If we want to shift perspectives and drive broader adoption of regenerative ag, I think it’s worth asking: how does trust and knowledge actually move through this space?
Lately, I’ve been getting some real thoughtful feedback on my posts—some that they’ve been a bit technical, especially the ones digging into soil carbon modeling and hybrid neural-process models.
That’s fair—technical communication can miss the mark if it’s not grounded in the right context. But often, the underlying concern might be that a work aimed at scientists cannot potentially reach the grower. That’s where I see things differently. This concern could also be rooted in something I’ve heard more than once: the idea that there’s a disconnect—or even distrust—between farmers and scientists. I get where that comes from—but I don’t think that tells the whole story.
After spending around 8 years learning and teaching at three different Midwestern land-grant universities, I’ve come to see this differently—for two reasons:
One is the role of extension scientists. In my experience, they are often the first call a grower makes when coming across a real-world problem out in the field. And extension scientists don't work in isolation; they stay closely connected to the academic world, which includes those working on the more theoretical side. What truly distinguishes their work is translation. Extension scientists attend seminars and conferences and read papers, but they also know how to communicate that science to farmers in simple terms. This is the pipeline that keeps knowledge flowing and useful.
The other is the next generation of growers—many of whom are in classrooms right now. I’ve had the chance to teach students who’ll go home to farms that have been in their families for generations. And they’ll return with new tools, new questions, and new perspectives. If there’s a generational barrier to regenerative practice adoption, these students are often the ones who can break through it. They’re learning from the same scientists we in industry need to earn the trust of—and when they bring those ideas home, the real conversations start at the dinner table.
At Indigo, we’re doing some serious, exciting science—work that has to stand up to the demands of carbon markets, measurement frameworks, and regulatory review. But I’ve also seen that the gap between academic and industry science is still very real. Part of why I'd like to communicate with a wider range of scientists is to help bridge that—to create trust, understanding, and dialogue between these worlds.
I believe when we build that trust upstream, the ripple effects downstream—in practice, in adoption, in impact—are so much stronger.
Would love to hear how others see this—especially those working at the intersection of science, farming, and policy. #soilcarbon #regenerativeag
