With an estimated 25% of greenhouse gas emissions coming from our food system, rethinking our approach to agriculture is essential if we are to create a sustainable future. By working in harmony with nature, regenerative agriculture can provide more nutritious food at the same time as reducing emissions, restoring damaged ecosystems and protecting biodiversity.
Traditionally, farmers have been seen as guardians of the land, but the heavily mechanised approach to agriculture has been one of the key drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. It has damaged ecosystems around the world, degrading the soils we depend on for our food, and destroying wildlife with pesticides and inorganic fertilisers.
Today there is an increasing understanding of the pivotal role agriculture can play - not just by reducing its environmental impact - but also by working with nature to restore soil fertility and adapting to the changing conditions brought about by the climate crisis.
With thanks to the following contributors (in order of appearance)
Professor Doctor Thomas Crowther, Lead Scientist and Founder of the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich
Patrick Holden, Founding Director of the Sustainable Food Trust
Saurabh Sinha, Senior Program Manager, IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative
Brigitte N. Kanyamugenge, Head of Community Development, Arcos Network
Patrick Worms, Science policy advisor at ICRAF / World Agroforestry Institute
Dr René Zamora Cristales, Forest Economist & Senior Manager, Restoration Policy, World Resources Institute
Clara Rowe, CEO, Restor
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