Igniting Your Spark: Sowing innovation for a regenerative agriculture future

By Ganesh Sanganwar ’25 MBA and Ely Marie Velaquez ’25 MBA 

Regenerative agriculture (RegenAg), a holistic approach to farming and land management, is rapidly gaining recognition as a crucial solution to pressing global challenges including climate change and soil degradation. However, farmers often face significant financial and structural barriers, including limited access to robust educational infrastructure and financing options.

Rooted in Indigenous practices and techniques, RegenAg helps increase biodiversity, improve water retention, enhance soil health and capture carbon from the atmosphere. Beyond its environmental benefits, this evolving field represents a significant entrepreneurial frontier. Increasing consumer demand for sustainably produced goods, market growth and supportive policy trends create fertile ground for innovative solutions.  

Why Regenerative Agriculture Now? 

Conventional agriculture, while vital for feeding a growing global population, has come at a significant environmental cost. Practices like intensive tillage, monocropping and heavy use of synthetic inputs contribute to widespread soil degradation, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.  

The world grows 95% of its food in the uppermost soil layer, but conventional farming has eroded over half of the most productive soil globally in the last 150 years. Fortunately, regenerative practices offer a viable alternative. 

What our Levy Trek taught us about thriving in RegenAg 

The Levy Inspiration Trek on Entrepreneurship in RegenAg led by Brayden King and Aaron Zell provided a truly immersive experience, offering valuable insights into real-world innovation within this critical and fast-evolving field.  

Our journey went beyond simply explaining concepts and into showcasing why RegenAg matters while highlighting the burgeoning entrepreneurial opportunities it presents.

Systems thinking is crucial 

Regenerative agriculture is inherently interconnected—soil, carbon, biodiversity, water, economics, community. Diverse integrations add complexity. Innovators must adopt a systems-level perspective, recognizing interdependence and the need for a diverse, resilient ecology. All ecosystems reach equilibrium and go through decomposition. 

Collaboration is key

Progress requires collaboration across diverse stakeholders: scientists, technologists, farmers, policymakers, investors and consumers. Building strong partnerships is essential for innovation and adoption. Multi-generational relationships also facilitate progress. 

Patience is a virtue

Unlike fast software cycles, regenerative transitions are gradual. Building healthy soil and resilient ecosystems takes time, as does growing trees. Entrepreneurs need longer timelines and focus on long-term value creation.  

Storytelling and community are vital

Fostering community and effective storytelling are essential for tackling large-scale challenges, building markets and gaining collective support. Connecting consumers to the farm builds trust — and creates demand.  

Meeting some of the regenerative agriculture pioneers

Our Levy Trek offered invaluable opportunities to connect with organizations and individuals at the forefront of the regenerative agriculture movement. Each visit provided unique insights into the practical application of regenerative principles and the entrepreneurial spirit driving this sector. Below are some of the visit highlights. 

Rustic Road Farm

The certified naturally grown farm grows vegetables, honey, fruits, heritage pigs and dairy for community supported agriculture and farmers markets. Owners Marc and Luis Bernard also create value-added products — like soups and pies made from produce in the field — showcasing entrepreneurial innovation. Rustic Road Farm has also partnered with The Conservation Fund's Farms Fund program, utilizing the "Buy-Support-Protect-Sell" model to secure farmland and a pathway to ownership. 

The Farms Fund empowers mission-driven farmers by acquiring at-risk farmland and offering lease-to-own opportunities. Their efforts demonstrate how innovative financial models can be used to address land access challenges.

Nachusa Grasslands 

Managed by The Nature Conservancy, the 4,000-acre nature preserve features restored tallgrass prairie — one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. Nachusa's focus on ecological restoration and biodiversity highlights the interconnectedness of agriculture and ecological health, a core tenet of regenerative farming. Their work demonstrates how large-scale ecological restoration can boost biodiversity in farmland.

Grassland plant extensive and deep roots that are excellent at pulling nutrients and carbon below ground, leading to some of the best soil health. However, measuring the below-ground carbon sequestration is difficult compared to trees causing uncertainty in carbon offset markets. Additionally, establishing partnerships — especially with Indigenous communities — is crucial for ambitious conservation. While it requires navigating complex histories, this is essential for impactful conservation.

Meadowlark Farm & Mill

Committed to cultivating a regenerative ecosystem, the organic farm focuses on improving soil health, protecting water and investing in the rural community. Operating on fragile, shallow soils, they prioritize conservation and soil-building; typically using a three-year organic rotation.  

Infrastructure, like their grain cleaning facility, was funded through relationships and grants, relying on multi-generational connections and grant support. Despite thin margins, their profitability is tied to efficient operations, processing and storage. Their strong producer-consumer connections are fostered through transparency and quality, like educating consumers about grain quality in their annual grain guide.  

Canopy Farm Management

Canopy, launched by the Savanna Institute, is a perennial farm management company accelerating agroforestry adoption by offering planting, management and landowner collaboration services. In regions like Illinois, where most farmland is institutionally leased, short-term leases discourage tree planting. Canopy addresses this by working directly with landowners and using software to match crops to soil rather than purchasing crops that would struggle to grow, leading to environmental and financial hardships.  

Agroforestry is a major opportunity for diversifying farms and ecological health. While innovation reduces risks in adopting new practices, scaling perennial crops requires investment in infrastructure like nurseries and processing highlighting the need for private financing in agroforestry. 

New Glarus Brewing Co. 

The Wisconsin business emphasizes individuality, cooperation and natural ingredients. Their commitment to local ingredients and community connection illustrates the broader ecosystem supporting a thriving RegenAg sector. Local businesses that value natural ingredients and community can be key partners in a regional food system. 

Lessons for future RegenAg innovators

Regenerative agriculture is more than farming techniques. It is a systems-level entrepreneurial revolution rooted in interdependence and reciprocity. The imperative to address ecological and economic crises, restore  health, enhance biodiversity and build resilient food systems creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for purpose-driven entrepreneurship. 

As seen in the innovative work of organizations and models including the Farms Fund and Canopy Farm Management, the future of food and agriculture lies in regeneration. This future demands innovative approaches, collaboration across diverse fields and a commitment to long-term value creation. We invite Kellogg entrepreneurs to embrace this opportunity to build, invest and innovate in this vital and transformative field.

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