Can regenerative farming help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Geography professor talks about benefits of protecting soil
WVXU turned to a University of Cincinnati professor to discuss ways that regenerative agriculture is helping to protect soil and reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
WVXU's Cincinnati Edition spoke to UC College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Professor-Educator Teri Jacobs, undergraduate director of environmental studies, about how farming practices can make a difference in reducing carbon emissions.
“We're losing our soil faster than it's being replenished. If that keeps going, we won't have soil fertility. I'm sure everyone remembers the Dust Bowl,” Jacobs told WVXU host Lucy May
Jacobs said regenerative agriculture alone won't solve the climate crisis, but it will play a role in addressing the problem.
“What we need is not just stopping emissions but drawing excess carbon out of the amtospher into our plant life and soils. Soils are the greatest terrestrial sink to store carbon on the planet,” she said.
Jacobs was joined by Jon Branstrator, owner of the fifth-generation Branstrator Farm in Clarksville, Ohio.
Jacobs said he adopted practices such as using cover crops and doing no-till planting recommended by the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District.
“Wow, my soil is getting spongier. My water is infiltrating. I like it,” Branstrator said. “I don't love all the hours I spend tilling, so if I could do no-till planting, that frees up a lot of time so I can enjoy kayaking and other endeavors.”
Listen to WVXU's Cincinnati Edition.
Featured image at top: WVXU's Cincinnati Edition examined practices related to regenerative farming as a way to address excess greenhouse gases. Photo/iStockPhoto
Assistant Professor-Educator Teri Jacobs studies conservation biogeography, ecology and environmental science in UC's College of Arts and Sciences. Photo/Michael Miller
Related Stories
UC study: How recession, pandemic hit Cincinnati restaurants
May 7, 2026
A University of Cincinnati geography student analyzed 15 years of licenses to show how recession and pandemic shaped restaurant openings and closures across Cincinnati’s neighborhoods.
How a SCOTUS decision could impact a Cincinnati ban
May 6, 2026
Ryan Thoreson, associate professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, spoke to WVXU's Cincinnati Edition about a Cincinnati ban on conversion therapy in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
What can oral health tell us about kidney health?
May 6, 2026
A recent article published in BMC Nephrology points to a connection between oral health and kidney health, citing evidence analyzed by University of Cincinnati College of Medicine researchers. The article shows an association between oral diseases and chronic kidney disease. Priyanka Gudsoorkar, assistant professor-educator in the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, recently appeared on Cincinnati Edition on 91.7 WVXU News, to discuss the latest findings.