USDA executive order, new rule aim to expand regenerative agriculture opportunities
USDA has announced an executive order aimed at expanding regenerative agriculture through research, conservation efforts and emerging market opportunities. Here’s what organic growers need to know.
The Trump administration has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to expand support for regenerative agriculture, while USDA has finalized a new rule intended to create additional market opportunities for producers using regenerative practices.
According to a June 25 USDA announcement, the executive order calls on USDA to expand its Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, strengthen public-private partnerships, share research results with producers and stakeholders, and coordinate with other federal agencies on research and technology related to regenerative farming.
The order also directs USDA to evaluate ways to integrate regenerative agriculture into existing conservation and research programs, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies are instructed to support research into practices and technologies that may reduce reliance on conventional crop protection tools.
For organic growers, many practices commonly used in certified organic production—including cover cropping, diverse crop rotations, reduced soil disturbance, compost applications and other soil health practices—overlap with regenerative farming approaches. However, regenerative agriculture is not a regulated certification under the USDA National Organic Program, and the executive order does not change organic certification requirements.
USDA said the executive order and final rule are intended to encourage broader adoption of regenerative practices through research, technical assistance and market-based incentives rather than new production mandates.