Regeneration is Life – An Agroecological Paradigm to Overtake the Climate Crisis

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On the occasion of the 28th Climate COP, Navdanya International presents “Regeneration is Life – An Agroecological Paradigm to Overtake the Climate Crisis“

There are two main paradigms of thinking of ourselves in the world and of our relationship with the Earth. We either think of ourselves as being separate from Nature or as being one and part of it.

The industrial agriculture paradigm, which sees the world as a machine, and not as a self-organized living system, has created devastation on the planet through extraction and exploitation. Together, the ecologically destructive practices of the industrial agriculture paradigm account for 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), making the global food system one of the main culprits behind climate change and environmental degradation. Acting as if the world were a machine undermines and eventually destroys living processes and organic systems.

Following our Biodiversity is Life booklet, which showcases the deep interconnections between our health and the health of our ecosystems and planet, this new booklet lays out how, today more than ever we need the agroecological cultures of the world to take the forefront and show us what it means to be rooted in harmony with the Earth. The aim should be to work alongside nature to restore its biodiversity and rejuvenate its natural cycles to produce Real Food. These solutions already exist and are being implemented by local, diverse food communities around the world. Showing us that it is possible to walk a path of living in harmony with nature. We are part of the Earth’s systems, our food is a continuum of health from the ecosystems of the earth. We are deeply and inherently interconnected.

The real solution to the ecological and climate crisis does not lie in creating substitutes for food or expanding the industrial paradigm, but in scaling the initiatives all over the world that are already working on healing our connection with the Earth through care.

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The Cop28 President Told a Shocking Lie About Fossil Fuels – and He’s Wrong About Climate Economics Too

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For months Sultan Al Jaber, the president of the Cop28 climate negotiations in Dubai, has been insisting that there is no conflict with his day job, chief executive of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) state oil company.

Instead, he argued, the dual role enabled him to persuade fossil fuel companies to change. And some early successes in the talks provided some credibility to that claim.

Now it lies in ruins, following Sunday’s exclusive Guardian report of rejoinders he made to Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and UN special climate envoy, during a live event on 21 November.

He claimed there was “no science” showing that phasing out fossil fuels would keep the world beneath the internationally agreed guardrail of a rise of 1.5C above preindustrial levels – beyond which lurk 11 irreversible tipping points that threaten to plunge the world into a much more hostile climate. Indeed, he implied, such a phase-out could “take the world back into caves”.

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Put People, Nature, and Livelihoods at the Forefront of Climate Action

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As the world grapples with various crises, including conflicts, disease, and hunger, Africa faces multiple challenges compounded by the escalating impacts of climate change ranging from cyclones and floods to prolonged dry spells.  The effect on agriculture, a significant contributor to African nations’ livelihood and economy, poses a severe threat to Africa’s population.

We acknowledge Decision 3 CP/-27: Joint work on the implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security acknowledging the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which expose millions, particularly small-scale farmers, low-income households, indigenous peoples, women, and youth in developing countries, to acute food and water insecurity. It also recognizes that farmers, including smallholders and pastoralists, play a crucial role as stewards of the land. Their vulnerability to climate change presents challenges in fulfilling this role.

It is however regrettable that the decision does not address the diverse impacts of different agricultural and food system models on the environment and climate change.

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Billion Agave Project Initiative is Presented at the CICY

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MÉRIDA, YUCATÁN, NOVEMBER 24, 2023 – On November 23rd, the “Billion Agave Project Initiative, between Regeneration International and CICY” was presented at the Scientific Research Center of Yucatán (CICY), in the framework of which a collaboration agreement was signed between these two entities, whose purpose is to develop the science and technology that will allow the implementation of the Billion Agave Project (BAP) in Yucatán.

The BAP, with a focus on economic, social and environmental sustainability and in collaboration with the social, academic, private and public sectors, aims to contribute to the preservation of the environment and the holistic improvement of people’s living conditions, through the creation and implementation of various wide-ranging productive projects that take full advantage of and add value to Yucatán’s flagship crop: henequén.

The event was attended by Dr. Pedro Iván González Chi, the general director of CICY; Ercilia Sahores, the LATAM director of Regeneration International (RI); M.C. Javier García Villalobos, the director of Technology Management of CICY and project liaison;  Arturo Carrillo, the national coordinator of the Billion Agave Project (BAP); Sotuta de Peón William Lübke, the owner and general manager of Hacienda Sotuta; and Ing. Ignacio Alberto Vadillos Coral, Director of Planning, Financing and Sector Coordination, who attended on behalf of MVZ; and Jorge Díaz, head of the Secretariat of Rural Development (SEDER) of the Yucatán State Government.

In the presentation, Dr. Pedro Iván González said that CICY, since it was formed, has focused on the study of agaves, not limited to henequen, but also has experience in agaves for the mezcal and tequila industries, with specialists that from science and technology provide solutions along the value chain that is formed for the different crops. He expressed the willingness of the institution he represents to articulate actions with the different actors, from the small producer to our leaders in the State Government, to guarantee the success of the project.

