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Scaling Up AROES (Agroecological, Regenerative, and Organic Ecosystem Services), Not Carbon Credits, Is Key to a Healthy Future For All
by Dr. André Leu, D.Sc., International Director, Regeneration International
Ronnie Cummins and I saw an urgent need to scale up agroecological, regenerative, and organic systems, the three main ecological agricultural movements, to regenerate our ecosystems, climate, and communities. We have been actively involved in organic agriculture in various ways for decades. I have been an organic farmer since the early 1970s.
We spent several years researching this and examining the markets, standards, and verification systems. The more we studied it, the more concerned we became about the credibility of carbon credits and biodiversity offset schemes. The media has been highly critical of these, and journalists and scientists have found many of these systems fraudulent.
Our book, The Regenerative Agricultural Solution, outlines the multiple benefits of regenerative practices. These benefits include increasing rainfall, improving regional cooling, reversing vapor pressure deficits, and increasing soil organic matter. These practices create tangible values that need to be paid for rather than taken for free, neglected, and therefore regarded as worthless. Paying the people who provide these services will give them real value.
Equally important is the need to regenerate our food and farming systems away from toxic monocultures. These systems destroy soil organic matter and reduce biodiversity, destroying the soil’s capacity to capture and retain water. This leads to vapor pressure deficits that heat the land, causing droughts and torrential flooding rains. The Regenerative Agricultural Solution explains the concept of vapor pressure deficits and their critical importance.
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Mexicans Should Not be Forced to Eat GMO Tortillas by the U.S. and Canada
by Civil Societies
"In light of the December 20 ruling of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (UCMCA) tribunal in favor of the United States and Canada and against Mexico in the dispute over genetically engineered (GMO) corn, the individuals and organizations below express our outrage.
This decision undermines Mexico’s food sovereignty. Mexico’s democratically elected government should have the right to take measures to protect its people, local farmers, economic development, and the environment from the risks posed by GMO corn imported from the United States. The USMCA trade agreement should not be allowed to be used as a weapon by the U.S. to undermine domestic policies, especially when they have little impact on trade."
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You Can Help Preserve Mexico's Biodiversity and Food Sovereignty
by Mercedes López Martínez, Delegate for the Demanding Collective Against GMO Corn
For the past 11 years, Vía Orgánica has been fighting to protect the 64 native corn varieties and hundreds of local strains in Mexico. These corn varieties not only represent a traditional food source for millions of people but are also key to the country’s biodiversity, culture, cosmogony, and religious rituals. Above all, they are part of the defense of ancestral seeds that have been passed down over 10,000 years by generations of farmers, contributing to both Mexico’s and the world’s
agricultural heritage.
We have successfully halted the planting of genetically modified corn in the heart of the crop’s origin region through a civil lawsuit that led to a precautionary measure preventing its commercial cultivation. This victory also serves as a powerful defense against multinational corporations like Bayer-Monsanto, Syngenta, and Dow Agrosciences.
We invite you to support this vital struggle through your donation. Every contribution helps sustain our efforts to protect ancestral resources, food sovereignty, and the right to preserve the culinary traditions of Mexican cuisine, which UNESCO has recognized as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
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Implementing Best Practices Regenerative Agriculture to Regenerate Our Climate
by Dr. André Leu, D.Sc., International Director, Regeneration International
The evidence shows that agriculture needs to change from chemically intensive to biologically intensive. The new paradigm reduces and ultimately avoids the use of synthetic chemicals. Plant biology and living soil science must be at the forefront of this research.
Using conservative figures, a simple back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that transitioning a small proportion of agricultural production to best-practice regenerative organic systems will remove more CO2 than the current emissions. (See appendix for details and methodology on calculations.)
•10% of grasslands under the Teague regenerative grazing could sequester 3.7 Gt of CO2 annually.
•10% of agricultural lands under pasture cropping could sequester 5.3 Gt of CO2 annually.
•10% of global agricultural lands regenerated by the BEAM organic compost system could sequester 18.5 Gt of CO2 annually.
•10% of smallholder farms across arable and permanent croplands using Singing Frogs Farm’s bio-intensive organic “no-kill, no-till” system could sequester 17.9 Gt of CO2 annually.
•10% of arid and semiarid drylands under the agave agroforestry system could sequester 3.8 Gt of CO2 annually.
This would result in 49.2 Gt of CO2 per year being sequestered. This is better than the annual atmospheric increase of 19 Gt of CO2 per year and would, therefore, start to reverse climate change and regenerate the climate.
