Benjamin Fahrer’s Post

Founded in 1937, Lundberg Family Farms has been a pioneer in sustainable farming practices. It was great to learn about this long-standing commitment and how the company is meeting today’s and future challenges from Bryce Lundberg and Brita Lundberg. A few highlights of this Forbes article: 🌿 Bryce and Brita emphasize the importance of #Regenerative Organic Certification (#ROC) in holding the industry accountable for meaningful change. This rigorous certification is from the Regenerative Organic Alliance which was founded by the Rodale Institute, Patagonia and Dr. Bronner's’s. 🌍 ROC demands farming that not only protects but rehabilitates the #environment, prioritizing not just #soilhealth, but also #animalwelfare, and social fairness including farmer wellbeing. 🌾 Lundberg recently certified 8,500 acres of rice fields and now offers over 70 ROC products. They are committed to being fully Regenerative Organic Certified by 2027. 📚 I also discuss these themes in my forthcoming book #TheProfiteers. 

"It turns out that both people and crops can be ‘overfed yet undernourished’, and the conversation around food nutrient density is becoming core to regenerative farming." Soils for Life’s Eli Court and Tahlia Kinrade were at the recent VicNoTill conference to soak up conversations and insights like these. They also heard more about: 🌱 Nutrient density; the ultimate marker of ecological health 🌱 The importance of diversity in both crops and soil life 🌱 Staying profitable while tweaking inputs 🌱 The footsteps of the farmer being the best fertiliser 🌱 How food and farming underpins community resilience. Great topics! Read more about it at https://loom.ly/OUWLkQQ

"regenerative agriculture" isn't a singular strategy for increasing agricultural sustainability. Abandoning monocropping, increasing biodiversity for both plant and animal species, agroforestry, and reworking water delivery systems are just a handful of the many practices that fall under the regenerative agriculture label. As a result, it can be challenging to enter farming communities and sell regenerative agriculture as a simple, viable solution, regardless of its potential to improve our food chain. According to Renée Vassilos, Director of Agriculture Innovation at The Nature Conservancy, "Establishing trust on the ground and collaborating closely with each community" is vital for regenerative strategies to find acceptance on a global scale. #BiodiversityInAgriculture #Sustainability #Agriculture

As vineyards and orchards in the #Okanagan struggle to recover from the impact of a brutal winter freeze, taking a more holistic and regenerative approach to their farming can provide them with more stability moving forward. Seeing themselves as stewards of the land rather than focusing only on a specific crop also has huge benefits to the biosphere. “Villat and others see the fields as unique spaces where innovation can happen, spurring the ability to improve regenerative practices and increase adoption across agriculture. “The viticulture sector is notoriously one of these ‘bubble sectors’ that stays within itself and isn’t talking as much to the rest of the ag community,” she said. “They’re trying to solve the same problems and the same issues. We’re talking about animal integration, we’re talking about integrating trees, we’re talking about integrating other crops. It really is regenerative agriculture, even if we might take a viticulture lens.”” #regenerativeagriculture #wineindustry #agriculturalinnovation #naturebasedsolutions

Pre Spring blooms at one of our amazing regenerative and organic farms in Humboldt County. This is a working farm that services farmers markets, puts out tons of food , and also has cannabis. A husband and wife team of well over 20 years ! I love the biodiversity of crops, fruit trees, berries, and history here that goes back over 100 hundred years of producing crops on this farm. I walked around with the owners sharing experiences and ideas about building soil and reducing cultivation costs. It’s a challenge of balancing ways of spending the least amount of time and money on cannabis and still crush it with quality. Soil health is the key here! It’s all about the soil. One way we both have found a lot of success is with cover crops : Fava beans right now are a few weeks from being turned into the ground on their farm. Nitrogen gets pulled up from the deep roots and is stored in the base of the plant in tiny balls of pure nitrogen. Ready to be available for the needs of the plant to flower, bolt and turn to seed. Capturing this potential from the cover crop at the right time and returning the nitrogen to the soil before it is used by the plant is essential to maximizing nutrient absorption in the soil. No need to spend thousands and thousands on salts, soil killers, and synthetic fillers. No need for imported fertilizers and fancy guanos. ( no slaves in caves on my behalf thank you ) This is responsible, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture. Always giving to the soil. Not just taking from it. Old farming knowledge: Learn how to grow healthy soil. And everything else will take care of itself. #humboldt #humboldtcounty #organicfarming #covercrops #springblooms #regenerativeagriculture #familyfarm #favabeans #humboldtnation #humboldttrimcompany #farmersmarket #shadygrove

