As soil becomes compacted and stripped of organic matter, it loses its ability to absorb water. And when water can’t soak in, it runs off—leading to erosion, flooding, and long-term drought conditions.
Take a moment to imagine the last time you stood outside after a long rain. The way the air smelled fresh, the way the earth seemed to drink it in. That simple act—the land absorbing water—is the heartbeat of life on this planet.
But what if the soil beneath your feet couldn’t soak it up? What if, instead of nourishing the earth, the rain simply ran off—carrying precious topsoil with it?
Each year, industrial farming practices contribute to the loss of an estimated 24 billion tons of topsoil globally. As soil becomes compacted and stripped of organic matter, it loses its ability to absorb water. And when water can’t soak in, it runs off—leading to erosion, flooding, and long-term drought conditions.
Nature's Perfect System
Water is always moving: falling as rain, filtering into the ground, rising back to the sky through evaporation, and returning again. It’s a beautifully balanced system. But the health of our soil determines how well that cycle works.
Healthy soil, rich in organic matter, acts like a sponge—storing up to 1.5 million gallons of water per acre, enough to fill nearly 23 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It filters and releases that water slowly, supporting plants, replenishing groundwater, and reducing the risk of both floods and droughts.
But with degraded soil, rainfall isn’t absorbed. It’s lost. That’s not just a climate issue—it’s a supply chain issue, a product quality issue, and a long-term risk to food production.
Regenerative Agriculture is Part of the Solution
Regenerative agriculture offers a way forward. Practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and rotational grazing rebuild soil structure and increase organic matter. In just 5–10 years, farms using regenerative methods can increase soil organic matter by 0.5% to 1.5%, making it far more water-retentive and drought-resistant.
Each 1% increase in soil organic matter allows an acre of soil to hold an additional 20,000 gallons of water. That can reduce agricultural water demand by up to 35%—critical as water scarcity becomes more widespread.
Regenerative farms have also shown to be up to 78% more resilient during drought conditions, and can sequester 1–3 tons of carbon per acre annually, helping to mitigate climate change while producing stronger, more nutrient-dense crops.
Why it Matters to Our Work — and Yours
At FedUp Foods, we rely on healthy soil to grow the ingredients that go into our beverages—from regenerative organic cold brew coffee to functional kombuchas and sodas. We’ve seen firsthand how soil health affects quality, consistency, and resilience across our supply chain.
You are also essential to this work. Supporting regenerative agriculture isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a smart investment in product integrity, long-term sourcing stability, and meeting rising consumer demand for transparency and sustainability.
Together, we have an opportunity to build a stronger, more reliable food system—starting with the ground beneath our feet.
SOURCES
Global Topsoil Loss Due to Industrial Farming
Source: Earth.Org
Water Storage Capacity of Healthy Soil
Source: Soil Association
Impact of Increased Soil Organic Matter on Water Retention
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Resilience of Regenerative Farms During Drought
Source: Regenerative Food Systems Investment
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Regenerative Agriculture
Source: Climate & Capital Media
Global Economic Value of Soil Water RetentionSource: INOMICS
