At the risk of oversimplifying the history of regenerative farming, people farmed the same way for countless generations, and even though they wouldn’t have called what they did regenerative farming, they used techniques that dovetail with this agricultural philosophy.
By World War II, however, farming had become what is often called “conventional.” Two ways that conventional farming differed from methodologies of the past include how farmers grew for high yields and used chemical fertilizers to help achieve this goal.
In recent decades, it’s become apparent that conventional farming has stripped the soil of valuable nutrients, and crops grown in this environment don’t impart as many nutrients to people who eat them.
As more farmers have returned to regenerative agriculture, though, by planting multi-species cover crops to enrich the soil instead of relying upon chemicals to kill off weeds, and as they use other regenerative techniques, the soil is regaining its health and ability to produce healthy crops for healthy people.
Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture
Healthy soil is at the heart of this farming philosophy with positive soil health leading to more nutrient-dense crops to feed the human population. At a macro level, it can also play a key role in capturing carbon in the soil to contribute to a healthier climate and, therefore, the planet. As noted in the World Economic Forum in 2023, if 40 percent of global cropland used regenerative farming techniques, this would counteract the effects of 600 million tons of emissions. This is approximately the footprint of the entire country of Germany.
Said another way, healthy soil leads to healthy crops for healthy people and a healthy planet.
Feeding a Growing Population
Using information from the World Resources Institute, the world’s population will be nearing ten billion by 2050, which is about three billion more than it was in 2010. Solutions are clearly needed, and relying on the high yields grown through conventional farming has been problematic.
Fortunately, regenerative farming uses resources more efficiently because of the higher nutrients in the crops being grown and the land use efficiency. This, in turn, boosts water efficiency, which lowers the burden on the planet’s water reserves. Reduced pesticide use will allow for healthy biodiversity in a planet whose climate we’re nurturing.
Regenerative Farming at The Chef’s Garden
At The Chef’s Garden, we embrace the regenerative philosophy throughout the farming process. So, we invite you to join the regenerative agricultural movement by choosing crops grown this way to feed your family. The beauty of this action is that our farm-fresh vegetables are incredibly delicious as well as nutritious.
We make this easy by creating fresh vegetable boxes where you receive and can enjoy the best of the season. You can also build your own box, which is a rewarding and eco-conscious way to connect with your food while supporting regenerative agriculture.