Trump administration initiates regenerative ag effort

WASHINGTON — An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump will allow his administration to develop and advance regenerative agriculture practices in cooperation with farmers in partnership with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Under the order, “Advancing Regenerative Agriculture and Strengthening American Farm Resilience,” the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will develop a research and evaluation framework to improve understanding of cumulative chemical exposures in the food supply using new scientific approaches.

Regenerative agriculture is a sustainable farming approach that protects and improves soil health, biodiversity, climate and water resources while supporting market opportunities and value for farmers and their communities.

The HHS also will launch a National Institutes of Health Grand Prize Challenge to accelerate innovative methods for evaluating, diagnosing and addressing cumulative chemical exposures and will direct the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to prioritize research into technologies that reduce reliance on chemical crop protection tools while improving human health.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins joined Trump in the Oval Office alongside four of the nation’s leading regenerative farmers on June 25 for the signing ceremony and to discuss how regenerative agriculture can improve soil health, enhance farm resilience, increase profitability, strengthen rural prosperity and advance the health of Americans.

“Making America healthy again begins with understanding that health starts long before someone enters a doctor’s office,” Kennedy said. “It starts with the food we eat and the way it is produced. Today’s executive order reflects President Trump’s commitment to working alongside America’s farmers to strengthen our food system while advancing research that will deepen our understanding of how agricultural practices, nutrition, environmental exposures and human health are connected. America cannot make America healthy again without America’s farmers.”

The effort builds on the February announcement by the HHS, the USDA and the EPA of more than $1 billion in investments to modernize American agriculture and strengthen the long-term security of the US food supply.

Coinciding with the executive order, the HHS released a new Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) issue brief, “Regenerative Agriculture and Population Health: Examining How Regenerative Agriculture Can Support Healthier Food Systems and Better Health Outcomes.”

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