Activity 3.2 – Regenerative Agriculture Part 1

1.0 Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture 

Throughout the recent generations of agriculture, the animals and crops/ plants have been separated. Regenerative agriculture is a method of agriculture that combines animals and plants in hopes of creating better soil conditions, increasing the number of crops/plants, and decreasing carbon output. The goal of regenerative agriculture is to “grow in a way that protects the next generation of farmers” (“Part 1: Big agriculture”, 2020). The 5 steps of regenerative agriculture are, increasing the carbon cycle which also increases the water cycle, increasing nutrient cycling, reducing chemicals and fertilizers, and increasing plant diversity (“The Environmental”, 2019). Regenerative agriculture is really the only hope humanity has left when it comes to food production. Every other method has been exhausted, and our food supply will not last if we continue with industrial agriculture. 

2.0 Explore the Facts 

Throughout the videos the farmers, scientists, and researchers, agree that modern agriculture is a major contributor to climate change and desertification. The message is clear, we need to rely on nature and animals more. Humanities perception of nature is what is hurting us, and we need to work with, not against what is natural. Agriculture took a turn for the worse when humans began to separate the animals and the plants. The short-term output of plants/crops was massive, but the symbiotic relationship between the animals and the soil was destroyed.  

The videos also explain how important soil health is to agriculture and preventing desertification. When the land is tilled or burned, the soil is left bare, and its nutrients are washed away by water and blow away by wind (“Part 2: Soil”, 2020). The soil is unable to sequester carbon or hold water. When soil is drained of its nutrients, life itself is lost.  

Regenerative agriculture uses “bunched and moving livestock to mimic nature” (Savory, 2013). This works because the grasslands have evolved alongside the animals that eat it. When the animals defecate and urinate on the group, they are forced to move to another spot. The animals treading on the ground and their waste is beneficial to the grasslands. 

 

3.0 Outline the Causes 

The videos address numerous causes, but one of the most prominent causes of soil and agriculture degradation is the amount of food humans eat. The agricultural methods that are used today have formed because of the efficiency we need in order to keep up with the food demand.  

Although the exact number is unknown, the experts in the videos believe that industrial agriculture is a paramount cause of climate change. When farmers use incorrect practices to clear the land, desertification occurs.  

Humans view nature as unstable, erratic, and incapable. Humans feel as though they need to take control of natural processes in order to create a better and bigger profit. The relationships between animals, plants, and microbes are impacted through industrialized agriculture. 

 

4.0 Identify and Describe the Effects of the Causes 

Although there are many other causes and challenges, eating too much meat is a major problem. Industrial agriculture uses methods that are not environmentally friendly, and it disrupts the natural order of nature. The large amount of cattle increases methane in the atmosphere and destroys the carbon cycle. Simply cutting down on meat consumption would allow for more sustainable agricultural methods. It is impossible to keep up with the meat demand in the U.S while simultaneously using sustainable practices. 

Humans do not feel comfortable relying on nature. Because of this, methods like tilling, burning, and the use of fertilizers are normal occurrences throughout the industrial agricultural field. Instead of using livestock to get rid of old vegetation and using compost instead of chemical fertilizers, the soil is killed, and the beneficial microbes are destroyed. Plants are no longer able to grow, and desertification occurs. 

The methods used in industrial agriculture to clear the land also contribute to climate change. For example, burning the land to get rid of dead vegetation puts off carbon and other pollutants. During his TedTalk, Allen Savory states that “Burning 1 hectare of grass land gives off more damaging pollutants than 6,000 cars, and 1 billion hectares are burnt in Africa every year” (2013). Additionally, burning and tilling the land causes desertification, which ruins the microclimate of the soil. It is vital that microbes break down the plant material and build their own cells so the soil can sequester CO2, preventing it from entering the atmosphere (Part 2: Soil”, 2020). When the carbon cycle is disrupted, the carbon that cannot be absorbed into the soil and plants is released into the atmosphere. 

 

5.0 Investigate Priorities 

The most important issues are rapid desertification, climate change, and humanities perception of nature. Desertification leaves millions of people without water and food for both them and their livestock. When a land undergoes desertification, rainwater is unable to collect and evaporates. This process prevents rivers from forming and grass from growing. Because of desertification, many tribes in Africa are left without water and food even if there is heavy rainfall. We are already seeing the impacts of desertification, so I believe it is a dire issue. 

Climate change is also an obvious important issue with agriculture and desertification. Climate change effects everyone throughout the world, and we are already experiencing its impacts. If we continue with industrial agriculture, millions of people will be displaced due to natural disasters and severe weather conditions. This will also inadvertently harm agriculture because the increase in natural disasters and weather changes will ruin crops and harm livestock.  The effects of climate change will continue to increase unless we start using regenerative agriculture. 

It is clear that most of these problems stem from the way humanity views nature. Humans see nature as unreliable and inefficient. This way of thinking has pulled us away from the natural order of the world. Humans have forgotten that nature knows what it's doing, and it is time that we allow the millions of symbiotic relationships play out. Once we separated the animals from the plants, agriculture became destructive.  

6.0 Delineate Application 

The issues that come with industrial agriculture and desertification affect me in numerous ways. There is always the risk that climate change might displace me, and I have already seen some of its effects. I also rely heavily on the agricultural industry for food and clothes. If climate change were to harm crops, I could experience a food shortage.  

Unfortunately, I do contribute to industrialized agriculture by eating meat. I try not to buy a lot of clothes because I know that fast fashion plays a major role in climate change and desertification. I try to be conscious of the things I buy, but it can be hard to be 100% vegan/environmentally friendly when I am a broke college student. It would be ideal if the government created more policies and regulations to ensure that most products are made from regenerative agriculture. 

7.0 Challenge to Your Thinking 

After analyzing the information, my opinion and way of thinking changed significantly. I was always told that the modern methods of agriculture are the only and best way to do it. For example, I thought that burning old vegetation was beneficial to the land and soil, and livestock over grazed the land. I now know that these methods formed from a lack of understanding about how grasslands regenerate. It is obvious that our agricultural ways will lead humankind into extinction, and regenerative agriculture needs to be more widespread.  

These videos showed me that I have been conditioned to assume that nature is unreliable unless humans are involved. Agriculture is a billion-dollar industry, and it is in the best interests of politicians and other people in power that the industry makes as much profit as possible. I have never thought to question the false information I was taught about industrialized agriculture, but I now know the negative impacts it has on the environment.  

 

 

  

References 

 

Patagonia. (2020, July 29). Why regenerative organic? | Part 1: Big agriculture is broken [Video]. 

Patagonia. (2020, July 29). Why regenerative organic? | Part 2: Soil is the solution [Video]. 

Patagonia. (2020, July 29). Why regenerative organic? | Part 3: What we’re doing (and why) [Video]. 

Savory, A. (2013, February). How to fight desertification and reverse climate change [Video]. TED 2013. 

The Environmental Cowboy. (2019, June 29). A dry hope: Short film on regenerative agriculture [Video]. YouTube.