All around the world, you’ll find farmers who are passionate about restoring their environment through organic and regenerative farming practices. There is a lot of variety in regional approaches to sustainable agriculture, and each of them has something to teach us about Canada’s organic sector.
In 2021, nitrogen fertilizer saw a huge price spike due to a string of severe weather events like Hurricane Ida and the February Texas cold snap. Alongside other supply-chain disruptions, these events have led to global shortages and decade-high consumer prices. Is there a way we can limit our dependance on nitrogen fertilizer?
Regardless of size or location, farms are closely connected to their surrounding environment—through the soil, water systems, insects and wildlife. All organisms within an ecosystem depend on each other, and the healthiest ecosystems contain a wide range of species that interact in diverse and mutually beneficial ways. Agro-biodiversity tries to mimic natural species diversity by increasing the variety of crops and other organisms in a single farming system. It offers farmers many useful tools to improve soil health and reduce reliance on inputs without sacrificing profits. Having more species working together creates more stable farming systems that are resilient against harsh conditions like severe weather, pests and disease.
statement that, while true, is vastly oversimplified. While there is a general consensus that healthy soil is central to sustainable farming, less is known about the practice of using soil organic matter to store carbon as a climate solution. Conversations about the “soil solution” do not always dive into the details of how soil sequesters carbon, leaving room for skepticism about its effectiveness when compared to flashier technological carbon-capture solutions. In this article, we’ll break down how soil absorbs carbon and why it is an amazing natural phenomenon worth getting excited about.
Organic regenerative farming is all about soil, and there is a growing body of fascinating research revealing critical information about the role soil can play in responding to the climate crisis. With this information gaining more and more attention as the climate crisis worsens, many consumers are asking: What’s so special about dirt and what are the links between soil and climate change?
