A New Way of Thinking About Soil
Innovative Products Driving Soil Health Improvements
Balancing Economic Benefits and Challenges in Regenerative Soil Management
Industry Trends and the Future of Regenerative Agriculture
Groundwork BioAg
Regen Ag Lab
Certis Belchim
Jord BioScience
Acadian Plant Health
Gentle Farming
As the agricultural sector responds to the dual pressures of climate change and global food security, soil health is taking center stage for regenerative farming. Healthy soils sustain plant growth, sequester carbon, and enhance biodiversity, while reducing input dependency, making soil innovation a critical lever in reshaping the future of agriculture.
As growers work to preserve their soil, the key is not to throw more products, even if they are biologicals, into the microbiome. Instead, growers need to analyze soil stressors and abate them.
"The problem of poor biology, nutrient cycling, and disease, are all symptoms of a larger multifaceted problem where numerous management factors are at play and often compound each other," says Lance Gunderson, PhD, President and Co-founder of Regen Ag Lab.
Gunderson says it takes a combination of products and management changes to see the greatest benefit and long-term success. This means a mindset shift that demands innovative thinking about agricultural practices. When growers stack annual tillage with high fertility rates, fallow periods between crops, multiple herbicide and fungicide passes, narrow or non-existent crop rotations, and removal of most of the carbon inputs back into the soil, they create a sick system that relies on inputs and technologies.
Gunderson cautions that adopting biological inputs without broader systemic changes risks replicating the same dependency model established by conventional agriculture — one that keeps producers reliant on external products.
The importance of a holistic approach to soil health, where biological inputs are part of a broader system of regenerative practices as well as a grower's mindset shift, will keep farmland fertile.
Photo credit: Jord BioScience
“The problem of poor biology, nutrient cycling, and disease, are all symptoms of a larger multifaceted problem where numerous management factors are at play and often compound each other.”
"As an industry, we've been trained to look for one innovation that solves everything," says Andrew Duff, North America General Manager at Groundwork BioAg. "The fact is there is no single silver bullet. However, today's biological innovations are delivering novel solutions that offer multiple benefits for both plants and the soil."
Today's regulatory environment allows companies access to the biostimulant market, allowing start-ups and smaller companies to bring new solutions to farmers faster, such as microbiome-based inputs and RNA-driven crop protection technologies.
As research and development continue on different modes of action and databases are built, companies like Jord BioScience believe the key to great soil is creating the right network of microbes. The company helps agribusinesses fast-track biological solutions by leveraging a microbial bank of more than 6,500 microbial isolates.
"These isolates, collected from diverse global soils, enhance, protect, or promote distinct modes of action in major crops, including corn, soybeans, canola, and wheat, as well as specialty crops," says Keri Carstens, President and CEO of Jord BioScience. "In addition to working as biostimulant or biopesticide inoculants, our collection of microbes also has the innate ability to enhance those that are already in the soil — working within the system."
Other innovations include plant-based biostimulants — such as those developed by Groundwork BioAg, and Acadian Plant Health — that enhance crop metabolism and performance using different active ingredients.
Groundwork BioAg's product line is based on mycorrhizal fungi that "enables all other living organisms in the rhizosphere to function effectively by enhancing nutrient uptake and fostering plant-microbe interactions," Duff says.
As an industry, we've been trained to look for one innovation that solves everything. The fact is there is no single silver bullet.
Seaweed is the launching point for Acadian Plant Health's product line.
"Seaweed-based biostimulants have been shown to support the proliferation of mycorrhizal fungi and improve soil aggregation, which helps increase organic matter and improve nutrient cycling — two foundational indicators of soil health," says Dr. Holly Little, Director of Research and Development at Acadian Plant Health.
While many regenerative innovations focus on the soil microbiome, SugaROx takes a complementary approach — working through the plant to unlock greater productivity. Its biostimulants address key physiological bottlenecks to improve how crops allocate carbon and nutrients into grain.
"Field trials show that the first product in our pipeline has the potential to boost yields by up to 25%," says Bianca Forte, Business Development Director at SugaROx.
For 12 years, Certis Belchim operated the Growing for the Future program, and from that, developed the Growing Soil Management program. Pedro Cabanita, Global Portfolio Manager for Biostimulants and Integrated Programs at Certis Belchim, explains the grower challenges this program has observed.
Transitioning to regenerative agriculture poses a financial challenge for many growers, according to Cabanita. The shift often demands upfront investments in specialized equipment, adjustments to crop rotations, and a temporary decline in yields as soil health improves. To make the transition more accessible, Cabanita emphasizes the need for solutions that deliver a faster return on investment.
Thomas Gent, a third-generation regenerative farmer and Gentle Farming and Regenerative Agrilcutre Lead at Agreena, headquartered in South Lincolnshire, England, emphasizes that climate extremes — ranging from prolonged wet spells to drought — are already reshaping decision-making at the farm level. He believes that collaboration across the ag value chain is more important than ever and that seeing regenerative systems firsthand can really shift perspectives.
"If we look after the soil, the soil will look after us — from farmers all the way through the supply chain," Gent says.
While regenerative agriculture helps to mitigate risks associated with climate change and protecting the grower's soil, other factors are influencing growers to turn to regenerative agriculture practices, especially during periods of low commodity prices.
"Many growers are challenging conventional methods and adopting regenerative practices to reduce costs and improve the bottom line," Duff says. "This shift often involves trialing new innovations on a small scale — typically around 10% of their acreage — to assess their compatibility within existing systems before broader implementation."
Seaweed-based biostimulants have been shown to support the proliferation of mycorrhizal fungi and improve soil aggregation, which helps increase organic matter and improve nutrient cycling — two foundational indicators of soil health.
Companies are responding by developing solutions that not only improve soil health but also enhance growers' profitability. Agreena supports farmers by generating verified carbon credits from regenerative practices, while also offering tailored data solutions to food companies and financial institutions, creating multiple pathways to monetize sustainability outcomes.
"Our biostimulants improve the efficiency of nitrogen and other fertilizers, which reduces input costs and minimizes environmental impact," Cabanita says.
As economic benefits are a motivator for growers to adopt practices to restore and preserve healthy soil, the mindset change is also an important factor.
As farming practices evolve, increasing knowledge among growers will be essential to ensure they understand both the products they are using and the reasons behind them. Cabanita notes that manufacturers play a critical role in this shift, calling for greater investment in education, training, and clear information for suppliers and farmers. Financial support or incentives, he adds, could further ease the adoption of new techniques.
As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, industry leaders and researchers are playing a crucial role in shaping its trajectory.
Industry leaders are increasingly prioritizing regenerative solutions aimed at improving soil health, a trend that Duff finds encouraging. The key to long-term productivity lies in understanding and leveraging natural processes to restore and sustain farmland.
As the industry advances, the future of sustainable agriculture lies in strategic integration of biostimulants that improve microbial diversity and plant processes, smart data tools, and economic incentives to build more resilient farming systems.
With performance-driven innovations and collaborative efforts across academia and industry, regenerative agriculture is poised to shift from theory to widespread practice, reshaping how we grow food, care for the land, and invest in the planet's future.
