Mulgowie Farming Company: Regenerative Agriculture Case Study

January 30, 2026

Mulgowie Farming Company conducted regenerative agriculture trials in Queensland, Australia, delivered a more nutritious product, as we as reduced input costs and increased yields.

"Not only did we see reduced costs in the growing process and increased yields, we also discovered our beans were more nutritious – we were growing food as medicine."

“Our Mulgowie Green Beans had significantly lower levels of nitrate nitrogen leading to improved shelf life, quality and flavour, delighting our customers.”

Read the full interview with Andrew Johanson, Sustainability and Agronomy Manager, Mulgowie Farming Company:

What motivated you to explore regenerative agriculture?

Studying agronomy, I always had an interest in the learnings of Dr Arden Andersen and his work in sustainable agriculture and the connections between soil and plant balance. In 1990s, not long after starting with Mulgowie, we introduced Integrated Pest Management systems, aiding in the creation of Australia's first commercial beneficial insects, such as the Trichogramma wasp. This significantly reduced the need for insecticides. When I got an opportunity to join a tour learning from Steve Groff, operated by Bayer, it really cemented my thinking that regenerative agriculture was a smart investment and would provide market advantages. Many of the principles are now being demanded by industry and across the supply chain.

Tell us about the key difference.

Conventional horticulture requires a lot of soil disturbance. We rip the soil, break down the soil structure and rotary hoe. This damages soil life and water infiltration and adds significant costs including fuel and tractor hours. Regenerative farming minimises soil disturbance. Less tillage means more microbiology and worms. The worms till the soil for us. We’re reducing water usage, reducing irrigation loss and reducing run off into our rivers and increasing soil carbon. For each 1% of carbon in your soil, it can hold an extra 150,000 litres more water per hectare. Between harvests we use a manure compost and a landform cover crop to rebuild soil health, then if dry enough, we rotate grazing stock through the paddocks to clear the cover crop and with minimal soil disturbance and return nutrients to the soil through their manure.

Is water savings the only benefit?

We have achieved significant cost savings by improving soil health and reducing inputs. For example, minimal tillage has reduced tractor hours, labour, and fuel consumption by up to 43% over three years. Synthetic fertiliser use dropped by about 40%, and nitrogen uptake improved through better nutrient strategies. These changes lowered costs while enhancing crop quality and yield—proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Tell us about your trials

Using Buckwheat as the cover crop we trialled a Zero Till planting method to grow Sweetcorn. We discovered corn planted directly into the Buckwheat produced an 11% higher yield compared to standard corn planted adjacent to it.

Then you planted Green Beans into the Mulched Sweetcorn Stubble and discovered nutrition benefits.

This is when it got exciting. Not only did we see reduced costs in the growing process and increased yields, we also discovered our beans were more nutritious – we were growing food as medicine. Our Mulgowie Green Beans had significantly lower levels of nitrate nitrogen leading to improved shelf life, quality and flavour, delighting our customers. In summary: Mulgowie’s Motto is Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy People.

Do you have any advice for others ready to adopt regenerative agriculture techniques?

The cultural shift came from demonstrating tangible benefits — better yields, lower costs, and healthier soils—which built confidence and buy-in across the team. Partner with experts and embrace continuous learning; regenerative agriculture is a journey, not a destination.

Mulgowie Farming Company Sustainability Case Study