Technology for Regenerative Agriculture

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Regenerative agriculture has really picked up momentum in recent years. This approach of ecologically intensive farming relies as much as possible on working with nature instead of external inputs. So where does technology fit into this model? That’s the question I asked Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, director of the Ecdysis Foundation and CEO of Blue Dasher Farm.

Lundgren… “I think first off the principles have to be adhered to, right. We have to have a very firm understanding of conservation, soil, etc. And within that framework, there's going to be opportunities to make life easier, and technology is going to be able to do that. The trick is that technology can never replace biology on our farms.”

Lundgren calls replacing biology a “slippery slope”, but says there are opportunities for technologies that work with nature.

Lundgren… “Technologies that help us to plant. Technologies that help us to integrate lifestyle back into crop lands in ways that you can harvest crops or move those animals more easily. Those are opportunities for technology to really help to enhance our farm rather than replace the biology of a farm.”

Dr. Lungren is both operating a regenerative farm, and conducting research to back these practices with more data.