Is Your Food Really Regenerative?
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Find out what it truly means—from the people working to rebuild soil, food, and community.
In today’s marketplace, the word regenerative is turning up everywhere—from cereal boxes to snack bars. But what does it actually mean? Is it just another label, or does it signal real change in how our food is grown?
In the debut episode of The Jill Clapperton Podcast (formerly Tasting Terroir), soil scientist Dr. Jill Clapperton invites you to go beyond the marketing claims and get closer to the truth. Through in-depth conversation and powerful clips from her long-time network of farmers and researchers, Jill explores what regenerative agriculture looks like in the real world—and why it’s far more than a checklist or certification.
What Regeneration Really Means—From the Ground Up
For Dr. Jill Clapperton, regenerative agriculture is not about returning to some past ideal. It’s about moving forward—evolving our systems to be more resilient, more adaptive, and more deeply connected to the health of the land and the people who depend on it.
That evolution starts with the soil. But it doesn’t stop there.
Core Principles From This Episode
Diversity and Community
Regeneration thrives on diversity—not only in biological systems, but in human relationships. In the episode, you’ll hear how real regenerative practices bring life back to the soil and help reweave the fabric of local communities.
Transparency and Individual Paths
There’s no one-size-fits-all recipe. Every farmer, every researcher, every region must find its own path. But being transparent—about what’s working, what’s not, and what’s still being explored—is key to building a shared future that’s grounded in honesty and learning.
Economic and Environmental Rebalancing
Regenerative agriculture isn’t just about soil biology. It’s about reducing dependency on harmful inputs, supporting local economies, and helping farms become more self-sustaining—financially and ecologically.
🔗 Featured Voices
Meet the farmers, ranchers, authors, and innovators who share what regenerative means through their lived experience:
DeAnna Lozensky (North Dakota, USA) – Farmer and owner of Guardian Grains, offering nutrient-rich flour products.
Derek & Tannis Axten (Saskatchewan, Canada) – Regenerative grain farmers and founders of Axten Farms, producers of diverse, soil-friendly flours.
Clint Brauer (Kansas, USA) – Farmer and founder of Greenfield Robotics, advancing chemical-free farming with robotic weeding.
Craig Cameron (Alberta, Canada) – Rancher and owner of Peony Farms, raising grassfed Piedmontese beef on regenerative pastures.
Dave Montgomery & Anne Biklé (USA) – Scientists and authors of What Your Food Ate, exploring the deep link between soil health and human health.
Derek Azevedo (California, USA) – Farmer and EVP at Bowles Farming Company, a large-scale, regenerative-focused operation growing a wide range of fresh produce.
Gail Fuller (Kansas, USA) – Regenerative pioneer and founder of Circle 7 Fuller Farms & The Fuller Field School, offering food and hands-on education for consumers and farmers alike.
Carlton “Shorty” Fensky (Alberta, Canada) – Farmer and co-owner of C. Fensky Farms, producing regenerative grains and meats; active on LinkedIn.
Is Your Food Really Regenerative? A More Honest Conversation Around Regenerative
This episode doesn’t offer a single definition of regenerative agriculture—because there isn’t one. Instead, it brings you voices from the front lines: people who are working, observing, adapting, and trying to grow food in ways that actually make things better.
If you’ve ever wondered what regenerative really means—or whether your food truly reflects those values—this is where to begin.
Take Action!
After hearing from so many thoughtful farmers who are making real change in how food is grown, wouldn’t it be great to support them directly? You can.
Visit our free resource page at rhizoterra.com/betterfood to explore the brands and online stores of the farmers featured in this episode. Taste the difference for yourself—and be part of the movement for better soil, better food, and stronger communities.
Have a question you’d like Dr. Jill to answer on a future episode? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hello@jillclapperton.com.
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