Activity 3.2 – Regenerative Agriculture Part 1.

 1.0 Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture

1.1 

regenerative agriculture is setting the future up for success. After watching the first video part one (2020), it helped explain that regenerative agriculture is a necessity. It says that agriculture is the basis for civilization growth. Another one of the specialists speaking in this first video, mentions how agriculture can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. 

1.2

This first video also mentions the separation of farming from ranching was the first downfall. By doing this, they took away the symbiotic relationship between. And then gives us some facts of 30% of emissions are due to agriculture, as well as 70% of water use, and also responsible for 60% of biodiversity loss. Regenerative organic farming helps soothe these losses by looking at how they can improve soil health and animal welfare. 

2.0 Explore the Facts

2.1

Soil is an important natural resource. The justification of the land found in the fourth video is strongly connected to soil. The soil is unusable and it is difficult to bring it back to life. In the sense of having plants grow in it. With this, when it does finally rain, the rain water becomes runoff, and what is absorbed into the ground soon evaporates, having no protection from plants. 

2.2

The third video that you talk about is organic regeneration farming, where they experimented in India. They seem to have had great success in that the best size of farm was about an acre and a half managed by two people. This sounds obtainable for the masses, but would be difficult to implement.

3.0 Outline the Causes

3.1

Some of the problems from modern agriculture is being unsustainable. They wanted to make it more profitable. To make it quick fast instant as we do in our culture today Part one (2020). 

3.2

The fourth video is a Ted talk, which I always find intriguing. It was produced 10 years ago. Our population is always going up. The land is becoming more and more unusable and our usage of the planet is killing it. The desertification is happening to the majority of the world when the land is left. Bear and fallow plants die, the water runs off or evaporates, and nothing can grow. 

4.0 Identify and Describe the Effects of the Causes

4.1

Some of the effects of modern day agriculture are carbon emissions, water consumption, the soil dying, insect populations, and overall being unsustainable. The first video mentions how sustainable organic agriculture is setting up future farmers for success. 

4.2

In the fifth video, there is a little farm that has notice changes. They are trying to fix the land on their little farm. Trying to reverse some of the damage by using animals. And that they are doing the opposite of what they are taught. By closing, a high-density number of animals in this area. Apparently the animals' footprints help retain some of the water. Help introduced the natural cycle. They are basically creating a microclimate to see if this helps restore the land. 

5.0 Investigate Priorities

5.1

The most important problem is unsustainable agriculture, killing the planet. Often when we think of carbon emissions, we don’t automatically think of farming, we think our vehicles are factories in and 1 million other human made industries. But farming accounts for 30% of emissions and if we do not correct this industry, it will be harder to keep our populations fed. 

5.2

It’s funny to hear livestock can be a solution to the desert furcation of soil. This is found in both video four and five where they explain how livestock can help the soil get back on track. The land can only withstand so many of a type of animal. Over population can also kill the land. There needs to be a balance. Both under and over the ideal amount of population can cause desertification.

6.0 Delineate Application

6.1

I think the problem lies in it being so industrialized. It should be more of a norm to keep a small garden enough to feed your family to keep a few chickens to help feed your family. But since this was industrialized, they don’t want us to keep chickens or a little garden because then we won’t be spending money buying their produce. It is also regulated in certain neighborhoods, whether you are allowed to keep chickens. Me and my husband live in military housing and are not allowed to do a lot of things that could help make our house more sustainable. I could start a garden, but since we’ll be moving very shortly, I won’t see the fruit of it.

6.2

In the third video, it mentions how we need to support farmers if we want this change to happen. They cannot switch over to regenerative farming; they need the other industries to shift with them. 

7.0 Challenge to Your Thinking

7.1

Video three mention that we have a little votes throughout the day with choosing what food to eat, and what clothing to buy, but it may be more difficult than perceived. People often go for the cheapest, most obtainable weather that’s regenerative or not. Lower income families don’t have ample choices.

7.2

I can’t find the TikTok or the creator, but I would like to add that there is a trend currently of women of the past looking at women of today. Most of them are funny and lighthearted, but some of them have a little bit deeper meeting. One of the videos shows a lady learning to garden and struggling while her ancestor is confused, why nobody taught her how to provide food for her family. It’s interesting to see how much we rely on the agricultural system. 

References

A Greener World (AGW). 2020. Regenerative certification for real change. https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/certified-regenerative/

Regenerative International. (2017, Feb. 16). What is regenerative agriculture? https://regenerationinternational.org/2017/02/24/what-is-regenerative-agriculture/

Regenerative Organic. (2020). Regenerative organic certified. https://regenorganic.org/

The Carbon Underground. (2020). Whole Foods name regenerative agriculture as #1 food trend in 2020. https://thecarbonunderground.org/our-initiative/

Whole Foods Market. (2020). Whole Foods Market trends archive. https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/trends/past-food-trends