soil health and the harvest
Healthy soil is a foundation of human prosperity.
Sounds dramatic but it’s entirely true. Of all the food humans eat, over 95% comes from the soil. Without healthy soil, life as we know it changes. It is how plant and animal biodiversity survives + flourishes, essential waters flow, and our food maintains essential nutrients.
Yet today, the vast majority of U.S. soil is severely degraded. Our farmland is losing 5.6 tons of topsoil per acre each year, 10x faster than it is currently being replenished. Rapid soil erosion is costing an estimated $44 billion annually, significantly threatening economic and ecological resilience.
“Regenerative Agriculture,” according to Regeneration International, is defined as farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity, resulting in carbon drawdown and improvement of the water cycle.
the origins of regenerative agriculture
Diverse farming systems are central to the Regenerative Agriculture movement – but the concept is far from new.
For hundreds of years, Indigenous Americans planted more than one vegetable varietal together in a practice known as intercropping. Intercropping is based on benefits in which each plant complements one another and improves durability and growth.
A combination of corn, beans, and squash, known as the ‘Three Sisters,’ were cultivated extensively by the Iroquois in the Northeast. The corn provides a base for the beans to grow on, which in turn helps the corn grow by adding nitrogen to the soil. At the same time, the squash vines act as “living mulch,” preventing weed growth while maintaining soil moisture.
Successful intercropping relies on complimentary crops, minimally competing for resources. When done correctly, it improves crop productivity, stability, and overall soil health. Intercropping also manages pests naturally, reducing weeds, insects, and diseases. The principles of intercropping improve soil health + nutrient density, sequester carbon, and bolster biodiversity year-round.
mono-agriculture: the issues in efficiency
The opposite of intercropping is mono agriculture, which is the practice of mass producing one crop.
This became popularized during the industrial revolution, scaling food production by using farm machinery. Modern U.S. agriculture has been described as “the most efficient in the world, at least in terms of production costs to profit.” The public health and ecological costs of industrialization, however, are not yet fully understood.
The dependency on pesticides and fertilizers common in conventional monocultures is a major known contributor to biodiversity loss, groundwater pollution, global warming, ozone depletion and potential depletion of oxygen in the oceans.
Also, since soil health is intrinsic to nutrient density, mono-agriculturally grown crops can have a fraction of the nutrients of their healthfully grown-in-good-soil counterparts. This means that although a non-organic mono-crop vegetable might be larger in size and therefore calories, the nutrient density (which is what makes us full) might be lower such that you consume more calories but still don’t feel satisfied - and therefore, consume more.
carbon + the magic of soil sequestration
Apart from food production, healthy soil plays a large part in the decarbonization of the planet, as well.
Plants and soils together currently absorb an estimated 30 percent of the CO2 emitted by human activities each year.
Soils are made, in part, of broken-down plants. Soil contains a lot of carbon which plants took in from the atmosphere while they were alive. If not for soil, this carbon would return to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas causing climate change. Converting natural ecosystems like forests and grasslands to farmland disturbs soil structure, releasing much of that stored carbon and contributing to climate change.
The best news: we don't have to wait for a tech miracle. Regenerative organic agriculture can substantially mitigate climate change now. Improved management of agricultural land with known, low-cost practices has the potential to both reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and act as a direct carbon drawdown solution.
how to support more regenerative practices
We’re glad you asked! Here are four pretty painless ways:
1. Support Advocates of Regenerative Farming
Consumers have the capacity to create lasting change in our food systems (and climate) with how you choose to spend your money. By supporting organizations who invest in regenerative farming, you’re choosing to support the type of food systems you want to be a part of.
2. Donate to Regenerative Farming Non-Profits and Research Organizations
There are so many incredible nonprofits and organizations working to improve education, access, research, and funding for regenerative farming practices all over the world. Here are a few incredible organizations fighting for regenerative farming:
3. Purchase Regenerative Clothing (IF you buy new clothes at all)
More than just our food can be grown regeneratively. Support makers of regeneratively produced fibers. The next time you go to buy a new piece of clothing, notice which textiles were used to make it. Excellent examples of regenerative textiles include hemp, linen, organic cotton, and climate-beneficial wool.
And, once you’re done with your clothing, be sure to recycle the textiles responsibly. Donating is a whole ‘nother article.
4. Shop Locally and Support Regenerative Farmers in Your Area
One of the best ways to become more involved in your food system is to support local farmers.
Supporting your local regenerative farmers is also a great way to help protect and conserve local landscapes. Our current system does not make it easy or lucrative for small farmers to farm regeneratively, which is why continued support matters more than most may realize. Check out the local Regenerative Farm CSA’s near you. Also check out this handy Regen Farm interactive map.
So, there you have it—you’ve got a new understanding of the importance of soil, supporting regenerative food systems and how it contributes to the health of our bodies and the planet in a meaningful, impactful way.
