$10 Million Grant to Boost State’s Regenerative Farming Research

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This fall, members of Texas A&M AgriLife will launch a series of evaluations regarding the long-term impacts of regenerative agriculture, focusing their efforts on specific ecosystems throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The group's goal is to break down the basics of regenerative practices, helping the concept become more widely accepted by the public. Recently, it was revealed that the endeavor would be supported by a $10 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

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According to project manager Katie Lewis, Ph.D., comprehension of regenerative agriculture is crucial in the fight to halt climate change and reverse the depletion of the state's water resources. Lewis elaborated on her hopes for the five-year program, stating:

What's so exciting about this research is that it will be the first regenerative agriculture project to cover this large of an area, across both Texas and Oklahoma. With carbon being such a hot topic, we want to take a closer look at carbon sequestration: what is being captured, and what is being lost through greenhouse gas emissions.

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Among many techniques explored by the study will be the implementation of grazing cover crops during fallow seasons, in order to evaluate the environmental, economic, and agronomic practicality of regenerative agriculture systems. The team's goal is to approach their research from as many different angles as possible, studying not just one practice but the entire system at large. This will include studies of elements such as crop rotation, cover crops, grazing, and additional management strategies that can be applied to farms both state and nationwide.

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"We plan to identify the immediate challenges on the ground, and reduce the risk that is associated with change when it comes to new farming practices," Lewis explained. "It's nothing but change from one year to the next in farming, but helping to alleviate that risk is one of our main goals, as well as to protect the environment and natural resources."

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Education as a Tool

Aside from determining the most efficient agricultural strategies for the area, Lewis hopes to further educational outreach for the state's producers and landowners.

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"This is not just a research-based project," Lewis stated. "It includes extension outreach, education--there's so much misinformation published and available to the general public."

The team hopes to combat these issues by promoting educational opportunities that stem beyond the typical projects, implementing a hands-on approach that will allow farmers to witness the benefits of regenerative systems first-hand on their own farms.

"It will be much more personal," Lewis said. "We'll be able to talk with them on a farm-by-farm basis."

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As part of this broader outreach effort, undergraduate and grad-level courses will be offered in the fields of regenerative agriculture at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and West Texas A&M University, as well as Oklahoma State University. Within the Texas A&M Division, the project will be led by team members from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, the Department of Agricultural Economics, the Department of Animal Science, the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and the Texas Water Resources Institute. 

Should all go as planned in the years ahead, the project will lead Texas into a future of efficiency and environmental priority, cutting down on harmful emissions while supporting the farmers local Texans know and love.

Stay tuned to texasrealfood.com for updates on sustainable options and developments near you. 

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