What Is Agricultural Sustainability?

Agricultural sustainability seeks to balance food production and the flow of environmental goods. It also recognizes that world population growth is likely to continue for another 40 years, after which it may begin to stabilize or fall owing to changes in fertility patterns.

Sustainable agriculture systems typically have multifunctional roles within landscapes and economies, providing not only food for farmers and markets but also wildlife and habitat, carbon sequestration, water recharge, soil quality and landscape beauty.

Definition

The statutory definition of sustainable agriculture (in the 2018 Farm Bill) states that “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices that over the long-term satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality; increase economic viability of farm operations; efficiently use renewable resources; integrate natural biological processes; and improve farmers’ and society’s overall quality of life.”

In addition to focusing on how to best meet current food and fiber needs, sustainable agriculture seeks to maximize benefits and minimize harms to ecosystem functions beyond a field’s edge. In particular, sustainable farming focuses on maintaining healthy soil that can support crops and other native plants and animals.

This can be achieved by a variety of management techniques, but many are centered around conservation tillage or other strategies that limit cultivation to only what is needed. These methods help keep soil alive and teeming with organisms that promote plant health, prevent erosion and reduce nutrient runoff.

Scope

Sustainable agriculture focuses on meeting human needs without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to do so. It emphasizes stewardship of natural and human resources, and promotes local economies and social justice.

Examples of sustainable farming practices include growing heirloom crops suited to a particular region’s climate, using crop rotation, encouraging the use of fungi that form symbiotic relationships with soil and help plants absorb nutrients, and integrating livestock and crop production to reduce waste. Sustainable farming also relies on natural fertilizers and minimizes the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

It reduces environmental problems like water pollution from nutrient runoff and climate change by avoiding excessive irrigation. It reduces health risks like bird flu and Nipah virus by reducing animal crowding and ensuring farm hygiene standards. It bolsters the economy of rural communities by increasing income opportunities and helping them retain control over their land and ecosystem services. It also encourages participation in harvest festivals, which bring together people to celebrate their connection with nature through dance, music and unique dishes.

Challenges

Agriculture is a huge sector that requires substantial change to achieve sustainability. Global population growth, economic development and environmental pressures are placing significant stress on agricultural resources, including natural water, soil and climate. Changing these resources can be expensive, but long-term sustainability depends on balancing tradeoffs.

Some of these tradeoffs include the impact of nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, habitat fragmentation and water quality. Increasing the efficiency of agricultural practices can reduce these impacts and minimize the need for costly changes.

In addition, it is important to communicate with consumers and farmers about sustainable agriculture. This helps them understand production realities and can build trust in supply chains. Many consumers are willing to pay more for products with sustainability claims like environmentally friendly packaging and ethical sourcing. It is also essential for companies that touch the agricultural supply chain to identify and create incentives for farmers and other supply chain participants to adopt sustainable practices.

Solutions

Some sustainable agriculture methods include soil conservation, water conservation and chemical use reduction. Another solution is to increase biodiversity on farmland, for example through crop rotation and encouraging mycorrhizae fungi (that usually form symbiotic relationships with plants and help them absorb nutrients).

In addition, agricultural sustainability involves stewardship of natural resources. This requires balancing the needs of people in rural communities, the environment and wildlife over long periods of time rather than seeking short-term profits.

For instance, farmers interested in sustainability often prioritize caring for the soil. This involves preventing erosion, preserving the soil’s structure, and improving its quality by increasing organic matter and limiting its pollution through heavy fertilizer use.

Return to the home screen…

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The thrill of watching sports is unrivaled. The adrenaline, the suspense, and the shared experience of watching a live game bring fans and communities together. Enter 스포츠중계, or sports broadcasting—an industry that has the power to bridge distances and bring live sporting events to audiences worldwide.

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**Embrace the Thrill: The Rise of 에볼루션파워볼**

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While largely a game of chance, familiarizing oneself with the game’s mechanics and odds can help players make informed bets, possibly increasing their chances of winning.…

Climate Change and the Sustainable Agriculture Network

Sustainable farming practices reduce the use of chemicals to minimize the impact on the environment. This includes avoiding synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives.