THE MIRACLE OF A SEEDLING: A Tale of Hope and Transformation Once upon a time, in a small village embraced by rolling green hills, there lived a determined farmer named Rahul. He had a dream to empower small holder farmers and promote sustainable agriculture in his community. One day, as Rahul was tending to his crops, he stumbled upon a small, withered seedling struggling to survive. Moved by compassion, he gently plucked it from the dry soil and carried it to his greenhouse. With tender care, Rahul nurtured the seedling, providing it with the perfect balance of sunlight, water, and nourishment. Day by day, the seedling transformed into a resilient plant, reaching towards the sky with vibrant leaves and delicate blossoms. Word of this miraculous transformation spread throughout the village, reaching the ears of other farmers. They flocked to Rahul's farm, eager to witness the magic for themselves. Inspired by what they saw, they too began to adopt organic farming practices, embracing the potential of each tiny seed. Together, they formed a community of farmers dedicated to sustainable agriculture. They shared knowledge, traded tips, and celebrated one another's successes. The once barren fields bloomed with life as organic crops flourished, bringing hope and abundance to the village. As seasons passed, Rahul's small village became a beacon of inspiration for neighboring communities. The ripple effect of his passion for organic farming and his commitment to small holder farmers spread far and wide. The impact was not only seen in healthier crops, but also in empowered farmers who discovered their own potential for growth. Today, Rahul's village stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when one seed is nurtured with love and dedication. It serves as a reminder that within each farmer lies the power to transform not only the land but also their own lives and the lives of those around them. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THIS? lessons, we chat in the comment session #Agriculture #Organicfarming #SmallholderFarmers #Sustainability #14dayschallenge

How can we convince farmers to go organic? - Tell them you’ll buy everything they grow!🛒💚 Many host community outreach work parties on local farms, helping to enhance the regenerative qualities of their food-growing systems.  This effort is crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture, but it’s only HALF the solution. The real game-changer?🚀 To provide farmers with the missing piece so many other well-intentioned programs overlook: HELPING THEM SELL WHAT THEY GROW🥕🍅 I had a huge revelation during my third year in Costa Rica, driving through the mountains, observing the coffee fields and cattle. I kept wondering, "How can I convince these farmers to go organic and adopt regenerative practices?" Then it hit me: "Tell them that you'll buy everything they grow!" Over the years, the idea has been germinating to start a buyer's club to develop an understanding of how much of which products people are buying from outside the local area.  With that information, we can encourage farmers to plant accordingly, knowing there’s a guaranteed market for their produce.🌽🍏 What if you could tell your area farmers: “If you grow This much of These products, using These land management practices, we'll buy it all.” That’s all many of them NEED to hear. It’s the assurance that transitioning to organic farming won’t leave them without buyers for their crops. For example, a rancher could be enticed to produce fewer cows and transition some of their land to organic crop production because they know their produce—whether it’s peanuts, herbs, dried fruits, or other value-added products—will be sold. This integration of market support with sustainable farming practices is crucial to long-term sustainability and the ability to make a positive impact at scale. It motivates farmers to adopt and maintain regenerative agriculture methods, benefiting both the environment and their livelihoods. ------------------------ 🌿 What other financially-regenerative ways can you think of to make an environmental or social impact? 🌍 🔎 Discover the 77 Ways to Practice Permaculture Professionally! Check out the link in the comments to learn more. 📚 #SustainableAgriculture #RegenerativeFarming #CommunityOutreach #OrganicFarming #CSA #BuyLocal #SupportFarmers #Permaculture #SustainableLiving #GreenFarming

