Matthew Adams’ Post

Carrots. Don't you just luv 'em. Especially ones that are grown sustainably. Colorado is proposing tax breaks for farmers adopting regenerative practices - a win for producers and the planet. This bill is an example of how government, through legislative measures and tax incentives, can help revolutionize the way we farm in the future, by prioritizing and rewarding farmers and producers who demonstrate good stewardship. The drivers of regenerative farming go beyond low-, medium- and high-technology solutions. Legislators and financial incentivization must also play a part. Local retailers will benefit too, with the price gap between sustainable and traditionally closing and more availability of sustainably grown produce. Colorado is investing in tomorrow. Will other countries follow? Will governments give a carrot to regenerative agriculture?

If organic certification is not part of this definition, it opens the door for toxic petrochemical pesticides to be considered “regenerative” 🧐 There’s already a system here that can be improved (aka National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances) #organic #regenerative #colorado

Defining Regenerative Agriculture – the state of Colorado might accomplish the feat ahead of California as advocates in the state have introduced a bill to create a tax incentive program for local retailers purchasing agricultural commodities from local producers who practice regenerative agriculture. The bill also includes a definition. Proposed definition (SB24-152):  "REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE" MEANS A CONSERVATION AND REHABILITATION APPROACH TO FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEMS FOCUSED ON TOPSOIL REGENERATION, INCREASING BIODIVERSITY, IMPROVING THE WATER CYCLE, ENHANCING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, SUPPORTING BIOSEQUESTRATION, INCREASING RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF FARM SOIL. - Like it? What remains unclear is what the “verification requirements of qualifying producers” will be and if organic certification will qualify.  It appears the State Department of Agriculture will establish rules for verification...before or after the bill passes? Learn more about the bill here: https://lnkd.in/gsNJyhyZ

Kudos to Colorado for putting this forward. However, the definition given in the Bill lacks any reference to SUSTAINABILITY. ‘the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. "the sustainability of economic growth" avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. "the pursuit of global environmental sustainability" ‘ It is worth considering that ‘regenerative’ could be seen as a hybrid of what we’ve previously aspired to achieve ie : Sustainable Agriculture. Further, there’s a lot to be learnt and leveraged from the UN Global Compact Initiative and SDG’s. We don’t have to keep reinventing the wheel, in industry ‘silos’. By introducing tax initiatives, Colorado is recognising that community needs to be considered in the regenerative approach. Well done Colorado 🙌

Although the term ‘regenerative’ has gained widespread traction among farmers and the food industry, definitions of the term vary widely. Organic Agriculture: 🌎 Supports a Resilient Planet 🧑🤝🧑 Builds Healthy Communities 🤝 Is Trustworthy Organic agriculture has a clear legal definition, is grounded in principles that collaborate with nature, foster healthy soil, and contribute to clean water, biodiversity, and thriving farm communities; it shares many of the same principles and goals of regenerative farming. Organic is the original climate smart agriculture. It is a verifiable legal standard that can be relied upon in the journey towards creating more regenerative farming systems. We recently released a new toolkit to provide messaging resources for organic advocates. It includes background information, a flyer, presentation slides, and heaps of science-backed evidence to support help communicate how Organic IS Regenerative. You can check it out at https://lnkd.in/gwRKRPJi #OrganicIsRegenerative #OiR #OrganicToolkit

EU Benchmarking System Proposal Aims to Support Sustainable Agriculture and Financial Stability A recent call for the establishment of a benchmarking system in European agriculture aims to better reward sustainable practices and enhance the financial viability of farming in the face of climate change and growing public concerns. Stakeholders in German agriculture have voiced strong support for a standardized system that could help drive sustainability across the #EUBenchmarking #ProposalAims #Sustainable agriculture >>> Read more

Researchers make surprising discovery after examining farmers' regenerative agriculture practices: 'More than just money' Game-changing research revealed the reality behind farmers' relationsips with regenerative agriculture. Here are 3 main insights: 1) Motivation Beyond Money: Farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative agriculture not just for potential financial gains from carbon credits, but for personal freedom, improved quality of life, and environmental benefits. They seek to reduce dependence on high-input, chemical-intensive farming methods. 2) Community Support is Key: The transition to regenerative practices fosters increased solidarity among farmers. They form support networks to share resources and navigate challenges, highlighting the importance of community in achieving sustainable farming goals. 3) Barriers to Carbon Programs: Many farmers are deterred from participating in carbon credit programs due to low financial returns and cumbersome paperwork. https://bit.ly/3AqZXbO #regenag #regenerative #carbon #sustainability #agriculture

🌱 ‘Farming at The Sweet Spot’, a report published by the Nature Friendly Farming Network and The Wildlife Trusts, highlights the insurmountable pressure on farmers to increase productivity by investing more inputs into their farming system, despite the impact this will have on nature, biodiversity and the climate. In response to the significant damage caused by intensive agriculture to people and the planet, the report offers a roadmap to an alternative future for food and farming, one which is better for nature and also more profitable. 💬 “[The impact of intensive agricultural practices] has led to calls for a serious rethink of the way we produce food, moving away from a focus only on ‘high inputs, high yields’ towards one that focuses on the overall sustainability of farming systems. We need a food system that is resilient to future shocks (economic and climate) and that operates in harmony with the natural environment, and where profitability of farm businesses is improved.” The Global Farm Metric framework aims to empower farmers to understand, measure and monitor the overall sustainability of their farms. Common metrics like the GFM will be essential in monitoring the effects of a shift towards Maximum Sustainable Output (MSO) – the level of output at which a farm is making best use of nature's resources and is most profitable – as highlighted in this report, on all aspects of a farm system. 👉 Read the report in full here: https://lnkd.in/ewuSWU_N 🔗 To find out more about the GFM, visit: https://lnkd.in/dfJnRKZj #MaximumSustainableOutput #GlobalFarmMetric #NatureFriendlyFarming

Carbon in Agriculture: Understanding Ecosystem Opportunities for Businesses Webinar 🍃 Hosted by Landcare Australia. 10am-12:30pm (AWST) 5 Dec 2024. This webinar offers a unique opportunity for land managers, farmers and graziers to understand how carbon management can impact agricultural businesses. Learn from industry specialists, scientists, and producers. Included in presentations: ✅ Latest research tools and strategies to measure, manage, and monitor carbon. ✅ Insights on improving farm productivity while enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health. ✅ Practical advice from real-world experiences from scientists and producers. ✅ Guidance on carbon opportunities and projects that qualify for carbon credits. Further information and to register: https://lnkd.in/gbAzXY4x #agriculture #naturalresourcemanagement #agricultureandfarming #farmingforthefuture #agribusiness #carbon #ecosystems #biodiversity #carbonfarming #professionaldevelopment

Although the term ‘regenerative’ has gained widespread traction among farmers and the food industry, definitions of the term vary widely. Organic Agriculture: 🌎 Supports a Resilient Planet 🧑🤝🧑 Builds Healthy Communities 🤝 Is Trustworthy Organic agriculture has a clear legal definition, is grounded in principles that collaborate with nature, foster healthy soil, and contribute to clean water, biodiversity, and thriving farm communities; it shares many of the same principles and goals of regenerative farming. Organic is the original climate smart agriculture. It is a verifiable legal standard that can be relied upon in the journey towards creating more regenerative farming systems. We recently released a new toolkit to provide messaging resources for organic advocates. It includes background information, a flyer, presentation slides, and heaps of science-backed evidence to support help communicate how Organic IS Regenerative. You can check it out at https://lnkd.in/gwRKRPJi #OrganicIsRegenerative #OiR #OrganicToolkit Source: Organic Farming Research Foundation