Check Out This Video from Kiss the Ground to Learn More About the Immense Possibilities of Regeneration.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/youtu.be\/3akNyklB1fM?si=o5RS820M4WzsTbkY<\/p>\n Yet, despite millennia of Indigenous traditional knowledge, Indigenous leaders and those who continue these regenerative practices today are often overlooked, spoken over, or not given a seat at the proverbial (or literal) table. Regenerative practices have the power to change the world for the better and for the long-term, but to do this correctly,\u00a0we need to give space and resources to the experts.<\/b>\u00a0We need to acknowledge that the solution lies with the engagement of Indigenous experts and in diversifying farming systems at large.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But how do we begin?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n If we are going to successfully implement regenerative agricultural practices at scale, there are a number of obstacles that need to be addressed, including how we work with existing farms and farmers, how resources are distributed to those making these shifts, and how we incentivize this change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Starting with the food we grow and where we grow it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n HuffPost produced a map of the United States that shows which states receive the majority of their income from animal feed crops versus crops for human consumption, and the results may surprise you.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t States throughout the central-most portions of the U.S. largely produce crops specifically for animal feed (primarily corn) as well as the production of ethanol, a corn-based fuel alternative that is even more carbon-intensive to produce than gasoline. It\u2019s largely costal states\u2014including California, despite its scarcity of freshwater \u2014that produce the majority of crops for human consumption. This means that these crops, grown on the edges of America, have to be shipped throughout the country, garnering an even greater carbon footprint along the way, just to show up at your doorstep. And yet, many of America\u2019s central states are fully capable of growing enough crops to feed the majority of their citizens; crops that are more suited to their climate and natural environments, making them easier and less resource-intensive to grow. There is a clear need to strike a balance; to grow the food we eat closer to home.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To make a change like this, we\u2019re going to need to support farmers. Unfortunately, change on this magnitude doesn\u2019t happen with a wish and the snap of our fingers. Farmers need money, resources, education, and systems of support to be able to implement change at scale. Like any other job, farming is an expertise, and it\u2019s important to remember that, even if it\u2019s of major global significance, asking someone to alter their practices\u2014to learn and implement entirely new skills and techniques\u2014is not a small request; it will need both support and cultural consideration.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to note that, as it stands, farming itself is not highly profitable. It is, however, an essential sector for the overall wellness of global civilization. This means that, to make positive change, it\u2019s going to require some economic risk and additional expense. Luckily,\u00a0a review of regenerative farms<\/a>\u00a0conducted by the\u00a0Ecdysis Foundation<\/a>\u00a0found that this initial investment pays off. Crop yields naturally decrease when using regenerative farming methods\u2014something that many see as a major red flag since this, to date, has been the metric used to identify a farm\u2019s success and profitability. However, despite the 29% decrease in crop yields found by the study, these same farms were found to be\u00a078% more profitable\u00a0<\/b>than their conventional counterparts, due to lower input costs and access to different markets and diversified revenue streams This huge increase means we can overcome one major obstacle: regenerative farming methods\u00a0are\u00a0<\/i>economically viable.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s politicians, farmers, environmentalists, or consumers\u2014no one wins when we play the blame game. It\u2019s easy to point a finger and claim that national and global agriculture is suffering, that people and our planet are suffering, because X person isn\u2019t doing their job properly. But the truth is, if we do not support one another to make the necessary change, we\u2019re only prolonging the suffering of everyone (and doing more damage to our environment at the same time). We must prioritize the evolution toward regenerative agriculture and acknowledge that the transition is likely to be bumpy and imperfect. We need to acknowledge, listen to, and trust in the Indigenous communities with the expertise and wisdom to help implement these solutions on a larger scale, and provide a network of support\u2014including financial support\u2014that farmers are going to need to make this change happen.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We ONLY win when we work together. And we need to start\u00a0now<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This article was originally published on EarthShare’s website<\/a> and is republished here with permission.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n CGLR\u2019s business and sustainability network programming is supported by the\u00a0Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation<\/a>.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tListening to the Experts<\/h4>\n
Overcoming Obstacles<\/h4>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\nNo One Wins When We Pass the Blame<\/h4>\n
Author: EarthShare<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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