Combining these regenerative systems is not double- or triple-counting. Many permanent pastures are unsuitable for cropping and can only be used for grazing. Pasture cropping can be used in most arable and grazing systems where machinery can be safely operated, and there is sufficient soil moisture in the rainy season to grow an annual crop. BEAM can be used in all systems. Singing Frogs Farm’s bio-intensive organic “no-kill, no-till” system can be applied to most of the world’s one billion smallholder farming families. The different systems give landholders flexibility and more options for adoption.
In the final chapter of The Regenerative Agriculture Solution, Ronnie Cummins and I explain how this can be scaled up and funded. The following article in this series will summarize this.
More information here
African Countries Adopt New 10-Year Agriculture Strategy
by Ayenat Mersie, Devex
"African heads of state have adopted a new 10-year commitment to enhance food and nutrition security on the continent while transforming food systems to be more sustainable and supporting more equitable economic growth.
The Kampala Declaration and its associated action plan commit to increasing the continent’s agricultural output by 45% by 2035, by adopting sustainable agricultural practices that will meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.
The declaration was adopted during an African Union summit held in Kampala, Uganda, late last week.
Bridget Mugambe, program coordinator at the Alliance for Food Sovereignty Africa –an organization that champions the use of agroecological and indigenous practices in farming– comments this:
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15 Fire-Resistant Plants & Landscaping Tips
by Anne Balogh
"Climate change, including hotter temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, is creating the perfect conditions for increased wildfire risk across much of the United States, even in areas that were once considered reasonably safe. The frequency, extent, and severity of wildfires is also likely to intensify in the years to come, as prolonged droughts and escalating temperatures continue to parch the landscape.
If you live in a high-fire-risk zone (or an area where climate change has put you at greater risk) choosing plants for your garden that offer good fire resistance can help reduce the threat to your home and property. This strategy, called fire-resistant or fire-smart gardening, is designed to limit wildfire activity by creating a defensible space around your home where vegetation and other factors are managed to keep fire at a safe distance."
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Certificate Course on Agroecological, Regenerative and Organic Agriculture
by Regeneration International in Partnership with the South Seas University
The Regeneration International Academy, in partnership with the South Seas University, has held two online courses on regenerative agriculture.
This semester, we are expanding the course to include agroecology and organic agriculture with the title of AROA (Agroecology, Regenerative, and Organic Agriculture). Bringing these three major global movements together as complementary systems is essential. Very importantly, this is a certificate course from an accredited degree-granting university. We plan to have the organic regenerative agriculture faculty offer a range of courses by recognized experts in regenerative, organic, and agroecological practices and systems in the following semesters.
This five week program will start on February 17. To register and secure your place in this uniquely valuable course, submit your full name as you want it on the certificate, position or profession, email, mailing address, tel # with country code, DOB, & portrait photo to [email protected]
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Essential Reading and Viewing
Engaging Consumers in Agroecology: Lessons from Field Learning Sites
Consumers are traditionally conceived as being at the end of a linear value chain that is the backbone of the industrial agri-food system. There their proverbial power lies. They engage with the food system using their wallets, but are otherwise unable to participate in issues outside what’s considered their domain, which is often limited to the price of products, their availability and safety.
North Waikato Organic Beef Farmers Dedicated to Working in Harmony With the Land
North Waikato organic beef farmers, Hamish Browne and Robyn Budd, are now in their eighth year of farm ownership and bring very different skills to their new roles as farmers. Brought up on a dairy farm, Browne took a farming course but couldn’t see a path to farm ownership and changed to a mechanical diesel apprenticeship.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum visits Peasant Learning Community
In Florencio Villarreal, Guerrero, Claudia Sheinbaum elected president for Mexico, visited a peasant learning community of the program Sembrando Vida, the most important reforestation and well-being strategy in the world
Analysis: 5 Ways to Look at the Los Angeles Fires Through the Lens of Climate Realism
“The wildfires raging through Southern California neighborhoods from the Pacific Palisades to Pasadena are horrifying and tragic. I feel profound sadness for my friends who have lost homes and businesses. My own connection to the Palisades neighborhood began twelve years ago almost to the day, when in my first act as a Los Angeles public official, I joined the Department of Water and Power to inaugurate a solar installation at the Palisades Pit Stop car wash subsidized by the city. That car wash now appears to be within the active fire zone.
Biochar and Bentonite in Sandy Soil Health Improve Crop Yields by 37%
A two-year study conducted in China’s arid Horqin Sandy Land revealed promising results for improving soil quality and agricultural productivity using biochar and bentonite. Aeolian sandy soils, known for their poor water retention and low fertility, were amended with combinations of these materials to test their effects on soil properties and crop growth.
Yurok Tribe Lays 11,500 Pounds of Native Plant Seeds Along Free-Flowing Klamath River
The Yurok Fisheries Department has completed a major milestone in the restoration of the Klamath River ecosystem. Following the removal of dams along a 38-mile stretch of the river, the department’s Revegetation crew recently hand-sowed 11,500 pounds of native plant seeds between the former Iron Gate Dam and JC Boyle Reservoir.
