Across Canada, farms, vineyards and ranches are adopting regenerative agriculture, a system of practices meant to regenerate soil from the damages of conventional farming, and draw carbon out of the air. Canadian farmers and advocates for the small but growing movement say the next pieces of the puzzle are consumer awareness and policy. What is regenerative agriculture? The purpose of regenerative agriculture is to regenerate soil instead of degenerate it the way conventional farming does. Done correctly, the regenerated lands should also draw carbon from the air and hold it, or sequester it, in the soil. Farmers and advocates say this could help offset emissions created by the conventional agriculture sector. Brooks White, of Borderland Agriculture in Manitoba, describes regenerative agriculture as five pillars that work in harmony: the use of no-till practices, meaning the soil is not turned over by equipment; the increased diversity of crops; the use of cover crops to protect soil and draw in carbon; the integration of livestock into the farm; and the fostering of living roots to improve soil structure and health. “The word regenerative basically means concentrating on your soil life, so that your soil gets better,” explained André Houle of Houle […]
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