Videos

Nicole Masters – The Agroecologist

“We’re only just scratching the surface”: Nicole Masters on what healthy soils really look like

What if everything you thought was ‘normal’ about your landscape… wasn’t?

In this field-based session, agroecologist Nicole Masters invites us to consider what healthy soils might look like, and what’s possible when land is managed with biology in mind. She explores the changes that have occurred in landscapes since European settlement, how today’s production challenges relate to degraded soils, and the role of soil biology and management in restoring function, resilience and profit.

Moving between two properties, one at the beginning of a regenerative journey, the other with decades of practice, Nicole examines the factors that sit beneath common farm challenges such as weed pressure, drought stress, nutrient inefficiency and low margins. Through on-farm examples, observations and practical demonstrations, she outlines how understanding soil biology can contribute to productivity and profitability, and how these approaches might support the future of Australian agriculture.

We’ve trained our eye to think that some of these conditions are normal — they’re not.

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Hear Nicole share what’s possible with regenerative agriculture — and why more farmers are putting healthy soil first.

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About Nicole Masters

Nicole Masters is an agroecologist, educator and author whose work focuses on regenerative agriculture and soil health.

Originally from New Zealand, Nicole has spent more than two decades working with farmers, graziers, corporates and organisations across Australasia and North America. Her work centres on building resilient farming systems by improving soil function, plant health and business outcomes.

Nicole has experience in translating ecological and biological concepts into practical strategies for farmers to use on the ground. She is also the author of the book For the Love of Soil and has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving soil literacy within agricultural communities.

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Where to find Nicole’s work

  1. Integrity Soils
    Nicole is the founder and director of Integrity Soils, a globally active consultancy supporting land stewards to regenerate their soils and landscapes. Integrity Soils provides coaching, training, diagnostics, and consulting services, working with everyone from individual farmers to multinational agribusinesses.
    🔗 integritysoils.co.nz

  2. CREATE (Coaching Regenerative Experts in Agriculture for Tomorrow)
    The CREATE program is a flagship offering from Integrity Soils, designed to train and mentor the next generation of regenerative agriculture coaches. It’s a 12-month immersive experience combining online learning, in-field training, mentorship, and peer learning. Graduates go on to become skilled consultants, educators, and soil health advisors in their own right.
    🔗 CREATE program

  3. Soilmentor (partner and ambassador)
    Nicole collaborated on the development of Soilmentor, an app that helps land managers track soil and plant health using simple visual tests. She co-designed the “Regenerative Indicators” framework used in the app, which is widely adopted in Australia through programs like Soils for Life’s Soilmentor initiative.
    🔗 Soilmentor Initiative – Soils for Life

  4. Author of For the Love of Soil
    Nicole’s 2019 book For the Love of Soil is a cornerstone resource in the regenerative farming movement. Blending personal stories with practical tools and ecological insights, it offers a roadmap for land stewards looking to transition away from extractive agriculture.
    🔗 Book page

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