Nourishing Our Earth from Seed to Plate
We live in an era where climate action is more urgent than ever, so Earth Day must be redefined. According to the United Nations, if we do not change the way we live on this planet, respecting the environment and cutting carbon emissions by 45%, we will experience climate catastrophe by 2050.
How do we, collectively, undo the damage that is being done? One of the solutions to this evolving issue lies in environmental regeneration.
It is no longer enough to protect natural resources, we must do more to save the food system that we all depend on. This is no easy task, it will require a large-scale shift in our understanding of how we, as humans, relate to nature.
Environmental regeneration is not a new concept. We as a species have been using regenerative practices long before the existence of pesticides and large-scale farming. By replacing our current industrialized practices with regenerative systems, it is possible to transform our food system into one that is equitable, sustainable, and collectively created.
Regenerative Agriculture: What is it and how will it create a healthier, more equitable food system?
Regeneration is defined as the ability of an ecosystem to recover from damage, but it also encourages a way of life that can create healthier humans and a healthier planet.
Regenerative agriculture is a scientific process that “reverses climate change by rebuilding soil, organic matter, and restoring degraded soil biodiversity.” It depends on farming technologies such as composting, crop rotation, and conservation tillage that improve both land and air quality.
Simone Weil, a French philosopher, describes it as a process that is centered on the cycle of sunlight which will show farmers how sunlight is “concentrated in seeds and fruits, and enters humans in the form of food and drink to nourish the muscles that then prepare the soil.”
Regenerative agriculture teaches us that the food system is not a pyramid, it is a cycle. The sun, climate, soil, and Earth’s species all have their own roles that work together to bring food through its full circle from seed to plate.
By incorporating regenerative practices, we are giving back to the Earth and restoring the systems that ensure our food global food system stays healthy and is here for generations to come.
Regenerative practices create accountability to the Earth. Rather than protecting what we see as ‘ours’, regenerative agriculture deconstructs the understanding that humans are owners of the food system. Instead, it reconsiders humans as one part working alongside the sun, climate, soil, and other species to maintain the health of our food system.
Humans, just like any other species, hold a responsibility towards the preservation of the Earth. Regenerative agriculture ensures that our food system maintains the Earth’s health, rather than destroy it.
Regenerative agriculture is nothing new. Indigenous communities have been using regenerative practices for generations and it is these communities that hold the knowledge on how to transform our relationship with the Earth.
Regeneration focuses on a deep connection and understanding of local land. From water management to agroforestry, the farming culture of indigenous communities positions regenerative agriculture as central to the understanding of our land and the food it provides.
Indigenous peoples make up less than 5% of the planet’s human population, yet they are protecting 80% of its biodiversity. These communities are preserving the resources that the health of our food system depends on.
Today, our farming systems introduce highly mechanized practices which are both land-intensive and environmentally harmful. Many agricultural communities that our food system depends on are pressured by large agriculture companies to abandon their farming practices and switch to industrial production. This pattern is threatening generations of indigenous knowledge that is essential for the preservation of a diverse and abundant food system.
Luckily, there are still communities preserving the knowledge that will inspire a global transition from industrial to regenerative practices. From Malawi to Mexico, smallholder and large-scale farmers are exchanging centuries-old knowledge of regenerative agriculture to cultivate a sustainable food production system.
Regenerative agriculture is much more than adopting more sustainable practices. It is about shifting our relationship to the Earth, recognizing the large-scale traumas that have been imposed by our current food system, and engaging in collective healing that benefits both humans and the Earth.
In order to create a truly equitable and sustainable food system, we must empower indigenous communities with resources and a respectful platform to share their valuable knowledge.
But I’m Not a Farmer, So What Can I Do?
So say you’re not a farmer and don’t have the power to switch from pesticides to compost or research crop rotation techniques that will honor the land. This is where a regenerative and circular economy comes in hand. All of us are active participants in the global food economy. This means we have the power to shift our consumption practices to ones that honor the Earth and support local economies on a global scale.
A regenerative economy is characterized by standards that support low waste practices, encourage cooperation, and promote life and evolution. These circular practices allow us, as consumers, to shift the food system through collective action and advocacy.
What does it look like to be a regenerative consumer in our global food system? This is where the concept of regenerative eating comes in.
Regenerative eating is the idea that we can take all the concepts of regenerative agriculture and apply them to the food choices we make on a daily basis.
We can eat in a way that supports local farmers, seasonal crop cycles, and reduces our contributions to the harmful farming practices that are threatening our food system.
