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A collage of renewable energy on farmland with text that reads 'Cultivating the Future: Renewable Energy and Agriculture."

Cultivating the Future: Renewable Energy and Agriculture

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How Regenerative Agriculture and Renewable Energy Are Shaping a Sustainable World

The global population is ballooning. This is putting an unprecedented strain on our natural resources, including soil and water. We are at-risk of depleting our natural resources faster than they can recuperate. We stand at the intersection of multiple comprehensive problems simultaneously. There is a need to feed the growing population and provide materials for medicine, construction, clothing, and more. At the same time, we need to conserve our natural resources to ensure the longevity of our planet and its natural systems. What’s more, we need energy for electricity, transportation, heating and cooling our homes, and many additional aspects of modern society.

How can we create enough clean energy infrastructure to meet the needs of billions of people, while feeding this population nutritious food, while conserving the planet and its natural resources? Another layer to that question is, how can we address these emerging challenges without burdening producers OR consumers with additional costs?

The answer to sustaining food and energy security for this growing population without seriously degrading the environment lies on agricultural land. Renewable energy and regenerative agriculture go hand-in-hand in managing changing climate conditions and providing food and fuel for the populace in a way that does not further degrade soil. Together, they represent a powerful synergy that could transform our future, addressing both ecological degradation and the need for clean energy systems.

Regenerative Agriculture: Nurturing the Land

Regenerative agriculture is a comprehensive approach to agricultural production that goes beyond sustainability. It aims to restore and enhance the health of the soil, increase biodiversity, improve water quality and availability, and improve ecosystem resilience. Unlike conventional agricultural techniques, which often deplete soil nutrients and rely heavily on chemical inputs, regenerative agriculture focuses on soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. By restoring the land’s natural processes, regenerative agriculture not only improves food security but also enhances environmental resilience.

The Top 5 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture are:

  1. Minimize the physical, biological, and chemical disturbance of the soil
  2. Keep the soil covered with vegetation or natural material
  3. Increase plant diversity
  4. Keep living roots in the soil as much as possible
  5. Integrate animals into the farm as much as possible

There are ample economic benefits of regenerative agriculture as well. Improved soil health can lead to higher crop yields, better forage quality for animals, and increased resiliency to pests, drought, or floods. Additionally, cost savings from reduced use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and antibiotics can also have a positive impact on farm profitability. Regenerative agriculture is a comprehensive approach to sustaining the environment and the economic viability of farming.

Renewable Energy: Powering a Green Future

Renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, provide a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. They offer several key benefits, including reduction of GHGs, energy independence, economic growth, and climate resilience. Technological advancements and decreasing costs have made renewable energy more accessible than ever. Solar panels, wind turbines, and other technologies are becoming commonplace, driving a transition to a low-carbon economy. There is ample opportunity to install renewable energy on agricultural land which can directly benefit the farm or ranch and its surrounding community.

Traditional energy sources like coal, oil and natural gas are nonrenewable, therefore finite. Furthermore, the existing means of producing these raw materials pose serious health and environmental risks in their extraction and distribution. Not only can renewable energy provide benefits to the environment, but transitioning away from fossil fuels can be beneficial for human health and can increase energy security. Installing renewable energy at the commercial scale to support individual farm operations as well as regional farm suppliers and buyers can benefit producer income by saving costs for their operation or selling excess energy to the local power grid.  While industrial scale renewable projects are often demonized as taking land away from farmers, there are paths forward to ensure that these projects also benefit local farmers.

A collage with images of solar panels and wind turbines on agricultural land.

The Intersection: Regenerative Agriculture and Renewable Energy

The convergence of regenerative agriculture and renewable energy holds remarkable potential. Each is proven to be ecologically- and economically-sound. They complement each other in a few different ways:

  1. Energy Efficiency in Farming: Regenerative practices can reduce the energy needs of farms. For instance, healthier soils can lead to better crop yields and reduced reliance on other farm inputs which are often energy-intensive to produce.
  2. On-Farm Renewable Energy: Farms can integrate renewable energy systems, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to power operations. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers energy costs, making farming more sustainable and resilient.  Furthermore, surplus energy can be sold back to the grid in some areas, creating additional revenue.
  3. Carbon Market Opportunities: Regenerative farms can generate carbon credits through both offsets and insets, creating additional revenue for the operation.
  4. Synergistic Land Use: Combining renewable energy installations with regenerative farming practices can maximize land use. For example, solar panels can be installed on the roofs of farm buildings, or wind turbines can be placed in areas that are not used for crops, allowing both systems to coexist and benefit each other.

As of 2021, agricultural land accounted for 44.4% of land area in the United States. Globally, that statistic is closer to 38%. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. It can be used as cropland, as well as meadows and pastures for grazing livestock. Given the abundance of opportunities for renewable energy to benefit farms, and the high proportion of global land use dedicated to agriculture, the harmony between the two is apparent.

