Farming matters

Farming has changed dramatically over the years. The farming systems used all over the world now are destructive to the planet and us. The way we produce food destroys the soil, mows down rainforests, depletes our freshwater resources, and drives massive loss of biodiversity.

We have lost a lot of our insect population and approximately one million wild animals are now on the endagered species list.

What is the answer to feeding the world and looking after the planet at the same time?

We need to build a regenerative system – one that regenerates the earth and human health.

The food system is the number one contributor to climate change and fixing it is our number one solution. The UN estmates we have only sixty harvests left before we run out of soil.

Our modern farming practices destroy natural resources and biodiversity, kill coral reefs, pollute oceans, destroy rainforests and will lead to massive food insecurity.

We are all connected

Whatever humans do to the planet they do to their bodies and visa versa. We are all part of the biological ecosystem.

Food is medicine for humans and not eating wholefood can lead to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. I like to really eat mindfully these days, thinking about the food I am putting into my body, rather than just shovelling it in. I sometimes think a lot of people look after their cars and houses better than they look after their bodies.

Factory farming is a climate disaster and should be banned. However, animals help in the biodiversity of farming.

Regenerative Agriculture, what is this system?

The farming system itself mimics natural grasslands animals’ behaviour.

Photosynthesis diagram

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light, energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration can later be released to fuel the organism’s metabolic activities. (Wikipedia)

Up to forty percent of agricultural land is not suitable for growing crops but is perfect for managed grazing and regenerative agriculture. It is estimated we could draw down 50 to 100 percent of all carbon released in the atmosphere if we scaled up regenerative agriculture.

The benefits of regenerative agriculture:

1. It produces nutrient-dense food
2. It restores natural habitats for insects, birds and mammals
3. The animals are raised in a much more humane way

The belief is regenerative farming is nice but it won’t feed the world.

At the moment we have never had more food but never been so sick, with processed food, factory raised meat and chemicals added to our food in abundance. Our bodies are inflammed and crying out for help!

Regenerative agriculture is more profitable for farmers in a world where the average farmer earns around £100 per year of profit! Watch Jeremy Clarksons farm if you don’t believe me. https://www.amazon.com/Clarksons-Farm-Season-1/dp/B095RHJ52R

It produces more food and better quality food. What is not to like?

What can we do to make a difference?

How we spend our cash matters and speaks loudly to the government and the supermarkets. When we choose regeneratively grown food, we send a strong message to the Big Food companies that we demand more sustainable food.

Government is paying farmers to have wild fields incorporated into their farming systems, but we need more. It is vitally important we give back to the people who work tirelessly to supply our food and look after the planet and ourselves.

It is also important for future generations that we make these changes now.

References: Wikipedia, The Pegan Diet by Dr Mark Hyman