This semester, the UC Sustainability team has set out to create a specific agenda for each month, with a dedication to giving as much information and discussion time as possible in each area of study. This being said, January's focus was Regenerative Agriculture and the ideals and practices behind it.
The main focus of this topic was the film Kiss the Ground, a documentary that highlights farmers, ranchers and land stewards from around the world that are moving toward or currently practice Regenerative Farming disciplines in their business. Their goal is to heal the soil, revive ecosystems, increase overall farmer and rancher wellbeing, and help to balance the climate in any way they can. Visit https://kisstheground.com/ to learn more about the organization's specific work to spread the message and provide resources for individuals to find their path with regeneration.
Furthermore, the film discussion event was set up so that viewers had the chance to watch the film ahead of time and come to the discussion prepared. This allowed all the participants to marinate with the material that was presented in the film and form opinions on their own. Furthermore, the discussion was guided by UC Sustainability's Daniel Hart and Susan Vonderhaar, an adjunct instructor of ecology and environmental science and pioneer of many Cincinnati environmental programs and institutes, including the Date Montessori Nature Center. These influences heavily guided the discussion toward actions that can be done in the Cincinnati area and how Regenerative Farming affects everyone, from legislature to the much of the food we see on the shelves of grocery stores.
Overall, the consensus has been that not enough is being done in the realm of Regenerative Agriculture. While there are many great examples of farmers and ranchers doing all the healthy and beneficial practices on their land, including promoting biodiversity, eliminating tillage, reducing or eliminating harmful herbicides and pesticides, and using regenerative grazing management for livestock, the traditional farming techniques are still outweighing all the good that is being done. If we are going to commit to sequestering carbon this way, we need to educate and give the resources to enough farmers to show that each single crop can make a huge difference. If we continue to degrade and lose soil at this rate, we will not be leaving a sustainable Earth to the next generation. Our next steps will determine the health and longevity of the very soil beneath our feet.
Additional Resources: