Rice, Water, and the Patience of Regeneration

“Organic is the floor. It’s not the ceiling.”

— Bryce Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms

In this episode of Journey To Regeneration, Brita and Bryce Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms offer a rare, grounded look at what regeneration means when practiced over generations. At Lundberg Family Farms, regenerative organic rice farming builds on decades of organic practices—returning rice straw to the soil, growing cover crops, and using water instead of chemicals to manage weeds. These methods improve soil health, reduce methane emissions, and recreate vital wetland habitat for hundreds of species. But regeneration as they discuss it is not only ecological. Through Regenerative Organic Certification, Lundberg formally integrates social fairness and labor standards into its farming model, reinforcing the idea that healthy food systems depend on healthy people. By translating these principles onto packaging and into everyday rice products, the company aims to reconnect consumers with how rice is grown—and why it matters. The result is a compelling case for taking the long view in agriculture and business alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Rice Is a Plant—and How It’s Grown Matters
  Lundberg emphasizes reconnecting consumers to rice as a living crop shaped by soil, water, and farming practices—not just a dry pantry staple.

• Organic Is the Floor, Not the Ceiling
  USDA organic sets a baseline, but regenerative organic farming goes further by requiring active soil building, social fairness, and ecosystem care.

• Regenerative Rice Supports Biodiversity at Scale
  Flooded winter fields recreate lost wetlands, supporting more than 230 species along the Pacific Flyway.

• Regenerative Practices Reduce Climate Impact
  Drying fields mid-season not only manages weeds but also reduces methane emissions by nearly 50 percent.

• Social Fairness Is Part of Regenerative Agriculture
  Regenerative Organic Certification audits labor practices, wages, benefits, and working conditions—not just farming inputs.

• Thinking Generationally Enables Regeneration
  As a fourth-generation family farm, Lundberg takes the long view—leaving land, soil, and community better for the next generation.

Listen to the full episode here:

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The regenerative business practices and sustainability innovations highlighted in this week’s Regenerative Insights directly tackle the critical issues of corporate responsibility explored in my recent book explored in my recent book, The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profit and Socializes Cost.