The population ecology predictor variables indicate that counties with more SAKN have greater interest in environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Energy for these communities may be provided by the development of environmental interest group communities that advocate for preferred policies.

Adaptation to Climate Change

The world’s 75 million smallholder farmers rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. But climate change has made farming more difficult and unpredictable. As growing seasons become hotter, some crops are more susceptible to heat stress and frosts while others experience water shortages and nutrient depletion. Extreme weather events like floods, droughts and sand storms further complicate the situation for farmers.

Strategies to adapt to climate change can help improve food security and reduce pressure on the natural environment. But it’s important to consider the impacts on farmers’ diversity, power and social justice. Failure to do so can result in maladaptive outcomes that benefit some farmers at the expense of others (Hellin and Fisher 2019).

One approach that has been gaining prominence is ‘climate smart agriculture’ or CSA. CSA aims to simultaneously increase agricultural productivity and improve food security while reducing emissions and increasing carbon sinks. A key challenge is to understand the trade-offs between these objectives and to identify policies that enable the most productive yet sustainable pathways for agriculture.

Land Management

Sustainable land management includes the use of practices that reduce soil erosion and promote nutrient balance. It also ensures that natural water resources are protected, and that ecosystem services such as clean water, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration are conserved.

In the case of food production, SAN partners with farmers to improve land stewardship practices on their farms and through policy interventions that create an enabling environment for them to make the right choices. It also focuses on raising awareness among farmers, helping them adapt to climate change, and reducing the risks of natural disasters on farm productivity through improved sustainable land management (SLM) practices.

Core LQIs provide valuable information on the biophysical components of sustainability, but they must be complemented by indicators related to economic viability, system resilience, and social equity and acceptability. This will require significant additional research to be able to develop, validate, and deploy such indicators. SAN welcomes CABI into its membership to help build this capacity.

Carbon Markets

Carbon markets are a tool to put a price on pollution and create incentives for companies to reduce their emissions. But their current design is fragmented and unregulated, creating a complex web of demand and supply that lacks robust risk mitigation structures for market participants.

Exchanges have been experimenting with ways to simplify the trading of credits and make them more transparent for end buyers. For instance, CBL and ACX have set up standard products – Nature-based Global Emission Offset (N-GEO) or the global nature token – that require certain basic specifications such as type of project, geography, vintage, and certification by a restricted group of standards.

Hybrid models like the Japanese GX League and Australia’s voluntary carbon market show that carbon markets can be anchored by government recognition to add credibility, centralization and clarity to the system. However, governments need to ensure that the carbon markets they recognize are incorporated into their national climate strategies.

Resilience

Resilience, the capacity of agriculture and rural communities to withstand or quickly recover from climate change-related events, is crucial for sustainable food systems. It can help stabilize crop yields and income, as well as improve dietary quality. In addition, investments in resilience can increase the value of farm and ecosystem assets for investors.

This research explores the sustainability and resilience of Kenya’s tea upstream supply chain. It uses a multi-case study approach with in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine producer organisations in the Kenyan tea industry. The theoretical lens of the Planetary Boundaries theory is used to examine the relationship between sustainability and resilience in the agri-food sector.

The findings indicate that the relationships between sustainability and resilience are non-linear. When producers are aware of the planetary boundaries constraints, their sustainability practices tend to be more robust, but their resilience does not seem to improve at the same rate. Consequently, the implementation of sustainability and resilience practices in ASC needs to be considered carefully.

Lead yourself back to the main page…

Baseball fans around the globe share a common passion—the love for the game. Nowhere is this more evident than in the thriving community that eagerly tunes in to watch Major League Baseball (MLB). With every pitch, hit, and homerun, the excitement intensifies, and you can’t help but be drawn into the suspense and grandeur of America’s favorite pastime. The anticipation of each game is palpable, especially for those who rely on MLB broadcasts to stay connected to their beloved sport.

Imagine the sound of the crowd, the crack of the bat, and the thrill of that game-saving catch, all from the comfort of your own living space. This is the beauty of live MLB broadcasts or mlb중계, which bring the spectacle straight to your screens, ensuring you don’t miss a single slide into base or a pitcher’s duel. Thanks to advancements in technology, live streaming offers a seamless experience that captures every moment in high definition, making you feel like you’re right there in the stands, cheering for your favorite team.

The essence of enjoying MLB doesn’t just lie in the ability to watch the games live but also in understanding the intricate strategies, player statistics, and behind-the-scenes action that make baseball more than just a sport. Engaging narratives emerge as seasons progress—rivalries intensify, underdogs rise, and legends are born. It’s these stories that enrich the viewing experience, bridging the gap between spectators and the sport they cherish.

Moreover, the communal aspect of watching MLB broadcasts online fosters a sense of unity among fans worldwide. No matter the time zone or geographical barriers, everyone becomes part of a global family rooting for the spectacular feats on the diamond. Discussions and debates about plays, umpire calls, and team lineup decisions spill over into social media, blogs, and forums, further amplifying the collective enthusiasm for MLB games.

In conclusion, the magic of MLB broadcasts is not just in the watching but in the shared experience they offer. Whether it’s the adrenaline rush of a close game or the joy of witnessing a hard-earned victory, MLB continues to captivate audiences and unite fans across the globe. The power of a live broadcast is in its ability to teleport us to the ballpark, where every game is an opportunity to be part of something bigger—a timeless love for baseball.

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MLB broadcasts are available internationally, although access may vary depending on local licensing agreements and regional restrictions.

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You can enhance your MLB viewing experience by learning about the teams, players, and statistics, participating in fan discussions, and watching pre-game and post-game analysis.

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If you miss a live MLB game broadcast, many services offer replays, highlights, and condensed games that you can watch at your convenience.…

Sustainable Agriculture Laws

A growing number of farmers are moving to a farming system that is more sustainable. Sustainability is a multifaceted approach that addresses the environmental and economic needs of the land, soil, and water.

Farmers practicing sustainable agriculture typically avoid the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators. These chemicals deplete the earth’s resources, suppress biological activity and are detrimental to human and livestock health.

Water and Soil Conservation

Sustainable agriculture practices conserve and protect soil, water and nutrients. They replenish these natural resources while reducing their use and dependence on non-renewable energy or chemicals.

Sustainability laws and policies aim to balance three goals: Satisfying human food and fiber needs; enhancing environmental quality, the natural resource base and ecosystem services; and sustaining the economic viability of farms. This balance requires the input of farmers, consumers, producers, processors and distributors and all other participants in the food chain.

For example, sustainable farmers limit their use of pesticides and fertilizers to reduce air pollution caused by spray drift and agricultural burning; and water pollution from nitrate and phosphorus runoff. They also reduce erosion by planting trees and bushes in fields, a practice called windbreaks.

Additionally, sustainable farmers manage livestock manure and crop residues so they don’t pollute the environment. They grow crops and fruits that are healthier for humans, and they plant cover crops to increase the amount of organic matter in soils. They also minimize water waste through conservation tillage and the use of alternative irrigation methods, such as evapotranspiration.

Redesign of the Farm

Agricultural land needs to be managed as a whole system and landscape. Many farms that practice sustainable farming treat less-intensively cultivated or even uncultivated areas as integral parts of the farm. This may include natural vegetation alongside streams, or strips of prairie plants within or around crop fields. This prevents soil erosion, reduces nutrient runoff and supports pollinators and biodiversity.

Another common technique is avoiding synthetic fertilizers by growing crops that use natural, organic matter as fertilizers. This helps to protect the environment, expands natural resources and makes the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources.

Sustainable agriculture also takes into account the air quality and public health. Nearly all agricultural operations pollute the atmospheric air with drifts of chemical applications, dust from field work, fossil fuel emissions from farm equipment and methane gas from livestock. Sustainable farmers minimize this impact and produce higher-quality food with fewer contaminants. This makes the world a healthier and safer place to live.