Our individual choices contribute to the collective shift in consciousness that will support a sustainable food system. Here is how you can shift your eating and advocacy to co-create a regenerative economy that prioritizes the health of the Earth:
1. De-Colonize Your Diet
Professors Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel theorized this concept as one that “reclaims pre-colonial roots and explores indigenous traditions.” Our diets can support the farmers that are working to preserve ancient grains and native produce by replacing imported, boxed, or canned goods with local products found at markets around the world.
Local products can be found at farmers' markets around the world such as Plaza del Mercado de Paloquemao in Bogotá, Colombia, or Azadpur Wholesale Market in Delhi, India.
Take a weekend to explore your region’s local produce. Rather than going to a big-box grocery store that sells many of the products influenced by a colonial and industrialized food system, connect with and support your local producers to reclaim the nourishing crops your region has to offer.
2. Switch to low waste cooking
Food waste is regionally specific. This is largely because there are global inequalities “in harvesting techniques, storage, and transport infrastructure.” According to the FAO, many high-income countries experience large percentages of food waste at the end of the supply chain. Food loss in low-income communities is an issue in the early and middle stages of the supply chain, rather than the consumer level.
In the United States of America, about 40%, or 125–160 million pounds, of food is wasted by consumers and retailers every year. However, in countries such as Brazil and Guatemala, food is lost before it reaches people’s plates. Our food system has created issues of abundance and scarcity that prevent people from being equally fed and threaten long-term food security.
Change can start at the individual level. Out of the 931 million tons of food waste produced annually, 69% comes from household waste. Get creative in the kitchen to create low-waste recipes that use the most out of fresh produce to minimize our impact. By shopping less often, we can ensure that fresh food doesn't extend past its shelf life and do the Earth a favor by fully utilizing its resources.
Advocating for a regenerative food system will help balance the inequalities in technology and resources that cause the global divide between food waste and food loss. By holding corporations and large-scale farmers accountable for food waste, we can co-create a food system that is sustainable for everyone.
For some inspiration in the kitchen, try these low waste recipes that use banana skins and broccoli stems to help you make the switch to environmentally friendly cooking.
3. Eat Seasonally
Our current food system may allow fresh produce to be available year-round, but it relies on an extensive transportation system and utilizes more resources than the Earth can naturally reproduce. While we see more diversity at our local grocery stores, this availability uses practices that threaten the future biodiversity of our planet.
According to the book Connectedness, biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on our planet. All species, from humans to fresh vegetables, rely on biodiverse ecosystems that sustain Earth’s natural food production cycles. Eating seasonally is a way to respect the land’s availability and preserve the life of all species that depend on it.
Eating seasonally will shrink supply chains, reduce our carbon footprint, and provide added value and quality to the food we eat every day. This regenerative practice also teaches us that fresh produce has limited availability, but is much better when consumed at the appropriate time of year.
Rather than working against nature, we can eat seasonally to support a flourishing Earth filled with an abundance of resources that can be equally used by everyone.
4. Advocate for livable wages and healthy working conditions for agricultural workers
Many agricultural workers are underpaid and centered in low-income countries which perpetuate the colonial influence of our global food system. By reinforcing these inequities, our food system continues to deny the basic needs of laborers in order to meet the demands of consumers. We need a dramatic shift in the ways we support the people who work in the industries that nourish our bodies.
COVID-19 has added even more pressure to the jobs of agricultural workers. With the rise in global food insecurity, the inequalities created by the agriculture industry are becoming more present than ever before.
Our lives depend on the food agricultural workers bring to our tables. It is time to value these workers for the contributions they make to our daily lives. This means advocating against unsafe working conditions and ensuring that all agricultural workers have access to clean water, healthcare, and a livable wage. When we reduce the socioeconomic inequities created by our food system, we will be able to create a future that is sustainable for all.
In Conclusion
Earth day is an important reminder that we should be mindful of our relationship to other species, the land, and its resources.
These practices should expand beyond April 22nd. If we want a more equitable future where all humans get to enjoy the resources a healthy planet has to offer, we must start thinking seriously about regenerative lifestyles.
It is important to remember that this switch is not accessible to all under our current food system. Access to fresh produce and local farmers is a privilege in many countries where convenience has replaced quality.
This shift won’t be easy, but it is necessary to create an equitable food system. Those who have the privilege to advocate and model regenerative consumption practices can set the stage for a more sustainable future. As a global community, we can also shift our local support from large food corporations to the communities already practicing regenerative lifestyles.
A world where humans are re-connected with the Earth is possible. It is time for us to think about our habits beyond Earth Day and co-create a sustainable food system that benefits all.