www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/14/this-way-of-farming-is-really-sexy-the-rise-of-regenerative-agriculture
In the US, farmers turning to Regenerative Farming, may experience a 29% loss in yield, while their profits increase 60%. That’s a win for depleted soil, less use of herbicides and pesticides. Less Carbon emissions means our world won’t reach 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Since Less work is required to plant root ground covers and costs are lessened when you don’t need a tractor or expensive pesticide and fertilizers, regenerative agriculture is a win win.
On Nunwell home farm, which sits alongside land the pair manage for the Wildlife Trust and produces meat and eggs for their direct-to-consumer business, chickens peck away alongside belted Galloway cows, nomadic pigs graze on grass as well as kale and bean “cover crops” sown to boost nutrients in the soil.
The idea is that by following the basic principles of regen ag – not disturbing the soil, keeping it covered, maintaining living roots, growing a diverse range of crops and the use of grazing animals – they can regenerate tired and depleted soil and produce nutritious food. The work, they argue, is urgent. Up to 40% of the world’s land is now degraded by industrial and harmful farming methods, according to the UN, while a recent study suggested improving soil could keep the world within the 1.5C heating target.