Conservation of Natural Habitats and Biodiversity

Biodiversity is an important aspect of sustainable agriculture, as it supports healthy crops and ecosystems. Healthy soils teeming with living organisms produce high-yielding crops, reduce erosion, prevent water-stress, and prevent pollution. Sustainable farms conserve natural habitats and biodiversity by not removing species from their land plots or using chemical pesticides or fertilizers that damage pollinators.

Sustainable agriculture also minimizes environmental harm by preserving natural water resources and reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources. It uses organic compost and biochar to increase soil nutrients, instead of synthetic fertilizers that can deplete water supplies or pollute rivers and coastal waters (eutrophication). In addition, it limits the amount of sewage runoff from farms to reduce contamination of waterways.

GMO/GMO-Free

The practice of sustainable agriculture takes a global view of the environment. Farming practices that harm the environment in one area may negatively impact environmental quality elsewhere. The use of fertilizer, for example, can improve the health of a farm’s soil but pollute nearby waterways and lead to eutrophication.

In sustainable agriculture, farms make decisions about crops and livestock that take into account the impact on natural genetic biodiversity. Agricultural innovation is encouraged, including through the use of genetically modified organisms. GMOs allow farmers to produce strains of wheat, corn and other crops that are able to grow in regions and conditions they wouldn’t be able to in the short term without modification.

These changes help reduce the need to convert natural ecosystems into cropland, which is an important environmental goal. In addition, they also allow farmers to achieve better yields with less water usage and herbicide and pesticide use. This reduces the environmental impact of agriculture, as well as helping to satisfy consumers’ nutritional needs.

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Sustainable Agriculture Documentary

Feeding the world’s growing population requires new methods of agriculture. This documentary explores the sustainable options available to farmers and consumers.

Rather than scare viewers through nightmarish images or guilt them into a fashionable way of eating, this film celebrates the people reclaiming the earth. It shares leadership and wisdom from the most forward thinking farmers.

Soil

A mix of minerals, humus, living organisms and water, soil is one of the most vital natural resources on the planet. It provides plants with nutrients and stores water, carbon and oxygen. But our soil is in trouble: its health has been seriously compromised by agricultural degradation, causing desertification, contamination of water sources and food scarcity.

The film explores how regenerative agriculture can restore essential ecosystems and promote sustainable land use. This approach to farming prioritizes the health of the soil, including reduced tilling and limits on nitrogen fertilizers, as well as the planting of cover crops and the prioritization of biodiversity.

This popular documentary series follows Jeremy Clarkson, host of the Top Gear TV show, as he attempts to run his own 1,000-acre farm. Throughout the series, the Clarksons implement sustainable farming practices including cover cropping and soil regeneration to reduce erosion and improve the health of their land. They also limit the use of chemicals and pesticides, ensuring that their crops are both environmentally friendly and safe for consumers.

Water

With population growth and increased consumption of complex foods, water supply will be key to sustainably feeding the world. RTD’s sustainable agriculture documentaries explore threats to this vital resource.

One example is the dwindling of freshwater clams on the New England coast. This short documentary follows summer trippers lined up for fried clams and families digging for the coveted bivalve. But it also reveals how the promise of GMO crops has put farmers at risk, and shows the resiliency of the human spirit.

A strong belief in regenerative principles can propel farmers away from the degenerative practices that plague industrial agriculture, polluting people, soil, and water. The Biggest Little Farm features the Chesters as they transform their barren land into a functioning ecosystem. This film shows that changing farming methods is not only possible, but necessary to feed the world. This film is a must see! You can find it on Netflix.

Animals

Whether they’re advocating for the end of GMOs or the ban on glyphosate weed killer, these films show us that sustainable food entrepreneurship is more than just buying local. It’s a way of life for farmers, consumers and communities alike.

Taking four-and-a-half years to make, Graham Meriwether’s film on American meat farming follows the pioneering farmers of Polyface Farm in Virginia. The result is a profound look at how consumer demand can drive the industry toward and away from sustainability.

A Ball State University class project, this documentary explores the small-farm issues facing America today. It also introduces the story of a farmer who is attempting to create a proud legacy for his family by reclaiming his land and making it profitable.

People

The people featured in these films are just as important as the land and animals themselves. From family farmers to food waste innovators, the people in these sustainable agriculture documentaries are inspiring and motivating.

The first film in this list follows a couple as they attempt to transform their nutrient depleted farm using regenerative farming techniques. This documentary has won 42 awards and is available on Netflix.

Kip Andersen’s environmental awakening came in the form of An Inconvenient Truth, and he believed he was doing his part to help the planet by recycling religiously, turning off lights whenever possible, and showering infrequently. But his life changed when he learned that animal agriculture is the primary cause of global environmental destruction.

Throughout this series, viewers follow a family as they make a home in rural Nebraska and begin to reap the rewards of their hard work. This acclaimed documentary features an uplifting message of resilience. You can watch it on Netflix.

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Sustainable Agriculture and FAO Field Work

Sustainable agriculture is farming in a way that protects and enhances the natural resources on which it depends. It also makes the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources.

Current food systems cause one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, eutrophication, biodiversity loss and water scarcity [1]. Sustainable agriculture is an alternative.

Policy Analysis and Formulation

Among the most important contributions of FAO’s field work is its capacity to conduct policy analysis and formulation. This includes identifying constraints to the adoption of more environmentally friendly farming practices. It also involves fostering a more integrated approach to natural resource management (NRM), involving governments, markets and communities in the design of sectoral development policies.

It is essential that policies, aimed at transforming agriculture into sustainable systems, address both the technical problems of natural resource degradation and environmental damage (where many analyses stop), as well as the more difficult political, social, economic and cultural challenges to such a transformation. FAO policy analysis and formulation is therefore focused on addressing governance issues, including enabling iterative collective learning processes that can support the transformation of food and agriculture towards sustainability.

Agricultural Statistics

A sustainable food system involves practicing manufacturing practices that respect the integrity of nature and agroecosystems; establishing short food supply chains; reducing transportation, loss and waste; improving water management and quality; reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity and global habitat and contributing to improved human health. A key to achieving these goals is the availability of reliable and accurate agricultural statistics.

Agricultural statistics are important to all stakeholders in agriculture, from the transportation and warehouse and storage companies to banks and lending institutions as well as commodity traders and businesses that provide farmers with seeds, equipment and chemicals. They are also essential for policymakers to make informed decisions.

FAO has developed a Global Strategy to improve agricultural statistics through strategic planning, adoption of cost effective methodologies and capacity development. Its aim is to produce and disseminate agricultural statistics on a timely basis for informed decision making.

The World Soil Charter

The world’s soil is a finite resource. Mankind’s survival depends on its preservation and productive use. Recognizing this, the FAO Conference of 1981 adopted a World Soil Charter calling for decisions about land use to be made for long-term advantage and for land-use techniques to be selected that achieve improved and sustainable levels of production.

A strong focus on soil has always been an important issue for FAO. However, major advances in science and new knowledge prompted the Organization’s advisory body, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), to review the World Soil Charter making use of wide consultations within the international soil community. The result was a revised version endorsed by the 39th FAO Conference in 2015 as a tool for promoting the sustainable management of soils at all levels.

The World Seed Campaign

The seed sector is vital for food security, the conservation of biodiversity and poverty reduction. It is the basis for implementing strategies for agricultural development and is an essential component of the programme framework adopted by FAO’s Conference on Natural Resources and Human Environment.

The preamble of FAO’s Constitution states that the Organization is committed to ‘raising levels of nutrition and improving the standard of living of rural populations.’ To achieve this objective, FAO has promoted a number of initiatives, including developing guidelines for carrying out national agricultural censuses using internationally agreed concepts and definitions. Moreover, the Organization has worked to develop and disseminate a computerised seed bank database management system. This helps to provide seed banks with structured data and established terminology techniques.

Farmer Field Schools

Developed initially to promote integrated pest management, farmer field schools are group learning processes that allow farmers to try out new ideas and techniques. These experiments enable them to make more informed decisions, and the results are often passed on through informal communication between farmers.

FFS programmes are now established around the world, empowering an estimated one million farmers and pastoralists each year. They are a key entry point for sustainability-oriented agriculture and agro-ecology.

They are also highly innovative and flexible. The Food and Agriculture Organization has set up a global FFS platform to support exchange of information on best practice and technical expertise. In many countries, FFS are included in national and sub-national policies and strategies. In addition, many of the participants in an FFS are trained as facilitators to continue organising and conducting further field schools.

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Sustainable Agriculture Vs Regenerative Agriculture

While the goal of sustainable and regenerative agriculture may seem different, the methods are often similar. Practices like rotating crops, minimizing soil disturbance and using few (if any) synthetic chemicals are essential to both farming methods.

Regenerative practices can also reduce the risk of extreme weather associated with climate change, as healthy soils retain moisture longer during droughts and have a greater capacity to soak up floodwaters.

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

The goal of sustainable agriculture is to produce food and fiber without degrading natural resources. This is accomplished by preserving biodiversity, building healthy soils, and improving watersheds. It also includes promoting environmental, social and economic justice.

Sustainable farmers use a variety of methods to achieve these goals, including reduced tillage, crop rotations, cover crops, and rotational grazing. They also try to increase biodiversity on their land by planting different types of seeds, using multiple species of plants in pastures and increasing the diversity of livestock.

Some farmers go further than sustainable farming by practicing regenerative agriculture, which is a more comprehensive approach to sustainability. These farmers strive to improve soil health by increasing biodiversity, enhancing the water supply, and reducing the need for artificial inputs like herbicides and fertilizers. They also seek to reduce their impact on climate change by capturing and storing carbon in the ground. By doing this, they help to reverse current global trends of atmospheric carbon accumulation.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture (also known as regen ag) is a broad set of earth-friendly farming practices focused on improving soil health and biodiversity. Regenerative practices aim to rebalance nutrient cycles and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which disrupt natural ecosystems and harm soil organisms.

Regenerative farmers focus on keeping living roots in the soil as much as possible, which stabilizes the soil and cycles nutrients and water. They also focus on adding organic matter to the soil and minimizing erosion. This helps retain moisture, increases soil fertility and slows climate change.

Regenerative farmers often use a combination of techniques, including no or reduced tilling and planting into cover crops, which reduces carbon emissions and prevents soil loss. They may also utilize agroforestry, agroecology, permaculture and restoration ecology philosophies to guide their management. These methods promote biodiversity, encourage a healthy microbial community, capture carbon and improve soil quality. They also focus on addressing social justice issues, such as who owns and controls land, and racial and gender inequality.

Why is Regenerative Agriculture Important?

Regenerative agriculture aims to improve the planet by increasing biodiversity, enriching soils, enhancing watersheds, boosting farm resilience to climate change and bolstering rural communities. Ultimately, these practices can help to create more healthy and humane food for all.

Using techniques such as planting cover crops and rotating different types of plants, regenerative farms can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, increase crop yields and enhance biodiversity. This type of farming can also reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of crop production.

In addition, regenerative practices such as incorporating clover into grass swards or rotational livestock grazing can improve soil health by building up organic matter and reducing nitrogen losses. These methods can also reduce runoff and enhance the water cycle. This approach can be more economical for farmers as well, since it can reduce the need for expensive chemicals and equipment. This is especially important as demand for regenerative products continues to grow.

What is the Difference Between Sustainable Agriculture and Regenerative Agriculture?

While sustainable agriculture prioritizes social, environmental, and economic considerations to ensure future agricultural practices are able to meet human needs, regenerative farming goes one step further by aiming to regenerate or restore what has been degraded. This means growing food with healthy soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the conservation of natural resources like water, air, and wildlife habitat.

Regenerative farmers typically focus on practices that increase biodiversity and improve soil health, such as plant cover crops, reduced tillage, rotational grazing, and the use of perennial plants. This allows the soil to remain covered and fed by microorganisms, minimizing mechanical, chemical, and solar disturbance of the soil that degrades organic matter and leads to erosion.

Regenerative farmers also seek to treat their farmworkers, apprentices, and laborers with respect and fair wages. These farmers also acknowledge the historical and systemic injustices that have negatively shaped American agriculture and strive to address them through their practices.

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