Regenerative Agriculture
“What if I told you there was a relatively simple, cost-effective way to help feed the world, reduce pollution, pull carbon from the atmosphere, protect biodiversity, and make farmers more money? If this was true, you might assume that governments around the world would race to embrace it.
Well there is, and they aren’t. Not yet, anyway.”
Regenerative agriculture is rooted in Indigenous land stewardship practices and uses biological processes to enhance soil health as the foundation for farm and ranch productivity. There is considerable overlap (and important distinctions) between regenerative agriculture, permaculture, biodynamic farming, and organic agriculture; there is very little overlap between regenerative agriculture and chemical intensive agriculture as practiced throughout much of the world today. The difference is in how we treat soil.
Healthy soil contains billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that when provided the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and water – interact to create a mutually beneficial, symbiotic environment and build organic matter in soil. Well-managed, healthy soil ecosystems provide nutrients for plant and animal growth, store and cycle nutrients (including carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus), absorb excess water to prevent flooding, hold rainwater for use during dryer periods, and filter potential pollutants.
Viewing soil as a living ecosystem reflects a fundamental shift in agriculture as it has historically been practiced across much of North America since colonization. This shift began in earnest in 1996 with the discovery of glomalin, a sticky protein produced by root-dwelling fungi that effectively glues soil particles and organic matter together. These “glued” soil particles create soil aggregates that allow water to infiltrate and reduce erosion.
Glomalin not only stabilizes soil but is also the path by which nutrients move from beneficial fungi to plants. When left undisturbed, globulin also keeps carbon from escaping into the atmosphere. Plants draw carbon into soil through photosynthesis; healthy soil ecosystems keep it underground.
Fertile, rich, biologically active, healthy soils and nutrient-rich food are the ultimate goals of regenerative agriculture and any measure of success must evaluate both soil and food quality.
Many great resources cover the practice of regenerative agriculture. A leading practitioner, Gabe Brown (Dirt to Soil, 2018) , has provided a great synopsis of…
Guiding principles and practices:
·Limit disturbance – reduce or eliminate tilling and chemical (pesticide, herbicide, fungicide) inputs.
· Armor the soil surface – keep the soil surface covered throughout the year with forage, crops, cover crops and/or crop residues.
· Build diversity – rotate crops and use multi-species cover crop mixes; ecosystems are more resilient with a diversity of species above and below ground.
· Keep living roots in the soil – feed the organisms in the soil before, during and after a crop is harvested.
· Integrate animals – animals (especially grazing animals) are important for building fertility by providing manure and urine as they graze.
When these practices are followed, the results include:
More fertile soil
Increased productivity and lower operating costs
More nutritious food
Stored carbon
Improved water absorption and storage
Reduced erosion
Better water quality
Greater pest and disease resistance
Increased biodiversity