A Stroll Through Our Regenerative Almond Orchards This month I was able to immerse myself in the beauty and innovation of our regenerative almond orchards here in Merced County. Walking through the rows of trees adorned with nuts and surrounded by lush cover crops, I couldn't help but feel inspired by the harmonious relationship between nature and agriculture. Cover crops, a cornerstone of our regenerative practices, have truly transformed the landscape of our orchards. As I wandered through the verdant carpets of clover, peas, vetch and more, I was reminded of the myriad benefits they bring to our ecosystem: 1. **Soil Enrichment**: Cover crops act as nature's own fertilizer, enriching the soil with organic matter and essential nutrients. This not only enhances soil fertility but also improves its structure, water retention, and overall health. 2. **Biodiversity Boost**: The diverse array of cover crop species attracts a wealth of beneficial insects, from pollinators to predators of harmful pests. This natural balance reduces our reliance on synthetic inputs while promoting a thriving ecosystem within the orchards. 3. **Climate Resilience**: In the face of climate change, the resilience of our orchards is paramount. Cover crops play a crucial role in sequestering carbon, mitigating erosion, and buffering against extreme weather events, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operations. 4. **Economic Sustainability**: Embracing regenerative practices isn't just about environmental stewardship—it's also a sound business decision. By reducing input costs, improving yields, and enhancing the quality of our almonds, cover crops contribute to the economic viability of our orchards. As I reflect on my walk through our regenerative almond orchards, I'm filled with pride knowing that we're not just farming the land; we're stewarding it for future generations. Every step we take towards sustainability is a step towards a brighter, greener future for agriculture. #RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #AlmondOrchards #CoverCrops #ClimateResilience #FarmLife #NatureAndAgriculture Regenerative Organic Alliance CALIFORNIA AG SOLUTIONS, INC. Green Cover

𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐏𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠    In this pilot project, the cooperating parties are researching how the use of urine as a fertiliser substitute can be deployed and to what extent this contributes to circularity on the participating farms. Within this pilot, the dairy farms, which have a Lely Sphere barn system, a CowToilet or a VrijlevenStal from Hanskamp, can apply mineral flows in a different way. Thus, data is collected on the impact of these the systems, which can contribute to the optimisation of the use of mineral flows.   In the longer term, the results of this pilot can play an important role in the European discussion on artificial fertiliser substitutes. Fertiliser substitutes can contribute to European food security, strategic autonomy and the sustainability and profitability of dairy farms, so it is important that the scientific knowledge on this is expanded and included in European laws and regulations.    For this pilot, the participating parties are looking for dairy farmers who are open to innovation on their farms and willing to participate in this research. Registration for the pilot has yet to be opened. Interested parties can already register at [email protected] and [email protected].   To learn all about the pilot, read the press release: https://lnkd.in/ekpF8PRJ   This PPS is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Wageningen Livestock Research, Slootsmid, NCM: Nederlands Centrum voor Mestverwaarding, Hanskamp and Lely. #lely

The Regen Reflections webinar series, hosted by the Cool Farm Alliance and SAI Platform on October 31st, delved into the benefits and actionable strategies for partnering with farmers to transition supply chains toward regenerative agriculture. 🌱 The third session, titled Getting Grounded, featured presentations that were not only detailed and practical but also refreshing and inspiring. Case studies highlighted diverse farming systems, ranging from large-scale operations to smallholder farming contexts. Despite the differences in scale, stakeholders across these varied systems discovered common ground, fostering meaningful exchanges and shared learning among co-presenters. 📢 Here are some key takeaways from our speakers Kelly Rincon, Sustainable Food Lab introduced the "North Dakota Trusted Advisors Program,” a collaborative effort by companies like PepsiCo, General Mills, The Hershey Company, and Unilever. This program pools public and private funding to train trusted agronomic advisors in soil health practices while providing farmers with incentive payments and support for capacity building. Harold Perry, PERRY FAMILY FARMS LLC, a large scale farmer and supplier to McCain Foods, shared his experiences in regenerative agriculture, including taking participants on a virtual field visit, showing close-up and microscopic images of plant roots and insects, making them feel as if they were on-site. He explained how regenerative practices enhance soil resilience and health, enabling plants and soil biology to self-regulate with minimal human intervention. This approach simplifies farming systems, creating a more sustainable model. Niek Engbers van Keulen,of McCain Foods outlined McCain’s commitment to sourcing 100% of its potatoes from regenerative farms. He described their “farms of the future,” which test innovative practices and provide financial incentives to farmers. Niek also highlighted a DNA soil barcoding trial inspired by Harold, which explores links between soil microbiology, farming methods, and crop performance. Julie Reneau of Nestlé Nespresso SA and Myriam Sainz Stuyck of TechnoServe discussed Nespresso’s AAA Program, which supports 155,000 farmers, 90% of whom are smallholders. Co-design workshops and 650 agronomists guide farmers toward regenerative practices, yielding premium rewards. This approach has transformed farmer mindsets and community perceptions, showcasing the tangible benefits of regenerative farming. Want to be part of the conversation? Stay tuned for updates on our next session as we dive deeper into co-creating regenerative solutions 🌾🌍 #regenerativeagriculture #regenreflections