Actor-network analysis of partners facilitating regenerative ranching practices in the US Northern Great Plains

• Published in: Rangelands Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 218 - 222
• Main Authors: Pape, Timothy, Meredith, Gwendŵr, Sandahl, David, Kabir, Md Faizul, Banerjee, Simanti, Allen, Craig, Dennis, Elliott, Stephenson, Mitchell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.08.2025
• Subjects: actor-network theory; food production; nongovernmental organizations; qualitative research; rangelands; regenerative agriculture; resiliency; stakeholders; sustainable agriculture; resiliency; actor-network theory; qualitative research; regenerative agriculture
• ISSN: 0190-0528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rala.2025.01.003

•Regenerative agriculture has been offered as an ecologically thoughtful means of food production, yet questions remain regarding how individuals in rural communities transition toward regenerative practices.•We studied dynamics related to the transition from traditional ranching to regenerative ranching by employing actor-network analysis on 24 semistructured interviews from ranchers in the Northern Great Plains region of the United States, who self-identify as implementing regenerative agricultural practices.•We found government and nongovernmental organization financial and technical programs are vital for effectuating regenerative practices on ranching operations, even though many programs are not directly oriented toward regenerative agriculture.•Understanding the processes and relationships facilitating regenerative ranching is important for policymakers and stakeholders engaged in managing rangelands resiliently and equitably.