Regenerative California is building a new economic model through soil health. With a 70-acre demonstration farm, $162M+ state investment, and university research proving profitability, the initiative links sustainable farming to economic growth.
Tags: Regenerative California, soil health, regenerative agriculture, climate-smart farming, Kristin Coates, Monterey County, Healthy Soils Program, carbon sequestration, Rodale Institute, Sonoma County vineyards
From Soil Health to Economic Growth: Regenerative California’s Vision for Transformation
Salinas, May 26, 2026 – What if California, the world’s fourth largest economy, could transform its extractive agricultural system into one that regenerates the land while strengthening communities?
That is the question driving Regenerative California, a nonprofit working to build a regenerative economy that uplifts communities, advances sustainability, and strengthens the state’s food and agriculture system .
A Pilot in Monterey County
When Regenerative California began its work, the team chose Monterey County as their pilot location – a region described as “California’s most wealthy and also poorest county in the state,” and home to the Salinas Valley, nicknamed the salad bowl of the world .
Rather than imposing solutions, the organization started by interviewing community members to understand the challenges and opportunities they faced. Two main themes emerged: the transition to regenerative organic agriculture and the revitalization of the blue economy .
The Demonstration Farm: Regenerate 68! Farm
From these conversations, Regenerative California developed a 70-acre demonstration farm called Regenerate 68! Farm, located just off Highway 68 in Monterey County .
“Obviously, 70 acres is not going to change the entire system of agriculture in California,” Kristin Coates, Co-Founder and CEO of Regenerative California, tells Food Tank, “but we’re really using it as sort of a Petri dish” .
The farm serves as a demonstration site for regenerative organic agriculture training, where farmers can learn to grow nutrient-rich crops. The land is also part of a much larger ranch stewarded by the Big Sur Land Trust, proving that regenerative farming can integrate seamlessly with broader conservation efforts .
2026 marks the first year that Regenerative California will begin monitoring the farm’s environmental progress, while also considering the social and economic benefits that can be offered to farmers and institutional buyers in the area .
State Investment in Soil Health
Regenerative California’s vision aligns with significant state investment. The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Program has awarded $162.8 million through 2,340 projects since its launch in 2017 .
These projects have sequestered 1.6 million metric tons of CO₂e – equivalent to removing 370,000 cars from the road for a year – across more than 190,000 acres of California farmland and ranchland .
The passage of Proposition 4, the 10billionClimateResilienceBond,inNovember2024hasfurtherstrengthenedthiscommitment.Thebondallocates65 million for soil health and carbon sequestration through the Healthy Soils Program, and $40 million for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) .
Scientific Research Confirms Economic Viability
University researchers are actively studying the economic viability of regenerative practices. A study published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture evaluated the financial outcomes of implementing regenerative agriculture practices in Sonoma County vineyards .
The study found that conventional and regenerative practices result in comparable profitability over a 30-year time horizon, with regenerative averaging only 5% lower in net present value across vineyards . While regenerative practices involve higher initial costs, they provide long-term benefits including lower operational expenses, improved soil health, and additional revenue from integrated practices like sheep grazing.
Farmers who have integrated livestock have reported savings resulting from reduced mowing and herbicide use of 100% and 66%, respectively, relative to conventional management .
Persistence Pays Off
A key challenge in transitioning to regenerative practices is the upfront investment. However, data from Healthy Soils Program awardees shows that farmers with prior experience in soil health practices are far more likely to persist with them :
- Cover-cropping: 77% with previous experience persisted vs. 67% first-time adopters
- Composting: 82% with previous experience persisted vs. 51% first-time adopters
- Edge of field practices: 73% with previous experience persisted vs. 58% first-time adopters
As Twin Peaks Orchards grower Justin Miller emphasizes, soil health practices get better with time, often requiring several years to fully realize benefits. Practices like cover cropping ultimately pay off—improving water retention, increasing resilience to heat, and reducing the impacts of extreme weather .
Scaling Impact Through Collaboration
What works on one farm may not work on another, but Regenerative California believes in scaling impact through shared lessons.
“We can create a flywheel,” Coates says. “And we really, genuinely believe that California can lead that work” .
The model is gaining attention. “A dozen other regions want to join in this movement. They want to be the next area where we apply this process of listening, engaging, creating community momentum,” Coates adds .
Additionally, the Rodale Institute’s Regenerate Ventura initiative, supported by Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective with a $1.55 million commitment, is working to transition an entire county to regenerative agriculture . The program has 10,000 acres currently in transition, with 57 farms in the pipeline – nearly 40% belonging to historically underserved communities .
From Soil to Economy
Regenerative California’s vision treats soil health not as an environmental goal but as an economic strategy. Healthier soils require fewer inputs, retain more water, and produce more resilient crops – all of which improve farm profitability over time.
By demonstrating that regenerative practices work at scale, providing technical assistance to farmers, and connecting them with markets that value sustainable products, the initiative is building an economy where agriculture and ecology thrive together.
As California continues to lead on climate action, the connection between soil health and economic growth is becoming impossible to ignore. And for Coates and her team, that connection is exactly the point.
