(1st Place) Converting conventional cultivation: Identifying regenerative practices that maximize insect biodiversity

The current agricultural paradigm is a leading factor in the staggering global insect declines. Novel regenerative practices have been suggested to alleviate insect losses without decreasing crop yields. However, researchers still need to validate the impacts of these practices at the commercial field scale. To evaluate the effect of regenerative tenets on insect biodiversity, we used pitfall traps to assess epigeic insect abundance and biodiversity in three commercial soybean fields in Indiana. These fields represent a spectrum of management practices from primarily degenerative to highly regenerative. We used generalized linear models to assess differences in ant and ground beetle diversity and abundance. We then applied canonical correspondence analysis to determine which regenerative practices were associated with increased species richness and abundance. Beetle and ant abundance were highest in the most regenerative field, and crop diversity and cover crop use were the most influential factors in species abundance and diversity. Most farmers in our study area already regularly utilize cover crops. Extended crop rotations are less common, though, and represent an area where outreach and extension could improve outcomes for farmers and beneficial insects alike.