For Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Tkach, the crisis facing American agriculture is personal. Years ago, facing a debilitating health crisis, he found that the path to his own recovery led not to a medicine cabinet but rather back to the earth. In his debut book, “The Farm Is Here,” released March 24, Tkach weaves his own story of transformation into a broader manifesto for a nation at a crossroads.
The book brings critical attention to the direct link between soil health and public health, leveraging both scientific research and Tkach's own health journey to highlight agriculture's role in addressing national health challenges.
Tkach argues that the fractures in the modern food system, from chronic illness to economic instability, share a common root: the degradation of our soil. He posits that we can no longer afford to view the environment and the economy as competing interests.
“Sustainability requires economic viability,” Tkach says. “In my new book ‘The Farm Is Here,' I make the case that regenerative organic agriculture achieves both. By building soil health and reducing input dependency, farmers simultaneously strengthen their environmental impact and financial future.
“When farmers adopt these practices, input costs decline, soil fertility increases, and resilience grows,” he continues. “With regenerative organic agriculture, environmental stewardship and farmer prosperity go hand in hand.”
The book arrives at a time when the American public is increasingly wary of the industrial food complex. Leveraging decades of rigorous scientific research from the Rodale Institute, Tkach illustrates that the biological health of a farm is the primary driver of the nutritional value of our food. He asserts that the disconnect between what we grow and how we feel is a dangerous illusion that must be shattered.
“We can no longer separate farming from health outcomes, and the conversation about agriculture has to shift,” he says. “In ‘The Farm Is Here,' I share my own health journey to illustrate what Rodale Institute research has proven for decades. The quality of our soil directly impacts the quality of our food and the health of our communities.”
Beyond the individual, Tkach addresses the systemic vulnerabilities exposed by recent global disruptions. From supply chain collapses to the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, he presents regenerative organic agriculture not as a niche lifestyle choice but rather as a critical infrastructure requirement for a stable society.
“The food system is only as resilient as the farming practices that feed it. Right now, we're seeing supply chain disruptions, volatile input costs and climate unpredictability hitting farms hard. In ‘The Farm Is Here,' I make the case that regenerative farming practices are the answer to those challenges,” Tkach says. “When farmers shift to diverse crop rotations, cover crops and soil-building practices, they're building a food system that's less dependent on volatile markets, more adaptable to climate extremes and more capable of delivering the nutrient-dense food consumers are demanding.”
Tkach emphasizes how the fates of public health, climate and community well-being are intertwined, and everyone has a role to play, presenting evidence-based guidance and actionable steps for individuals, institutions and policymakers to foster regeneration in daily life that can yield measurable, long-term benefits.
As former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario puts it, “‘The Farm Is Here' is an important book rooted in hope for our planet.”
“The Farm Is Here” is available now at all major book retailers. Learn more about the movement toward soil health at rodaleinstitute.org.
