How Beans and Regenerative Farming Methods Grow Together

Wambui Mbichi is a second-year Ph.D. agricultural research student in Kenya focusing on plant genetics and molecular biology. “My research is on beans, which are known as a superfood because they’re easy to grow and have fewer requirements,” she explains. “They are also good for the soil because they fix nitrogen. My research focuses on improving the cooking quality of beans.”

Mbichi’s research focuses on cooking quality while supporting sustainable agriculture and regenerative farming methods by enhancing beans’ role in improving soil health and reducing resource use.

“Some bean varieties can take a very long time to cook. People, particularly in rural areas often rely on firewood, charcoal, and similar fuel sources for cooking. We can support farmers and consumers by introducing bean varieties that cook more quickly. This would help reduce fuel consumption and, more importantly, alleviate some of the burden on women and girls, who are typically responsible for cooking in rural communities. With less time spent on cooking, they could focus more on their studies and other activities. I’m not sure how this compares to the situation in the U.S., but it’s a significant factor in these communities.”

Mbichi’s interest in agriculture stemmed from her childhood experiences as a self-described picky eater. However, her family moved to the Kenyan city of Nanyuki, a more rural area, and her exposure to malnourished children shifted her perspective on food and agriculture.

“Meeting another 10-year-old my age and seeing a clear difference in size and developmental stage changed me. I started taking agricultural courses and paid more attention to the subject. I became fascinated to the point where I could recite the scientific names of various plant and livestock breeds. It was a childlike curiosity—absorbing and retaining all this information simply because it intrigued me. Additionally, my parents practiced sustainable farming, and I often helped out. We grew crops like sweet potatoes for our use, and I found myself naturally drawn to those experiences.”

Beans and Regenerative Farming Methods

Mbichi explains that beans are key to regenerative farming and sustainable agriculture, and their cooking and digestive challenges stem from how they’re stored.

“Some of the reasons why beans are hard to cook and cause those flatulence properties is due to the storage conditions,” she says. “Another important factor is the time it takes for beans to dry. In farming communities, beans are typically grown during specific seasons. For example, where I am in Kenya, we have two growing seasons aligned with the rainy periods. Farmers produce enough beans during these seasons to sustain them until the next planting cycle.

“Beans play a crucial role in regenerative farming techniques and agriculture due to their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, one of the most important nutrients for plant growth. Nitrogen is essential for chlorophyll production, which drives photosynthesis,” says the founder and host of Farm to Table Podcast KE, a platform that spotlights innovations within Kenyan food systems and neighboring countries.  podcast

She continues, “This unique trait of beans and other legumes makes them an ideal crop for sustainable farming systems. For instance, regenerative agriculture encourages growing multiple crops together. In Kenya, maize is a staple crop, but it depletes significant amounts of nitrogen from the soil. Intercropping maize with beans helps alleviate the need for artificial nitrogen fertilizers because beans naturally replenish nitrogen levels. This reduces the burden on farmers while maintaining soil fertility.

“Many bean varieties spread across the land, climbing or covering large areas. This characteristic supports another critical principle of regenerative agriculture: always covering the soil. The spreading nature of beans helps retain soil moisture, and as the plants decompose, they create mulch that adds organic matter to the soil. This dual benefit of nitrogen fixation and soil coverage underscores why beans are essential to regenerative farming practices.”

Soil is King

Mbichi echoes the key principles of the regenerative farming methods that others have previously mentioned, such as minimal soil disturbance, crop biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. However, she shares some statistics from other studies highlighting these practices’ tangible impacts.

“The first benefit is carbon sequestration, where carbon is stored in the soil. Studies have shown that regenerative farming techniques and practices can sequester three to six metric tons of CO2 per acre annually, depending on soil type, climate, and management practices. For example, reduced soil disturbance allows more carbon to be stored in the soil, which helps mitigate global warming by keeping carbon out of the atmosphere.”

Furthermore, she says, “Another advantage is improving the soil’s nutrient content. Research indicates that regenerative farming techniques can increase soil organic matter by an average of 3% over five years, compared to just 0.5% with conventional agriculture. This is due to practices like incorporating organic matter, which breaks down more slowly, releasing minerals like nitrogen over time. In contrast, inorganic fertilizers are absorbed quickly but lack long-term benefits.

“Additionally, crops grown on regenerative farms tend to be more nutritious, containing up to 20% more minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium and up to 60% more antioxidants than conventionally grown crops. This is because healthier soils, enriched by regenerative methods, make more micronutrients available for plants to absorb. Over time, this leads to better yields, with some studies reporting a 10–15% increase in productivity.”

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Solutions Are Still Needed

Mbichi states there are many challenges to regenerative farming methods, explicitly obtaining education. “Access to information remains a significant barrier,” she says. “There aren’t enough educational resources or training available, especially in rural areas where smallholder farmers face additional challenges. Many of them lack access to the internet or books, and they often struggle to find time to attend classes or engage in learning opportunities. So, access to information is a significant challenge.”

Another issue is the extended returns on investment that come with regenerative agriculture. “This practice relies on long-term benefits, which means it takes time to see the full impact. For farmers in poor rural communities who rely on farming for subsistence and to support their families, it can be difficult to commit to this approach when they need immediate results to survive and educate their children. Scaling regenerative agriculture is also challenging, as it requires significant resources and changes in farming systems, which can take time to implement on a larger scale.”

She does offer a solution. “There is a book called ‘My Food is African‘ by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, which provides a comprehensive overview of regenerative agriculture. It examines the practice from multiple perspectives, including farming, nutrition, and a holistic view of its benefits. I found the book particularly useful because of its simple and accessible format, making it easy to follow. I believe even young people and children could benefit from it, as it introduces these concepts in a far more approachable way than a scientific journal. Teaching children about regenerative agriculture from a young age is essential, and this book is an excellent resource.”

Mbichi says another invaluable source of knowledge is speaking directly with farmers, especially older ones. “They possess a wealth of experience and insights often overlooked in modern interventions. Too often, solutions are imposed without listening to their perspectives, despite their deep understanding of the land and agricultural practices. Engaging with them has been incredibly informative, as their knowledge often surpasses what we assume they know. For me, they are a vital resource for learning about the field.”