Likewise, Ercilia Sahores commented that Regeneration International emerged in June 2015, at a meeting in Costa Rica with representatives of businesses, farming and scientific communities, educational institutions, policy makers and NGOs from 21 countries, to develop a blueprint for an international movement united around a common mission: To build a global network of farmers, scientists, activists, entrepreneurs, educators, journalists, consumers and public policy shapers that will promote and implement regenerative agriculture and land use practices that provide abundant and nutritious food; revitalize local economies; regenerate soil fertility and its capacity to retain water; nurture biodiversity; and restore climate stability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, while capturing excess carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in the soil.

Arturo Carrillo explained that the BAP consists of implementing various productive agave based projects that recover the vision of integral use that the native communities have had since time immemorial, and that generate sustainable economic, environmental and social solutions in the regions where they are implemented. He added that the strategy is to develop these projects, initially, in three implementation hubs: at the Vía Orgánica Research Farm in San Miguel de Allende, Gto, at the Centro de Desarrollo Integral Campesino de la Mixteca (CEDICAM) in Nochixtlán, Oaxaca, and at the Sotuta de Peón Hacienda, in Yucatán. Some of these productive projects include the extraction and commercialization of inulin and lactic acid, the formulation of feed for productive and affective animals, the production of fermented and distilled products, and the production of molasses and syrup, among others, and all of them are being developed based on scientific and technological research of the highest level, in collaboration with institutions such as the CICY.

He concluded by saying that this type of projects can only be developed in collaboration with the social, academic, private and public sectors, which is why -he remarked- an indispensable component in which we are working hard, is the linkage with these sectors.

In his speech, William Lübke commented that the project represents a great opportunity, giving continuity to the tests currently being carried out with plants produced by CICY, to identify an integral use of the henequen crop. He added that a project that comes with more information on what can be done with the plant is wonderful and encouraging for the peninsula itself and for the producers.

Mr. Vadillos, an engineer from SEDER, pointed out that the BAP project has great potential, as it coincides with other initiatives, such as the implementation of silvopastoral systems, indicating that there is an opportunity for collaboration to promote the resurgence of Yucatan’s green gold. He emphasized the importance of the projects having the support of research and always focusing them on environmental care.

He added that it is very gratifying to know about projects such as the BAP that integrate the participation of the research area and the private sector, a combination to which he predicts great success, and emphasized that the governmental sector will always be present to support this type of projects as much as possible.

To end the event, Mr. M.C. García Villalobos, Director of Technology Management at CICY, emphasized that this project is a clear example of articulation of the Pentahelix, which is the basis of the Mexican innovation model, and invited the academic community of the Conahcyt Research Center to contribute proposals for the BAP project from CICY’s areas of expertise, which participates as a member of the alliance, to provide solutions derived from scientific and technological research and to propose alternative strategies for henequen cultivation, as a supplier of the plants that would be used, which have been produced by CICY in its “Dr. Manuel L. Robert” Biofactory, as well as in its “Dr. Manuel L. Robert” Biofactory, as a supplier of the plants that would be used, which have been produced by CICY in its “Dr. Manuel L. Robert” Biofactory. Manuel L. Robert” Biofactory, as well as options for its integral use (JCDO-Divulgación CICY).

Regenerative Agriculture: To Meat or Not to Meat?

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Regenerative agriculture (RA) is a farming approach that prioritizes soil health. To understand it better, let’s start by picturing a typical farm: often, it consists of hundreds of acres dedicated to a single crop like corn or cotton. This may seem conventional or even correct, but it isn’t.

A regenerative farm is the polar opposite of a conventional one. Instead of a monoculture, envision multiple crops strategically planted to support each other’s growth and vitality. For example, on a cotton farm, you might find rows of peas serving as “cover crops” to provide shade, maintain soil temperature, enhance water retention, and promote microbiome development. These farms also incorporate “pollinator strips” to attract bees and butterflies, along with “trap crops” to divert pests, avoiding the need for chemical pesticides.

The conventional use of heavy machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides to maximize food production has contributed to soil degradation and loss. According to Regeneration International, if this trend continues, there may not be enough fertile soil to feed the world within the next 50 years.

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From GMOs to Regenerative Agriculture: A Scientist’s Journey

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It’s not often that a scientist will transition from the narrow-focused science of genetically modified crops to the natural systems approach of regenerative agriculture. But that’s what happened to Laura Kavanaugh, who worked as a scientist for biotech company Syngenta for 12 years helping to develop GMO crops. Today, she is the new chief science officer for Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), which works with farmers to help them transition to regenerative agriculture.

While working at Syngenta, Kavanaugh began to see the problems with the GMO approach.

“We create something as a GMO to try to overcome something in nature, but nature never sleeps,” says Kavanaugh, who has a PhD in genetics and genomics from Duke University. “There are billions of microbes, billions of everything that are eventually going to eventually crack that (GMO) code.”

She realized that the GMO approach wasn’t a good long-term solution because it produces a short-term impact.

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Press Release: A New Tool to Track Agroecology Funding Streams

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Faced with the combined climate, food security and biodiversity crises, there is a growing interest in agroecology. Until today, however, we could not easily track the volume and quality of these funds globally and were left with the question: how much money is actually invested in agroecology?

