In Agriculture and Human Values, Nova Scholar Hannah Gosnell and coauthors explore how relational values contribute to the goals of regenerative agriculture.
This article presents a systematic review of 104 peer-reviewed studies exploring how relational values (RVs)—such as care, identity, sense of place, and connections between human and nature—contribute to the goals of regenerative agriculture (RA). While agricultural innovations have boosted yields, current practices harm ecosystems and biodiversity. Authors find that RA literature often reflects RVs, especially when influenced by Indigenous knowledge and value pluralism. They argue that RA’s potential to transform agriculture on a larger scale depends more on embracing these relational values than on technical practices or outcomes alone. To support this shift, authors pose reflective questions to help RA advocates assess whether their efforts truly engage with relational approaches.
