Groups say the right agricultural techniques could strip enough CO2 out of the atmosphere to reverse climate change. (Photo: Christina B. Castro/flickr/cc)
Jun 08, 2015
Seeking to elevate sustainable forms of agriculture such as agroecology, holistic grazing, cover cropping, permaculture, and agroforestry over industrial practices that degrade soil, introduce toxins to the food supply--and exacerbate climate change--a group of farmers, scientists, and activists are convening for the Regenerative International Conference in Costa Rica this week.
The conference, the first of a planned series of similar gatherings around the world, will focus on uniting movements, developing campaigns, and creating a global media plan to communicate specifically how restoring soil health can reverse damage to ecosystems around the world.
"This is new science that's connecting the food issues with the climate issue, making it more and more clear that by fixing the soil, and fixing the way we produce food, we can fix the climate as well," said Ronnie Cummins, international director of the Organic Consumers Association, in a press release on Monday.
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Reports have shown how regenerative farming and ranching techniques--such as "holistic grazing," which makes use of the movement and behavior of the grazing animals to break up and fertilize dry soil--can restore farmland and produce yields similar to industrial techniques, leading to far greater food security. In addition, the groups behind the conference point out that healthy soil can reduce the amount of water necessary to grow crops by as much as 60 percent.
"Bringing soil to the center of our consciousness and our planning is vital not only for the life of the soil, but also for the future of our society," said Vandana Shiva, global activist and author of Soil Not Oil.
Shiva, a co-founder of the Regeneration International Working Group, added: "Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the health crisis, the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy."
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Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Seeking to elevate sustainable forms of agriculture such as agroecology, holistic grazing, cover cropping, permaculture, and agroforestry over industrial practices that degrade soil, introduce toxins to the food supply--and exacerbate climate change--a group of farmers, scientists, and activists are convening for the Regenerative International Conference in Costa Rica this week.
The conference, the first of a planned series of similar gatherings around the world, will focus on uniting movements, developing campaigns, and creating a global media plan to communicate specifically how restoring soil health can reverse damage to ecosystems around the world.
"This is new science that's connecting the food issues with the climate issue, making it more and more clear that by fixing the soil, and fixing the way we produce food, we can fix the climate as well," said Ronnie Cummins, international director of the Organic Consumers Association, in a press release on Monday.
We Interrupt This Article with an Urgent Message! Common Dreams is a not-for-profit news service. All of our content is free to you - no subscriptions; no ads. We are funded by donations from our readers. This media model only works if enough readers pitch in. We have millions of readers every month and, it seems, too many take our survival for granted. It isn't. Our critical Mid-Year fundraiser is off to a very slow start - only 168 readers have contributed a total of $6,200 so far. We must raise $43,800 more before we can end this fundraising campaign and get back to focusing on what we do best. |
Reports have shown how regenerative farming and ranching techniques--such as "holistic grazing," which makes use of the movement and behavior of the grazing animals to break up and fertilize dry soil--can restore farmland and produce yields similar to industrial techniques, leading to far greater food security. In addition, the groups behind the conference point out that healthy soil can reduce the amount of water necessary to grow crops by as much as 60 percent.
"Bringing soil to the center of our consciousness and our planning is vital not only for the life of the soil, but also for the future of our society," said Vandana Shiva, global activist and author of Soil Not Oil.
Shiva, a co-founder of the Regeneration International Working Group, added: "Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the health crisis, the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy."
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Seeking to elevate sustainable forms of agriculture such as agroecology, holistic grazing, cover cropping, permaculture, and agroforestry over industrial practices that degrade soil, introduce toxins to the food supply--and exacerbate climate change--a group of farmers, scientists, and activists are convening for the Regenerative International Conference in Costa Rica this week.
The conference, the first of a planned series of similar gatherings around the world, will focus on uniting movements, developing campaigns, and creating a global media plan to communicate specifically how restoring soil health can reverse damage to ecosystems around the world.
"This is new science that's connecting the food issues with the climate issue, making it more and more clear that by fixing the soil, and fixing the way we produce food, we can fix the climate as well," said Ronnie Cummins, international director of the Organic Consumers Association, in a press release on Monday.
We Interrupt This Article with an Urgent Message! Common Dreams is a not-for-profit news service. All of our content is free to you - no subscriptions; no ads. We are funded by donations from our readers. This media model only works if enough readers pitch in. We have millions of readers every month and, it seems, too many take our survival for granted. It isn't. Our critical Mid-Year fundraiser is off to a very slow start - only 168 readers have contributed a total of $6,200 so far. We must raise $43,800 more before we can end this fundraising campaign and get back to focusing on what we do best. |
Reports have shown how regenerative farming and ranching techniques--such as "holistic grazing," which makes use of the movement and behavior of the grazing animals to break up and fertilize dry soil--can restore farmland and produce yields similar to industrial techniques, leading to far greater food security. In addition, the groups behind the conference point out that healthy soil can reduce the amount of water necessary to grow crops by as much as 60 percent.
"Bringing soil to the center of our consciousness and our planning is vital not only for the life of the soil, but also for the future of our society," said Vandana Shiva, global activist and author of Soil Not Oil.
Shiva, a co-founder of the Regeneration International Working Group, added: "Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the health crisis, the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy."
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