A recent review paper from Ecosystem Services found that regenerative organic agriculture (ROAg) has significant positive effects on soil health. Researchers established that 64% of the soil ecosystem services measured in their selected studies showed positive effects from common regenerative organic practices. The paper covered 24 studies that examined practices and principles aligned with Rodale Institute and the Regenerative Organic Alliance definition of ROAg, including minimum soil disturbance, crop rotation, cover cropping and use of organic fertilizers like manure and compost. 

The review was drawn from peer-reviewed studies sourced between 2008 and 2024 that were mostly conducted in Europe, North and South America, with a handful in Africa and Asia. Researchers extracted data across 12 soil-related ecosystem services and 20 soil health indicators. They then combined results using a vote-count approach, tallying how many studies showed positive, neutral, or negative outcomes, and then used those counts to calculate an overall impact score that indicated whether the practices generally helped, harmed, or had no effect on soil health and ecosystem services. Overall, regenerative organic systems demonstrated increased soil organic carbon by 22%, total soil nitrogen by 28%, and soil microbial biomass carbon by 133%, compared to conventional agriculture. 

Results from this study reinforce the value that organic production places on building and maintaining soil health. The clear benefits of ROAg presented underscore the importance of recognizing organic practices as foundational to sustainable food and resilient farms.