A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
“Nature is my tacit partner” : professional partnership in decision-making between Finnish regenerative farmers and nature
Authors: Sadeharju, Soja; Höyssä, Maria; Salonen, Arto O.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Agriculture and Human Values
Article number: 2
Volume: 43
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0889-048X
eISSN: 1572-8366
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10817-x
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10817-x
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/508257969
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
A growing body of research highlights the need for a socio-ecologically sustainable approach to all human activities, particularly those related to agri-food systems. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the relationship between humans and nature in the context of Regenerative Agriculture (RA) and Regenerative Farmers (RFs) and contribute to our knowledge of the transformational adaptation to social and environmental changes and processes among those who practice RA as their livelihood. This study employs a regenerative approach from a planetary perspective based on relational systems thinking. Using qualitative methodology, it explores the perceptions and experiences of 86 Finnish RFs regarding their decision-making processes and interactions with nature. The results indicate that nature plays a vital role in the decision-making of RFs, as they engage in a cooperative relationship characterized by observation and intuition. The primary contribution of this research is the development of the Regenerative Professional Partnership (RPP) framework, which encompasses three components: the connection and relationship between RFs and nature, the agency and roles of RFs and nature, and the interaction between RFs and nature. This holistic approach to decision-making has the potential to transform farming practices by making them more socio-economically sustainable.
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Funding information in the publication:
The research was funded by Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation (Grant No. 202300213, Pioneer farmers' transition towards Regenerative agriculture - intuition as a part of decision-making in adaptive management) and by the Strategic Research Council of Finland (Grant No. STN/2023/358763, Sufficiency solutions for a resilient, green, and just Finland).