Given the rising occurrence of extreme weather events and escalating social unrest worldwide, it’s difficult to dismiss the existential cautions that have echoed for decades. We clearly can’t continue to do what we are doing. To establish a more sustainable future, it is essential we examine where we are going wrong and identify the low hanging fruit that can lead us to meaningful change.
Agriculture, which according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) accounts for 23 per cent of Greenhouse gases, presents one possible opportunity. A growing number of farmers, consumers and regenerative advocates, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been presenting solutions to address the social, economic and environmental problems linked with the current model of industrial agribusiness. From soil degradation and biodiversity loss, to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the prevailing system is damaging to our ecosystems and rural way of life.
Agribusiness has diminished competition, has influence over policy decisions, and research funding. It advocates for monoculture crops, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and chemical inputs. Putting a priority on high yields, with cosmetic standards imposed by retailers, often leads to overproduction and waste.
Bigger is not necessarily better. Agribusiness has far reaching social impacts, negatively affecting family farms, communities and society at large. The high cost of resources to operate on such a huge scale and the risks that come with it are putting enormous pressure on farmers and their communities. Debt levels and suicides are rising at an alarming level. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 225 million farmers around the world suffer from mental-health issues.
In contrast, regenerative agriculture offers a holistic approach, which uses the power of nature and focuses on restoring ecosystem health with practices prioritizing soil quality, that ultimately sequesters more carbon, minimal tilling, crop rotations, livestock grazing and no- or low-chemical inputs. It simultaneously addresses societal needs including nutritional quality, food security, environmental sustainability and consolidation of family farms.
"Regenerative agriculture is something that people often don't think about as being a means of fighting climate change, or cleaning up the environment," said Brian Lanoil, professor of microbiology at the University of Alberta. "It would be beneficial to Canadian society as a whole to start thinking about farms not just as ways of producing food, but also as ways of helping us to fight climate change."
To bring this global issue to a local scale, individuals can play a significant role. They can choose to purchase from farmers and retailers who prioritize sustainable and ethical farming and raise awareness among friends, family and policy makers about the benefits of regenerative agriculture and how it can help to catalyze positive and sustainable change.
John Wilson is a director of Greys for Green in New Tecumseth. He believes that a greater understanding and appreciation of nature is what’s needed to inspire everyone to adapt a more sustainable lifestyle. Contact Greys for Green at [email protected] or follow them on social media.
