7 minute read
Can Regenerative Agriculture Save Us?
by Karoline Mueller
As a consumer, I ask myself, how does my food choice impact me, and how does it impact the environment and the world at every level. Anyone who takes more than a two-second look at industrial methods of raising animals will agree that we cannot continue producing food in the same way. Animals are overbred for fast growth and growth of certain body parts. They are given chemicals, including antibiotics, to speed up growth even more. They are crowded in unhealthy conditions that become a breeding ground for further pandemics. Their excrement poisons fresh water and coastal seas, and overall, production makes a large contribution to climate change in the form of greenhouse gases. Finally, animal agriculture is incredibly inefficient. Meat, dairy, and egg production uses 83% of all farmland while it contributes only 18% of calories and 37% of protein needed.
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I grew up in Germany where pasture-raised animals were a common occurrence. Being infatuated with animals, I wanted to feed them. While hiking, I would let cows lick my sweaty arms and discover goats trying to ransack my backpack for lunch. This is the image of farm animals that many of us hold dear. While advertising show us pictures of happy cows, chicken, and pigs, the reality for the bulk of animal farming does not comply. Some people put a lot of hard work into making “happy farm life” a reality again. Their motivation ranges from healthier food to regenerating land and reducing the impact on land usage. Regenerative farming models its methods on nature. It takes into account that processes have to be cyclical; what’s being taking out needs to be returned. At this point, even more is required; soil health and fertility need to be improved. Biodiversity is sought to create resilient and healthy systems. Different sectors of land usage work together; for example, forestry and animal farming build a silvopasture system. Many believe that farm animals are an integral part of regenerative methods. Their droppings contribute to fertilizing and revitalizing the land.
How does this approach work with respect to my concerns about environmental impact of farming? The animals live longer and fewer animals per land area are produced. This results in either needing a larger area of land or having to reduce animal consumption. The Guardian article, Avoiding Meat and Dairy is ‘Single Biggest Way’ to Reduce Your Impact on Earth, discusses results of a detailed study. It finds that even the lowest-impact animal products exceed average impacts of vegetable proteins. J. Poore, a professor at the University of Oxford, UK, said “Today, and probably into the future, dietary change can deliver environmental benefits on a scale not achievable by producers. Moving from current diets to a diet that excludes animal products has transformative potential . . .” In other words, we can achieve a huge impact in reducing our individual carbon footprint, and thereby support the health of the planet by choosing a plant-based diet.
Is it possible to continue moving in the direction of regenerative agriculture without the inclusion of domesticated animals raised for food? Agriculture without farmed animals is still teaming with animals. As long as organic plant material is present, not only microbes and fungi but myriads of worms, insects and other small animals enrich soils; and it is the soil-food-web that creates fertility. Regenerative farming practices do not depend on domesticated animals to build-up healthy soils again. Cover crops, green manure, no-till farming, and agroforestry will do the job.
So, now we know that animal farming through regenerative methods does not solve the problems of greenhouse gas emissions, the land area needed, nor the pressure on ecosystems. This is devastating news for most people. However, acknowledging the reality of the situation and leaning into change provides a hopeful way forward. Instead of accepting the status quo, it is in our collective power to act. Freeing up land for more forests helps to sequester carbon from greenhouse gases. This turns down the global thermostat.
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Instead of hoping that destruction of tropical forests will stop, we can send a signal through massive reforestation at home. Additional land can be set aside for ecologically diverse habitats. I would love to believe that black footed ferrets, giant kangaroo rats, hog deer, and red wolves, to name just a few, will survive together with us into the next century.
If we switch our view from the health of the world to that of the individual, we find that there is strong scientific consensus that a balanced plant-based diet is health-promoting at all stages of life. A healthy balance of nutrients is readily achieved, without constant vigilance, by eating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. A wonderful book, providing information about the impact of plant-based diets on the microbiome is Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz MD. He explains that plant diversity in diets is the “most powerful determinant” of a healthy gut microbiome, which is a requirement for optimal human health.
Many who consider the switch to a plant-based diet, express concern about the ability to prepare healthy and inspiring food. A quick internet search provides massive amounts of recipes that can be tailored to individual needs from fast and cheap to exquisite gourmet style. Plants provide an endless array of opportunity for creating tasty meals.
Karoline obtained a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Houston. During that time her struggle with obesity and depression worsened. In 2011, she learned about Dr. McDougall and Dr. Ornish and changed her diet to dominantly whole-foods plant-based. This was a turning point in her life and she wanted to share her new knowledge. She became a Food For Life instructor, trained by the Physicians Committee to deliver nutrition and cooking classes. Before Covid-19, she enjoyed teaching classes at LifestyleDocs, Drs B. and M. Chawla’s clinic. Now her courses are online.
https://embeelifestyledocs.com/food-for-life-cooking-class/
Take Action to Stop Factory Farms
The COVID-19 health crisis highlights inequalities in how we produce and distribute food. A new bill, the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA), will help to create a more healthy, sustainable and equitable model, by placing a moratorium on new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (commonly known as factory farms), cracking down on the monopolistic practices of multinational meat corporations and supporting farmers to transition to healthier, pasture-based models and organic farming. To support the FSRA, the Sierra Club has made it easy to contact members of Congress at Tinyurl.com/BlockFactoryFarms.
Learn More, Eat Smarter
Center for Food Safety: EndIndustrialMeat.org Consumer Reports: Tinyurl.com/MeatGetsMakeover Food Print: Tinyurl.com/WhatIsFoodPrint Friends of the Earth: foe.org/resources/from-lab-to-fork A Greener World: AGreenerWorld.org 10 Things You Can Do for the Planet Instead of Giving Up On Animal Agriculture: AGreenerWorld.org/ a-greener-world/10-things-you-can-do
Humane Society Food Industry Scorecard:
HumaneSociety.org/resources/food-industry-scorecard Keep Antibiotics Working: KeepAntibioticsWorking.org Public Justice Food Project: Food.PublicJustice.net/ communityresources Right to Harm film and resources: RightToHarm.film
One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts film:
Tinyurl.com/100000BeatingHearts
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