Abstract:
The topics related to regenerative agriculture concept have gained significant attention in recent years. In the US, the definition of regenerative agriculture represents a conservation management approach that addresses natural resource concerns through soil health, water management, and biodiversity to improve the productivity and prosperity of agriculture, communities, and ecosystems. Farming deals with much uncertainty and shocks associated with seasonality, weather variations, inflations, and market fluctuations. Unfortunately, it is noticeable that the number of farms is declining, number of farm operators is shrinking, and fewer young people are choosing agriculture as a career pathway given the assumptions of working in harsh conditions and unpredictable risks. This presentation will share entrepreneurial strategies and practical approaches that have been designed and implemented by different institutions (e.g., higher education, K-12 schools, community-rooted organizations) to improve the knowledge, skills, and experiences of farming across different types of learners. The training for students at higher education institutions would appreciate more hands-on activities in the labs or in the field to actually engage in agricultural operations. New and beginning farmers need more training and demonstration related to new crops, disease control, food safety, and resource management. Younger youth, parents, and their educators need to access materials and knowledge to develop an integrated understanding of how agriculture could be embedded in all courses, subjects, and daily actions that could generate long-term human and environmental health. The presentation will share effective strategies, sample programs, successful outcomes, and some potential barriers and challenges to move forward in creating the future of regenerative agriculture in a global context.