Advancing Food as Medicine - Healing through Harvest (conference reflection)

By: Lynnette Miller

October 27, 2025

On October 21 & 22, I attended the Advancing Food as Medicine:  Healing Through Harvest Conference held at The Springs outside of Edmond, OK hosted by Think Regeneration.  Founder, Ryan Slabaugh and Denise Nicol have hosted conferences around the country bringing together Healthcare providers, Farmers, Consumers, Food Hubs, Researchers, and community leaders.  Focusing on building strong partnerships among the regenerative members of each community, the organization strives to improve the environment and make nutritious food more available for all.

Over 200 individuals attended the conference and twenty-three states were represented. We began at Indigo Acres Farm owned by the Marshalls outside of Edmund, OK.  Kevin and Robin Marshall talked about their healing journey connecting their health with the organically grown food on their farm.  In her 12 month journey, Robin was able to stop all 22 of her prescription medications and take control of her health.  Now Kevin and Robin grow for the Fresh RX OK program and teach other farmers how to grow healthy food for their communities.

The next day we met at The Springs event venue, Ryan introduced Dr Stephan van Vliet of Utah State University who believes the amazing is possible.   He shared his latest research on nutrient density and the potential connection between soil-plant-animal-and human health.  Dr van Vliet shared that by increasing plant diversity to at least 8-9 plants nutrient density increased significantly in the beef.  His human health part of the study just finished in October 2025 and he will be publishing the findings next year. 

Dr Jaclyn Albin, Dr. Casey Carr, Erin Martin and Dr Steven Chen talked out their Food as Medicine programs in their states.  Over 27 states have passed a bill as part of the Medicaid program where federally matched dollars are used.  Each program is a different length of time but all the programs provide a box of fresh vegetables, education, cooking classes and measured outcomes to empower the people they serve.

Our final speaker was Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, founder of the Ecdysis Foundation.   Dr. Lundgren shared the research findings from the 1000 Farms Initiative, an overview of the health of our food systems, the declining health of our farmers and some of the farmer’s stories.  He showed how with regenerative farming we can reverse our carbon emissions. He finished his talk with his vision for the future of the Ecdysis Foundation including Project Avalanche and Project Ignite.

After returning home from this conference, I have a hopeful view of our food and medical systems.   Here is what I learned:  Relationships are the key to the regenerative movement.  Pay the farmer or pay the doctor.   Diversity is the answer.  What gets measured, gets managed.  Celebrate Life!

By:  Lynnette Miller