California has officially established a definition for regenerative agriculture.

California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross explained that the introduction of a unified definition is necessary to align state policy and the distribution of grants across various departments. The developed system is outcome-oriented and includes eight key criteria that contribute to the improvement of soil health. Specialists note that high-quality soil retains soil moisture better during dry periods and sequesters carbon more effectively.

An important feature of the California approach is the absence of a rigid list of mandatory practices. Instead of banning specific technologies, the document focuses on achieving measurable indicators. According to experts, this gives farmers the freedom to choose tools to adapt their farms to the conditions of a specific ecosystem. Among the methods that can facilitate the transition to regenerative principles are the use of cover crops and maintaining the presence of living roots in the soil year-round.

The process of adopting the definition was accompanied by two years of public discussion. The main conflict of interest arose between proponents of organic farming, who demanded a complete ban on synthetic pesticides, and representatives of traditional agribusiness, who insisted on system flexibility. The final document does not provide for an immediate ban on synthetic substances, but it creates conditions for a gradual reduction in dependence on them.

The Maples Farm demonstration farm in Yolo County, managed by the non-profit organization Center for Land-Based Learning, is actively studying the practical application of these principles. The organization's director, Mary Kimball, characterizes regeneration as a continuous process of improving soil structure, which can take from several years to decades. Professor Amélie Gaudin of the University of California, Davis, emphasizes that having transparent criteria is crucial for obtaining the state funding and technical support that farmers need when transitioning to new methods. Experts agree that a systemic approach and state assistance are mandatory conditions for the large-scale implementation of ecologically oriented practices.