What is regenerative agriculture?

 

Regenerative agriculture is a set of agricultural practices that focuses on listening to the land to work with nature; farming in a way that enhances biodiversity and soil organic matter.

It is estimated that there is only enough soil to support another 50-60 harvests; as much of the earths top soil has now been damaged or severely eroded. Many farming practices damage the soil and reduce biodiversity from practices like tilling and overuse of chemicals. Regenerative agriculture is term used to describe a method of farming that enhances soil organic matter working in tandem with the microbes in the soil. 

Often, we are told that it is eating specific types of food that is causing climate change; this however is incorrect. Farming has the power to heal the soil and produce much more nutritious high quality food when some of the methods currently used in intensive farming systems are switched for regenerative practices. 

Regenerative agriculture covers many different types of land management, from Agro-forestry to no till farming and regenerative grazing. Using these methods we can capture enough carbon in the soil to reverse climate change and provide food security for the worlds growing population.

The damage agricultural practices can cause on the land has been well documented. However, it is not solely agriculture that leads to desertification as deforestation of land also has a large part to play. Deforestation combined with poor land management creates the perfect storm for the erosion of soil and the destruction of the worlds biodiversity. 

We can see where this has taken place over and over in ancient civilizations who have ruined their soil and then their people have starved. A good example of this in the past 1000 years is the impact the Vikings had on Iceland, which, still to this day is classed as a desert. (Read more here).

Regenerative agriculture is known methods of using agriculture and farming to heal land that has been degraded, increase soil health and sequester carbon. These methods can take land that may look baron and turn it into lush forest.

I wanted to start my #soilsaturday series again every Saturday to create more content around this important topic and discuss issues like GMOs, soil erosion and how we can help. If you are interested remember to subscribe or follow on Instagram to stay in touch!