quality. 

Connecticut can lead the way in the Northeast. Agriculture has historically been a significant industry in the framework of Connecticut’s economy. As the industry continues to grow with locally-sourced food gaining popularity¹, there is an opportunity to utilize local farms across the state as vehicles to sequester carbon and fight climate change. Building off the soil policy initiatives in states including California, New Mexico, and Colorado, our project team is focused on a soil policy proposal for the state of Connecticut. Our efforts will compile relevant research, expert perspectives, and policy analysis in a white paper that will provide a professional resource for Connecticut lawmakers to elevate soil solutions in agricultural and environmental policy. Our project’s goal is to provide a viable path to help combat climate change through soil policy that promotes regenerative agriculture.

Student research team: Phoebe Hering, Mary Marshall, Janey Lienau

 ¹https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2014/06/12/farming-rise-connecticut