The Impact of Regenerative Agriculture on Human Health
The Impact of Regenerative Agriculture on Human Health
The microbiota of our environment has a direct impact on the human metabolic system. We are currently experiencing a massive loss of biodiversity, not only in animal species, but also in soil, crops, and the human microbiome. Modern urban living contributes to this loss, starting with excessive hygiene, little contact with the soil during childhood, antibiotics, and highly processed, low-fiber foods from industrial agriculture.
Humic Substances for the Immune System
The importance of humic substances goes beyond soil health; they also impact human health and nutrition. Regenerative farms with higher levels of humic substances in their soil produce plants with higher levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and secondary plant substances. But they also contain a greater abundance and diversity of beneficial microorganisms. Consumption of these microorganisms can have a positive effect on the gut microbiome, which in turn is the starting point for human health – not only nutrient intake and general well-being, but also the functioning of the immune system depend on it.
Part 1: Plant-Based Diet
The use of humic substances in agricultural practices offers a highly concentrated source of organic matter that exerts its beneficial effects both when applied foliarly and in the soil. When applied foliarly, humic substances improve the plant’s defenses, so the use of pesticides can be reduced. The presence of humic substances in the soil leads to the formation of clay-humus complexes and promotes the formation of glomalin, a sticky substance secreted by mycorrhizal fungi. Glomalin helps improve the soil structure by creating pores for air and water movement. Such a soil system ensures better rooting, nutrient uptake and water infiltration. In addition, humic substances provide high water storage capacity, reducing the risk of drought stress and increasing plant tolerance to dry conditions.
Maintaining the Microbiome
When organic material such as compost, mulch and manure are selected from sources rich in beneficial microorganisms, a favorable microbiome will also develop on the crop. Diverse crop rotations help break pest and disease cycles and reduce pesticide use.
Part 2: Animal Products
Not only do pasture-raised livestock live a better, more natural life, making them a more ethical choice, but they also eat a variety of foods and roam freely in the fresh air, exposed to sunlight and rain, which helps their metabolism and results in healthier products. When you add holistic pasture management, i.e. a controlled rotation of different pastures that can regenerate between them, the positive effects are multiplied not only for animal health but also for soil life and biodiversity.
You are what you eat
Both meat and dairy products from regenerative agriculture contain phytochemicals, which are powerful antioxidants that are not found in conventional foods. The more diverse the animals are, the higher the content of various antioxidants and the lower the content of low-density lipoproteins, also known as “bad” cholesterol.
This means that soil health has a direct impact not only on the amount of nutrients available to plants and therefore humans, but also on what kind of microbiome (good or bad) is passed on to the consumer. In addition, research shows that the same product produced by different farming methods even has different compositions (see below) and can therefore have a significant impact on human health.
From Unhealthy to Healthy
Regenerative beef contains 300% of the omega-3 fatty acids of conventionally raised beef, and even more than six times the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid that humans must absorb through food. Regenerative pork was shown to contain nine times more omega-3 fatty acids, including 11 times more ALA, than the control group. At the same time, the omega-6 fatty acid content was reduced by 200-300%, making this meat a much healthier option.
Whether it’s potatoes, apples or pork, the end product may look the same, but the differences are vast. Optimal soil ecology is a long-term investment that pays off over generations.