At a crucial junction for international discussions around how to make our food systems truly sustainable, during the Committee on World Food Security (October) and ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai (December), a new tool has just been launched today. The tool had previously been presented at the Agroecology Donors Convening in Rome on 21st October, gathering governments, donors and investors.

The new Agroecology finance assessment tool, aiming at improving the tracking and assessment of funding streams for agroecology, is founded on an innovative methodological framework.

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Safeguarding the Genetic Diversity of the Honey Bee

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Pollinators play an essential role in our food system, with an estimated three quarters of crops depending on them. Yet, due in part to the impacts of intensive farming practices, their numbers are in decline. Here, beekeeper and Chair of the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association, Jo Widdicombe, looks at the issue of genetic diversity and why it is critical to safeguarding the future of one of our key crop pollinators – the honey bee.

In the last 50 years, we have seen a decline in many insect populations including some bumble bee and solitary bee species. In 1992, the varroa mite was found to have reached Britain and the number of honey bee colonies and beekeepers declined rapidly. After a campaign by British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), and others, highlighting the plight of the honey bee, the number of beekeepers and colonies started to rise again.

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Ground Covers and Weed Management for Regenerative Farming and Ranching

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This excerpt is from André Leu’s book Growing Life: Regenerating Farming and Ranching, and is reprinted with permission from the publisher.

A neighbor once asked me, “When are you going to spray out all your weeds?”

I replied, “Never, because we do not have any weeds. They are all cover crops that give us multiple benefits, such as increasing soil fertility, better water infiltration, and pest and disease control.”

Of course, he did not understand a word I said.

NATURE FIGHTS AGAINST BARE GROUND

Bare ground is the best way to encourage weeds, as most weeds are pioneer species. They rapidly germinate to cover disturbed and bare ground. Nature always regenerates disturbed soil by rapidly covering it with plants. Weeds are nature’s way of healing disturbed soil. Living plants feed the soil microbiome with the molecules of life so they can regenerate healthy soil.

cover crops on André Leu's farm
This is the cover crop on our farm after the summer rainy season. The mixture of grasses and legumes are around 10 feet (3 meters) high, producing tons of rich organic matter, nitrogen, and other nutrients— the molecules of life—to feed the soil microbiome and our cash crops. Our neighbors regard these as out-of-control weeds and wonder why we don’t spray to stop them from growing so we can have “nice bare ground.”

Our current weed management strategies are designed to fight this powerful force of nature, and they are the reason most farmers are constantly battling weeds.

Instead, we must learn to harness this powerful force of regeneration by turning weeds into cover crops that give us multiple benefits.

Covering ground is the best way to prevent weeds, and the most logical way to do this is with ground cover species that benefit our cash crop.

The Concepts of Mutualism and Synergy

We need to throw away simplistic, reductionist approaches to agriculture. The natural world is complex and dynamic.

The simplistic dogma that all plants other than the cash crop are weeds that compete with the crop and lower yields is not correct. This dogma originated more than 10,000 years ago in the neolithic age when farming first started. Science and technology have progressed considerably since then, yet, remarkably, mainstream industrial agriculture is still stuck in neolithic mythologies when it comes to weed management.

The current ecological and biological sciences show a very different picture. In many cases, plants are mutualistic and synergistic. Mutualism is where two species assist each other and both benefit. Synergy is when this benefit is greater than the sum of the whole. Instead of 1+1 = 2—the usual result of addition—in synergy, 1+1 = 3 or 4 or much more. The benefits of the species working together are significantly greater than simple reductionist monocultures. Examples of this will be given later in this chapter.

The current dogma on weed management has led to some of the most destructive practices in agriculture, resulting in massive soil loss, the decline in beneficial soil biology, and the residues of toxic chemicals in our food, bodies, water, air, and environment.

Standard agronomy says that all plants that are not cash crops are weeds because they are competing for nutrients and water and therefore lead to lower yields. But instead of taking the reductionist approach of “nuking” all weeds with either tillage or herbicides, we can take a holistic, ecological approach to managing them. We can turn them into beneficial cover crops that will improve our cash crops!

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Understanding the Context in Regenerative Agriculture

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Here, the term “regenerative” refers to restoring land, ecosystems, and communities to optimal health, with a focus on soil health, biodiversity, ecosystem functions, human well-being, and the climate. Rooted in Indigenous and peasant knowledge from all over the world and supported by modern science, regenerative agriculture practices involve cultivating an understanding among producers and land stewards, emphasizing soil care and interconnections.

By adopting practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, reduced tillage, integrating livestock, and increasing biodiversity, farmers are rebuilding soil fertility, carbon sequestration, and water retention while making their farms more resilient. The benefits extend beyond individual farms, potentially revolutionizing food production, and fostering collaboration between farmers, scientists, and policymakers to promote innovation.

It’s a movement that unites ecosystems, producers, chefs, scientists, and conscious consumers alike. Each blog post in this series peels back the layers of regenerative agriculture, revealing the ten guiding principles of regenerative agriculture that drive Regeneration Canada’s mission.

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