Cool the Planet. Feed the World.

The Power of Regenerative Food and Farming to Save the Planet

"If you’ve never heard about the amazing potential of regenerative agriculture and land use practices to naturally sequester a critical mass of CO2 in the soil and forests, you’re not alone. One of the best-kept secrets in the world today is that the solution to global warming and the climate crisis (as well as poverty and deteriorating public health) lies right under our feet, and at the end of our knives and forks."

- Ronnie Cummins International Director of the OCA and Regeneration International

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The Other 50% of the Climate Solution

The solution to the climate and food crises is under our feet and at the end of our knives and forks.

To date, global climate crisis conversations have focused on solely emissions reduction. While necessary, reducing fossil fuel emissions alone is simply inadequate – it is a 50% solution. Even if we were to cut all human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, the globe would continue to warm for decades or even centuries to come.

However, there is hope. There is growing scientific evidence that regenerative agriculture can reverse climate change through soil carbon sequestration, while at the same time delivering other essential ecological, economic, and health benefits. Given that the industrial food and farming system as a whole is the number one cause of GHG emissions, climate activists need to start thinking of themselves as food, farming and natural health activists as well.Given that the industrial food and farming system as a whole is the number one cause of GHG emissions, climate activists need to start thinking of themselves as food, farming and natural health activists as well.

The Facts

Regenerative Agriculture:

Feeds the world: Small farmers already feed the world with less than a quarter of all farmland. > Read the GRAIN Report
Decreases GHG emissions: A new food system could be a key driver of solutions to climate change. The current industrial food system is responsible for 44 to 57% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. > Read the GRAIN Report
Can reverse climate change: Emissions reduction alone is simply inadequate. Luckily, the science says that we can actually reverse climate change by increasing soil carbon stocks. > Read the Rodale Institute Report
Improves yields: In cases of extreme weather and climate change, yields on organic farms are significantly higher than conventional farms. > Read the Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

Degenerative Agriculture:

Destroys soil nutrients, which contributes to the 793 million people worldwide suffering from malnutrition, by drastically reducing yields and producing food deficient in essential nutrients (FAO, 2015) (FAO, 2013).
Contributes an estimated half of all human produced GHG emissions - anywhere between a low of 44% and a high of 57%. > Read the GRAIN Report
Depletes soil carbon: Soils have lost 50-75 percent of their original carbon content. > Read the FAO Report
Destroys agricultural biodiversity through the use of GMOs and monocropping, leading to a 75% decrease in genetic diversity over the past 100 years. > Read the WWF Report