This design grant brought together a team of agriculture, conservation, and finance experts to determine the best ways to expand the adoption of regenerative farming systems across the Great Lakes basin. Agricultural best management practices are implemented across the basin, but their piecemeal adoption has been insufficient to meet water quality goals across the Great Lakes.  Regenerative farming systems are practices that work together that can reduce nutrient loading, improve soil health, and store carbon below ground. The project team worked with farm advisors and the food industry, laying the groundwork for new business models, products, and services to engage farmers and support regenerative farming systems.

The project complemented the Fund-supported Partnership for Ag Resource Management (PARM), a successful program that works with farm advisors to reduce fertilizers and pesticides from entering the Great Lakes.

This project developed the foundation for an implementation proposal to the Fund that will identify pilot activities, expand the network of farm advisors, crop buyers, food companies, and farmers committed to implementing regenerative agriculture systems.