Last week, farmers, scientists, business leaders, advocates, and policy experts gathered in Tennessee to discuss the state of regenerative agriculture at The Climate Underground 2024 conference, hosted by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and chef and founder of the farm-to-table movement, Alice Waters.

Over 2 days of conversation and presentations, we heard about local food systems, farm to institution, farm viability, food access, food justice, farmworker rights, soil health, regenerative transitions, policy, research, and so much more. Here are some of the key takeaways.

• Farm equity is central, but needs more attention.

Transitioning acres requires equitable systems being in place to ensure food and farmworker justice, farmer data sovereignty, democratized food systems, and Indigenous rights. Teresa Romero of United Farmworkers spoke of their work on the frontlines of farmworker justice issues, and there were also a few important issues touched upon like farmer data sovereignty, democratized food systems, and Indigenous rights by A Growing Culture. However, there is still much work needed and we must increase efforts to center these issues.

• Context is key, and we can’t forget it.

The first principle of regen ag–context–gets overlooked too often. Throughout the event, I think I only heard one person mention it (farmer Emma Jagoz). And in fact, Mr. Gore had a different set of regen ag principles, which were not the same as what most in the regen ag movement are using! 

• Carbon is still getting too much credit in regen ag.

Though a few folks cautioned against carbon tunnel vision and Toby Kiers emphasized the importance of complex living systems, carbon was still a central focus in many discussions. New data collection programs like The Soil Inventory Project (TSIP) are good but need to integrate more than carbon into modeling. 

• Market shifts are more than just consumer awareness.

Markets will continue to have a major role to play in catalyzing the transition to regen, and it was nice to see institutional procurement recognized as a lever for change in support of regen, organic, and local farmers. Institutional procurement of course has the added benefit of massively influencing health and food access. 

• Farm viability is severely underdiscussed. 

While there has been a focus on financing and TA for regenerative business models, farmers need to have access to the basics of business planning and business technical assistance (BTA) services. Farmers and ranchers manage so much each day, it’s imperative that we invest in and grow the systems of support that ensure that at the end of the day, their business is profitable.

• We have to do better about making the soil-gut microbiome connection.

Issues like nutrient density, nutrient labeling, and the soil-gut microbiome connection need to be consciously integrated into these conversations. We need more science towards understanding these connections, as well as advocacy and education. 

As the conference showed, regenerative agriculture is so much more than just soil health, and having worked across all of these issues, it was wonderful to see an event thoughtfully recognize how intersectionality is woven throughout the ag & food system. It was an honor to attend, and as a source of hope as we look ahead to the election next week. 

Our food system is not beyond politics, and policy shifts across the board was a recurring theme (it was great to see the amazing Rep. Chellie Pingree in attendance, as well as Ag committee and Congressional staff) but there is so much more that we have in common in the pursuit for a healthier, more just, and more regenerative food system. From clean air and waters to more resilient and connected communities, the work ahead will continue today and next Tuesday, and InCommon looks forward to being part of the changes we need to make.