During our trip to Isbell Farms in August 2024, we got to see renewable energy on farmland in action. Isbell Farms, located in England, AR, is a multi-generational family farm with a focus on the sustainable production of quality rice. Solar panels installed on otherwise unproductive land are used to power their operation and homestead. There is great potential for small and large farms representing all commodity types to implement a renewable energy system that fits their needs. RIPE is committed to improving accessibility to regenerative agriculture and renewable energy for farmers and ranchers.

A collage of the solar panels at Isbell Farms, a fine example of renewable energy on agricultural land.

In recent years, great progress has been made in the installation of renewable energy systems on agricultural lands, though there is still ample room to grow. Check out some statistics about renewable energy and agriculture:

  • The number of farms using renewable energy grew 15% from 2017-2022.
  • 76% of farms with renewable energy systems reported using solar panels, a 30% increase since 2017.
  • In total, energy use in the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture sectors contributed around 0.93 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions in 2021. 95% of these emissions were CO2, which come from the use of electricity (45.8%), petroleum products (38.4%), coal (11.6%) and fossil gas (3.3%).
  • Farmers that adopted renewable cooling technologies experienced up to a 40% increase in income.

The RIPE Approach

The integration of regenerative agriculture and renewable energy represents a transformative opportunity for a sustainable future. By restoring the health of our soils through regenerative practices and transitioning to renewable energy systems, we can create a more resilient and equitable world. As we continue to explore and expand these practices, our hope is that they become mainstream solutions, driving us toward a healthier planet and a thriving future for generations to come.

RIPE wants to see these solutions become mainstream, and is dedicated to unifying and amplifying the voices of American producers to make it so. Scaling regenerative agriculture and renewable energy the RIPE Way means fairly compensating producers who voluntarily implement these practices. Making progress toward our goals wouldn’t be possible without input from producers, and we aim to be as far-reaching and impactful as possible. Learn more about getting involved with RIPE.

In the journey toward sustainability, every step counts. Whether you’re a farmer, an energy producer, or simply an advocate for change, there’s a role for everyone in cultivating a future where both our environment and energy systems are in alliance. Let’s embrace this vision and work together to make it a reality.

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020, May 7). Land use in agriculture by the numbers. Sustainable Food and Agriculture. https://www.fao.org/sustainability/news/detail/en/c/1274219/

McGee, B. (2020, March 27). Regenerative Agriculture. Ask an Expert: What’s Regenerative Agriculture? https://www.cbf.org/issues/agriculture/regenerative-agriculture.html

Odo, M. (2024, February 27). Census of agriculture: Use of renewable energy and no-till farming rises. https://thesustainabilityalliance.us/census-of-agriculture-number-of-farms-falls-renewable-energy-use-rises/

REN21: Renewables Now. (n.d.). Renewables in agriculture. Renewables in Energy Demand: Global Trends. https://www.ren21.net/gsr-2024/modules/energy_demand/04_renewables_in_agriculture/

United States – agricultural land (% of land area)2024 data 2025 forecast 1961-2021 historical. United States – Agricultural Land (% Of Land Area) – 2024 Data 2025 Forecast 1961-2021 Historical. (n.d.). https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/agricultural-land-percent-of-land-area-wb-data.html

A collage of pictures from RIPE's trip with the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture for their summit. From left: RIPE Executive Director Trey Cooke in a rice field with RIPE Steering Committee representative, RIPE Board Member Eunie Biel in a cotton field, solar energy on a farm, and a banana spider in an Arkansas crop field.

Boots in the Dirt: Climate-Smart Agriculture in America’s Rice Capital

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Chatting Up Arkansas Producers & The Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture

We’ve had quite a busy summer here at RIPE and are grateful for every minute of it. Kicking off our summer adventures in Wisconsin, our travels took us to Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and most recently, Arkansas. We spent a few days in America’s Rice Capital to attend the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture Summit, meet with members of RIPE’s Steering Committee, and tour Isbell Farms, which promotes regenerative and climate-smart agriculture in its operations.

One of the best parts about our summer travels is seeing just what “rural America” looks like in several different places. Rural Pennsylvania and Rural North Dakota seem starkly different, yet RIPE’s mission is relevant to producers in both places, and everywhere in-between. Our work is meant to be impactful for producers across the country, with operations of all shapes and sizes. Our summer of farm tours and conservation conversations in many places across the country has been as exciting as it has been productive, ending with our trip to The Natural State earlier this month.

RIPE Past President, Eunie Biel, Executive Director Trey Cooke, and Communications Manager Melissa Willhouse traveled to Little Rock, AR to attend the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture first annual summit. While there, we met up with members of our Steering Committee, IDEA Committee and Board of Directors. This was an especially meaningful trip for us because RIPE wrote the proposal that laid the groundwork for this pilot project. Getting to see the proposal that we developed in action was rewarding and reinvigorating, giving us some fresh ideas and perspectives as to how we can best serve producers and rural communities across the United States.

Collage from RIPE's trip to Arkansas. From left: a picture of the Little Rock skyline, a snapshot from inside the opening speech at the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture summit, and a picture of RIPE's research presented at the summit.

