Regenerative Farming Outpaces Tech-Based Carbon Capture Solutions in First Large-Scale Systemic Study

Peer-reviewed research across working farms finds regenerative agriculture stores 39% more carbon than conventional farms while matching yields and net profits.

ESTELLINE, S.D., Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As world leaders prepare for Climate Week NYC 2026, a new peer-reviewed study from Ecdysis Foundation reveals that transitioning U.S. field crops to regenerative agriculture could capture enough soil carbon to offset 1.5 years of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—surpassing the projected 2050 carbon capture totals of all proposed technology-based solutions combined. Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Founder & Director at Ecdysis Foundation, will speak about the research at the Food Solutions Summit next week. 

Highlights

• Ecdysis Foundation evaluated more than 2,000 farms across North America as whole systems to build the most comprehensive dataset in modern agriculture.
• Peer-reviewed research shows the carbon storage potential of regenerative farms exceeds the projected 2050 carbon capture totals of all proposed tech-based solutions combined.
• Regenerative farms store 39% more carbon in soil than conventional farms while producing more nutritious food, maintaining yield equivalence, and earning equivalent net profits per acre.

New approach to research
Ecdysis has evaluated regenerative agriculture, which is an outcome-based approach that improves soil health and biodiversity with practices like keeping the soil covered, reducing tillage and synthetic inputs, and integrating livestock, as a complete, interconnected system for the first time. Unlike traditional research that studied one isolated farming practice at a time, this new approach measures how soil organisms and plant life work together to capture and store carbon at significantly higher rates.

“The climate fix we’ve been searching for isn’t a futuristic technology, but something growing right beneath our feet,” said Jonathan Lundgren, Founder & Director at Ecdysis Foundation. “Regenerative agriculture isn't academic theory. It's a real management system used by real farmers on real land with real potential to stop climate change. We don't have to choose between feeding people and protecting the planet. We can do both.”

Potential of our food systems
The research challenges assumptions in agricultural policy. Federal subsidies and crop insurance often penalize regenerative transitions and reward maximizing monocrop production. This paper shows that regenerative farms can be economically competitive even without these supports. Some of the highest-yielding and most profitable fields studied had adopted majority-regenerative practices.

"Regenerative agriculture addresses a lot of problems, not just habitat and biodiversity loss, but also health, nutrition, and climate issues. There is a real sense of urgency to solving these problems. Research like the 1000 Farms Initiative is essential to form policies and programs that we need to scale regenerative agriculture," said Sallie Calhoun, Impact Investor and Philanthropist at Paicines Ranch.

Transitioning to regenerative agriculture isn't just an operational shift for farmers. It’s a social risk. Farmers who transition from conventional to regenerative farming face skepticism and isolation from the farming community.

“It was difficult in the beginning to go against the grain. We had to get tough skin. Flat-out faith and stubbornness kept us going,” said Dawn Breitkreutz, regenerative livestock and crop farmer at Stony Creek Farm in Minnesota. “We didn’t know if it was going to work out or not, but once we noticed wildlife start to return, and the health of the animals and ourselves improve, we knew we were doing the right thing. The nutrient testing that Ecdysis Foundation is doing is critical to the future of livestock and grain and will lead to better markets.”

Future research 
Over the coming months, Ecdysis Foundation will release additional research providing case studies, farmer guidance, and solutions for transitioning to regenerative practices at scale. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about future publications.

Additional resources

• Peer-reviewed paper
• Press release 
• Watch Jonathan talk about this in a short video     
• Read Jonathan’s blog      

Q&A

• What does this research prove? Regenerative farms produce food at competitive yields while storing 39% more carbon in soil. If all U.S. field crops shifted to regenerative management, soil carbon gains could equal 1.5-2 years of current U.S. emissions.
• Why does this matter? The research proves we don't have to choose between feeding people and protecting the planet. Regenerative farms deliver measurable climate and environmental benefits at scale.
• Is it profitable for farmers? Yes. Net profits per acre are comparable between regenerative and conventional operations, showing the economics work.
• What makes this research unique? The research offers a clear definition of regenerative agriculture. It measured actual working farms as complete systems, not isolated practices. This revealed why regenerative agriculture succeeds where conventional studies missed it.

Key data points

• 39% more soil carbon:Regenerative farms store 39% more carbon in topsoil than conventional farms (38.3 metric tons per acre vs. 27.5 metric tons per acre).
• Climate impact at scale: If all U.S. field crops went regenerative, soil carbon gains could equal 1.5-2 years of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—more than all proposed tech-based climate solutions combined through 2050.
• Yields match reality: Regenerative wheat, corn, and soybeans met national average yields, proving these farms can feed people.
• Economics work: Net profits per acre were identical between regenerative and conventional operations. There is no tradeoff between regenerative practices and profitability.
• Biodiversity boom: Regenerative farms had 1,619% more plant species, 241% more foliage insects, and 237% more birds, all reducing pest pressure and supporting soil health.

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About the Ecdysis Foundation
Ecdysis Foundation is a nonprofit research organization based in Estelline, South Dakota, dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture through farmer-centered, independent research. Unlike traditional agricultural research conducted in labs, Ecdysis scientists work alongside farmers and operate Blue Dasher Farm—a regenerative operation producing honey, eggs, lamb, and pork—keeping research grounded in real-world farming challenges. Through initiatives like the 1000 Farms Initiative, Ecdysis conducts peer-reviewed research across North America to create evidence-based insights guiding both food policy and on-farm decisions.

Jonathan Lundgren
Ecdysis Foundation
jonathan.lundgren@ecdysis.bio