{"id":17010,"date":"2026-05-03T14:50:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T14:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/voices-from-the-field-helping-farmers-build-resilient-local-economies-across-rural-america\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T14:50:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T14:50:59","slug":"voices-from-the-field-helping-farmers-build-resilient-local-economies-across-rural-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/voices-from-the-field-helping-farmers-build-resilient-local-economies-across-rural-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices from the field: Helping farmers build resilient local economies across rural America"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dr. Jonathan (Jon) Lundgren says it\u2019s easy to see evidence of Ecdysis intervention when he\u2019s visiting a farm. He can sense it through the new sounds of birds chirping, bugs whizzing by his ears, fresh hues of greens radiating off the fields in front of him, a thriving surrounding community, and laughter from the farmers. Lots of laughter. His job, as a farmer, scientist-by-training, and the founder of the South Dakota-based nonprofit Ecdysis Foundation, is to translate these anecdotal indicators of a flourishing ecosystem into data that farmers can use to track the health of their farms and make informed, evidence-based managerial decisions.<\/p>\n

Regenerative farming practices prioritize soil health to maximize the vitality of farmland and food quality. Jon links regenerative agriculture practices to livelihood improvement by reducing reliance on pesticides for better health outcomes, diversifying revenue streams for economic profit, increasing nutrient density in food, and generating biodiversity to naturally combat pests. These outcomes can lead to long-term resilience, and, as Jon notably adds, happier farming communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the key outcomes of regenerative agriculture ends up being a stronger connection within your communities, within your family, and then the natural world that\u2019s around us,\u201d Jon says. \u201cThere\u2019s something innately human about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

1,000 farms initiative and closing the data divide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s why in 2022, with support from a Cisco Foundation Climate Resilience Grant, Ecdysis launched its \u201c1,000 Farms\u201d initiative, a project designed to scientifically validate the ecological and economic benefits of regenerative agriculture. Ecdysis provides farmers with training and technological infrastructure to upload farm samples into its system for feedback. The platform then demonstrates how soil chemistry, water retention levels, and biodiversity influence farm outcomes. By transforming raw data into clear, actionable insights, the initiative empowers farmers to make informed decisions that optimize farm health through proven regenerative practices. This is central to the Cisco Foundation\u2019s efforts to power an inclusive future for all by making high-tech insights available to more people and organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen technologies help to enhance the connection of farmers with the natural world or their community, that\u2019s extremely important for advancing our food system and society at large,\u201d Jon says. \u201cEngaging farmers in measuring their own operations empowers them to try new things on their farms, and they don\u2019t have to wait for some scientist team to come. They can just measure what seems to be happening, and they can watch it in real time, so it allows them to understand the full implications of changes in management to important regenerative outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Journey to regeneration\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gail Fuller is a livestock farmer, born and raised in Kansas. His farm, Fuller Farms, is one of the 1,700 + farms Ecdysis has sampled through this project. Gail started as a typical soybean and corn farmer and faced difficulties with soil erosion and excessive chemical use with conventional practices. He began experimenting with regenerative practices when he grew frustrated with his yields, the poor health of his land and community, and experienced a decline in his mental health as a result.<\/p>\n

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