In 2014, the United Nations issued a warning to farmers: If they don’t change their agricultural practices, most of the soil they rely on to sustain their livelihoods will disappear within 60 years. Industrial-scale agricultural practices lean on polluting machinery and chemicals , which contaminate farmland. Insistence on monoculture –growing a single crop on the same patch of land–saps the soil of nutrients that more diverse crops deliver. And aggressive tilling breaks down soil structure and makes it harder for healthy land to regenerate. As the global population continues to grow, healthy farmland is critical. But in order to meet demands for food without damaging the environment, the whole industry needs to take a different approach. [Image: General Mills] That could look something like regenerative agriculture : a method of farming that’s slowly gaining popularity as a way for farmers to replenish their land and maintain their businesses. General Mills , one of the largest food companies in the U.S., has been vocal about its support for regenerative agriculture for several years, and is now committing to bringing the practice to 1 million acres of farmland by 2030. “In sustainability work, it’s often challenging to find anything that lifts […]
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