Melting Ice Reveals Remains of 5,900-Year-Old Trees in Wyoming, Uncovering a Long-Lost Forest
A melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains has revealed the remains of up to 5,900-year-old trees that could offer insights into past climate conditions, according to new research. Scientists discovered more than 30 dead whitebark pine trees (Pinus albicaulis) that were entombed in ice for millennia, according to a new paper published late last month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists Reveal Diet That Fights Off Life-Threatening Infections
Eating a diet rich in fiber from beans, legumes, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and seeds could promote the growth of beneficial microbes in the gut and help the body fight potentially dangerous infections. A study by scientists at the U.K.’s University of Cambridge recently found that 135 species of gut bacteria were linked to the absence of Enterobacteriaceae, a group of bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections.
Mexico: A USMCA Panel Ruled Against Mexico in the Genetically Modified Corn Case
A USMCA panel ruled against Mexico in the genetically modified corn case, claiming that the Mexican prohibition is not based on science and undermines access to the market agreed upon in the USMCA. In response, Mexican President Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of corn as a cultural and biological heritage, the risks posed by transgenic varieties, and proposed legislation to ban the cultivation of GM corn in the country. "Without corn, there is no country," she asserted. Experts are debating the next steps.
Indonesian Forestry Minister Proposes 20M Hectares of Deforestation for Crops
An Indonesian government plan to clear forests spanning an area twice the size of South Korea for food and biofuel crops has sparked fears of massive greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. The country’s forestry minister, Raja Juli Antoni, announced on Dec. 30, 2024, that his office had identified forest areas spanning 20 million hectares (50 million acres) for potential conversion into “food and energy estates.”
One Woman Show Across Canada Calls for Regenerative Agriculture
Dale Hamilton of Eden Mills, Ontario never imagined she would write and star in a theatre production. Yet her latest play, She Won’t Come in From the Fields, merges her passion for agriculture with her theatre experience to spotlight the urgent need for regenerative farming practices and food security. Drawing on her background in farming, education, and extensive theatre experience, Hamilton uses the stage to raise awareness about the benefits of shifting towards sustainable agriculture.
Biodiversity Threatened by Pesticide Drift, Study Finds; Organic Agriculture Cited as a Holistic Solution
Pesticides that are sprayed and become airborne significantly disrupt ecological balances and affect nontarget species that are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, according to an article in Environmental Pollution. In this review of studies throughout countries in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, among others, researchers from Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Poland reinforce the science about pesticides’ direct effect on species and the cascading effects of pesticide drift through various trophic levels within food webs that lead to overall devasting population effects.
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Support Our Work
Dear Friends of Regeneration International
Regenerative Agriculture is under attack by agribusiness. The poison cartels such as Bayer/Monsanto and Syngenta, along with their captive government departments, are trying to hijack regenerative agriculture to greenwash their degenerative systems.
“We need your participation and support as we move forward in this world-changing campaign we call Regeneration International. We need to build a massive international alliance to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, to sequester billions of tons of excess atmospheric carbon in our soils and biota, to regenerate billions of acres of degraded ecosystems, to eliminate rural poverty, to reverse our deteriorating public health and to revitalize rural communities all over the globe. The hour is late, but we still have time to regenerate.”
Please support our campaign to stop this greenwashing and ensure Regenerative Agriculture’s integrity by restoring farmer’s independence, promoting social justice, fair trade and regenerating ecological health.
Can you give $10 monthly or a one time donation today to support Regeneration International and our campaigns?
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Upcoming Events |
In Person:
01/24 - Regenerative Agriculture and Biological Farming Masterclass
01/25 - Actualización del mercado de granos orgánicos y reunión de compradores y vendedores
01/29 - Manejo Integrado de Cultivos
02/03 - Immersive Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture
02/04 - Mezclador de compradores y vendedores de productos orgánicos del sudeste
02/04 - Regenerative Agriculture – Meet the Experts
02/05 - The Earth as a Living Being
02/06 - Rootstock – Devon’s Future Farming Conference
Online:
02/05 - Webinar – Panel Conversations on the Future of Biodynamics
02/13 - Webinar – 6to Foro Intagri de Maíz de Alto Rendimiento
*Click here to view full events calendar and submit your own
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Regeneration International is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to building a global network of farmers, scientists, businesses, activists, educators, journalists, policymakers and consumers who will promote and put into practice regenerative agriculture and land-use practices that: provide abundant, nutritious food; revitalize local economies; regenerate soil fertility and water-retention capacity; nurture biodiversity; and restore climate stability by reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time drawing down excess atmospheric carbon and sequestering it in the soil.
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