INITIATING CHANGE
Regenerative Agriculture
Soil degradation and desertification are urgent threats to agricultural productivity caused by modern farming practices and climate change.
According to the "4 per 1000 initiative," "Our capacity to feed 9.8 billion people in 2050 in a context of climate change will depend in particular on our ability to keep our soils alive." Living soil contains an abundance of organic matter. Modern farming practices such as tilling are removing organic matter from the soil, causing soil to erode, causing soil to loose water, and killing beneficial organisms that live in the soil. However, there is a solution, and it is regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture not only addresses soil health but also livestock management, food loss and waste, and the well being of farmers.
According to "Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Climate Change," a white paper released in 2014 by the Rodale Institute, "Regenerative organic agriculture for soil-carbon sequestration is tried and true: Humans have long farmed in that fashion, and there is nothing experimental about it. What is new is the scientific verification of regenerative agricultural practices."
The internet has a wealth of information on regenerative agriculture and its role in reducing greenhouse gases. Here are a few links to get you going:
- "4 per 1000 Initiative"
- Rodale Institute
- Regeneration International
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Climate Reality Project
- General Mills