By Jamie Martin
A newly released roadmap sets out a collaborative plan to advance regenerative agriculture by supporting trusted farm advisors. The initiative brings together agricultural and conservation stakeholders to help scale sustainable farming practices nationwide.
“For regenerative agriculture to truly scale, it must be embedded in everyday farm decisions —and that requires the buy-in and support of farmers’ most trusted advisors,” said Luke Petersen, farmer advisor strategy manager at The Nature Conservancy.
“This roadmap provides a framework for funders, policymakers, agribusinesses, and conservation leaders to invest more strategically and unlock the full potential of farm advisors to drive both farm profitability and positive outcomes for nature,” said Luke Petersen.
Farm advisors such as agribusiness representatives, independent agronomists, and certified crop advisors are often farmers’ most trusted sources of information. Their advice influences important decisions related to soil health, crop management, and input use.
The roadmap was developed through a year-long, multi-stakeholder process. It identifies four main barriers that limit progress, including insufficient advisor capacity, unclear economic benefits, and weak coordination between public and private efforts.
To address these challenges, the roadmap introduces three core pillars supported by nine clear recommendations. The focus is on workforce development, coordinated funding, improved technical assistance, and stronger alignment between sustainability goals and business opportunities.
The report highlights that regenerative agriculture must be practical and profitable to succeed. Advisors need the right training, incentives, and tools to confidently guide farmers toward new practices that support both productivity and environmental outcomes.
Industry leaders emphasize that advisors want to help farmers adopt regenerative methods, but changes must make financial sense. The roadmap offers practical solutions to reduce risk and encourage innovation within the agricultural sector.
“Ag retailers and advisors want to help farmers adopt regenerative practices, but they must be able to do so in ways that make economic sense for both parties,” said Daren Coppock, president and CEO, Agricultural Retailers Association. “This roadmap provides a clear path de-risking innovation and aligning sustainability goals with emerging business opportunities.”
To support implementation, the partners will host a free public webinar on May 13, 2026. The session will share insights from the roadmap and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration to strengthen regenerative agriculture efforts.
Photo Credit: istock-fangxianuo
Categories: National