Eminent soil scientist Rattan Lal has been appointed the Global Ambassador of regenagri, the world’s foremost regenerative agriculture standard. The recognition honours Lal’s decades-long contributions to the fields of soil science and regenerative agriculture.
As the Global Ambassador of regenagri, Lal will continue to promote regenerative agriculture practices and its benefits—to the soil, to nature, and to the livelihoods of farming communities. Additionally, he will promote the regenagri initiative and participate in discussions on regenagri’s efforts in advancing regenerative agriculture. He will also guide the regenagri team on its standards-development program.
“Regenagri stands for innovative farming systems, which transform agroecosystems into a part of the solution to restore degraded soils, mitigate climate change, strengthen biodiversity, improve the environment and advance Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations while producing safe, healthy, accessible and nutritious food for all,” said Professor Rattan Lal.
Lal is a Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science and Director of the Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration (Lal Carbon Center) at The Ohio State University. Previously, he has also served as the President of the International Union of Soil Sciences, and of the Soil Science Society of America.
A recipient of the World Food Prize (2020), Japan Prize (2019), Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity (2024), World Agriculture Prize (2018), M.S. Swaminathan Award (2009) and the Borlaug Award (2005), Lal is widely recognized as a pioneer in soil-centric agricultural management to improve food security globally, and in developing climate-resilient agriculture through soil carbon sequestration, sustainable intensification, enhancing use-efficiency of agroecosystems, sustainable management of soils, and soil health.
“We’re thrilled to have Professor Rattan Lal join us as regenagri’s global ambassador. At a time when restoring soil health on a global scale is more pressing than ever, Prof Lal’s wealth of scientific knowledge will be key to further drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture through regenagri’s robust standards,” said Franco Costantini, CEO, regenagri.
