Half of the world’s habitable land is currently used for agriculture. The continual expansion of land for agriculture is a leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss, 28,000 species are threatened by extinction on the IUCN Red List, and agriculture is listed as a threat for 24,000 of them. Current global food system is one of the largest and most vital systems on the planet Earth. However, most important system to our lives is flawed:
- Producing one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions.
- No. 1 cause for biodiversity loss.
- 80 % of the world’s hungry are directly involved in food production.
- 69 % of global water use, leading cause of water pollution issues.
Regenerative Agriculture offers solutions to tackle these challenges. The concept can be understood as a an agricultural system that is designed to ensure farmers with: soil health, food security, economic growth and climate resilience.* Some regenerative practices include**:
Gabe Brown, one of the early practitioners of Regenerative Agriculture, in TedTalk below, Brown shares his story and practical insights, which he encountered, when rebuilding his farm. He gives a clear overview and brakes down the main principles of the regenerative farming.
Brown integrate grazing and no-till systems, which incorporate a wide assortment of cash-crops, multi-species cover crops alongside with beef, lamb, hen and swine. This variety and integration has recovered the natural resources of the farm without the utilisation of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides. Brown argues that healthy soil prompts clean air, clean water, healthy plants, animals, and humans.
*Renature (2022) ‘What is regenrative agriculture?’ accessed February 24, 2022, https://www.renature.co/what-is- regenerative-agriculture/
**EIT Food (2022) “The Regenerative Agriculture Revolution” accessed February 24, 2022, https://www.eitfood.eu/projects/the-regenerative-agriculture-revolution-2020
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