This pilot project has three main goals:

    • Promoting agricultural productivity
      • Achieve global climate and food security goals through sustainable agricultural productivity growth
    • Creating strong markets
      • Invest in America’s farmers and build markets for climate-smart commodities to strengthen rural and agricultural communities
    • Improving climate resilience
      • Measure, quantify, and promote the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits resulting from climate-smart practices

Read more about the framework that supports these goals on their website.

While in Arkansas, we enjoyed a night out with several representatives from our Steering Committee who were also in attendance at the summit. This group included persons from the Arkansas Rice Federation, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, North Dakota Farmers Union, National Black Growers Council, and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association. While gathered with this group, we presented RIPE Past President and current Board Member Eunie Biel with an award to honor her for all of her hard work in helping RIPE grow.

RIPE Past President Eunie Biel receiving an award for her service to RIPE along with representatives of RIPE's Steering Committee members.

We managed to squeeze in a trip to Isbell Farms as well. Isbell Farms, located in England, AR, is a multi-generational family rice farm located in Central Arkansas with a focus on the sustainable production of quality rice. Five generations have now farmed rice on Isbell Farms, and rice has been in cultivation here for over 70 years. Per their website, “at Isbell Farms, sustainability is part of our heritage and part of our future. Our initial goal was simply to do the right thing and do it well.  It was only later that we learned that others had started using a word to refer to what we had long considered a core value: sustainability.  We think of it in terms of stewardship.” Isbell Farms proudly holds a gold ranking in the SAI Sustainability Platform and was the recipient of 2016 Commitment to Quality Award from the American Carbon Registry. Read more about their Sustainability Practices straight from the source.

A quote from Isbell Farms that reads "sustainability is part of our heritage and part of our future. Our initial goal was simply to do the right thing and do it well. It was only later that we learned that others had started using a word to refer to what we had long considered a core value: sustainability. We think of it in terms of stewardship."

Our tour of Isbell Farms happened to fall on the day they began harvesting their rice crop. This allowed us to ride in the tractor with Mark Isbell as he chatted about the regenerative agriculture practices they implement, as well as the history of farming in his family. We even stopped by the rice mill where Isbell’s crops are refined into market-ready products. Getting to see the production process from start to finish was certainly an exciting experience.

Another interesting feature of Isbell Farms is their array of solar panels located conveniently on-site. The power produced by these solar panels goes directly back to the farm, allowing Isbell Farms to harness solar power within their operation and use it to fuel their production system and their houses located on the property as well. There is so much opportunity for renewables to be used to benefit farms across the country, and it was great to see an example of this in action. The solar panels on Isbell Farms are located on a part of the property that is not ideal for crops, so rather than having an empty space, the Isbell family is making the most of it.

Collage from RIPE's trip to Arkansas. From left: a banana spider in its unique web, solar panels on a farm, and RIPE Past President Eunie Biel waist-deep in a cotton field.

RIPE supports expanding clean energy opportunities for farmers and mitigating the tension sometimes created by installing it on productive agricultural lands. Specifically, we support:

  • Ensuring renewable energy projects are designed in a way to benefit farmers, ranchers, and rural citizens
  • Incentivizing and increasing R&D for dual-use agri voltaics plan that allow for solar alongside farming, if placed on productive or unique farmland.
  • Expanding USDA REAP benefits to farmer-led cooperatives to allow for shared resource pooling and benefits.
  • Requiring developers who lease solar arrays on farmland to decommission them in a manner that protects the land for active agriculture future use.

We believe that renewable energy has the potential to directly benefit farmers and ranchers, as well as citizens in rural America, where utility-scale projects are being built. Furthermore, citing commercial-scale renewable energy, on the farm for farm use, can be extremely beneficial as demonstrated at Isbell Farms.

Scaling regenerative agriculture the RIPE Way includes direct compensation for clean energy, in part because of the high cost of installation and other policies, and market mechanisms are more appropriate for rewarding it fairly. Future iterations of our work could include consideration of direct compensation for clean energy, which delivers in the range of $5,000 to $18,000 per acre in public environmental benefits, after careful analysis of how to protect productive agricultural lands and farmers’ economic opportunities, as well as best use of various programs and market mechanisms. Check out our Research and Policy page for more information about the practices which we believe producers should be fairly compensated for, including clean energy.

It can be easy to disregard all of the people and processes involved in providing food for the masses. Especially if you don’t live in a rural community. Unless you are growing your own food or shopping at a farmer’s market every week, food can just be a product on a shelf at the grocery store. We trust that these stores are providing us with safe, ready-to-eat food at the most affordable price possible from producers who are reliable and ethical (if we even consider that part of the supply chain). In reality, these producers are arguably the most important part of the supply chain as the supply begins with them. As consumers, we want affordable food produced through sustainable and ethical means – the livelihood of the producer should be top of mind too. This is where RIPE’s work and the work of the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture comes in, each with the goal of compensating producers for the public benefits of their conservation practices. This is the key in providing healthy, affordable food for our ever-growing population through sustainable and ethical means, WHILE promoting soil health and natural resource security.