International Fresh Produce Association

The Growth Revolution: Scaling Regenerative Agriculture for a Sustainable Future

The episode spotlights the USDA’s Advancing Markets (AM) grant program, a farmer‑first initiative designed to scale regenerative agriculture by linking on‑farm conservation practices to real market value. Host Vonnie interviews Nikki Casio and Kyle Cosgrove of Measure to Improve (MTI), who explain how the program provides financial cushions, technical expertise, and a structured data‑capture process to prove that soil‑health practices work across diverse farms. MTI frames the AM effort around three pillars: proof of concept, shared definitions, and market advancement. By funding eight vetted conservation practices—cover cropping, composting, and others—the grant reduces experimentation risk, while USDA‑trimmed data requirements keep reporting manageable. The team emphasizes that growers already employ many of these techniques; the novelty lies in documenting outcomes and communicating them to buyers. Key moments include Nikki’s observation that growers’ sustainability stories often get lost before reaching consumers, and Kyle’s description of farmer hesitation due to financial risk and time constraints. The discussion also cites striking statistics: less than 1% of the U.S. population farms, yet that minority feeds a billion people, underscoring the urgency of bridging the farm‑to‑market narrative gap. The broader implication is clear: scaling regenerative agriculture demands coordinated action across the entire supply chain. When buyers, processors, and retailers recognize verified, data‑backed sustainability outcomes, they can reward growers, creating a virtuous cycle that aligns environmental stewardship with profitability.