Farming our Future
Farming our Future
Farming our Future
Breaking the barriers to sustainable farming.
Problem
Non-sustainable agriculture on a commercial level is one of the leading contributors to the deterioration of our environment. While there is a lot of research surrounding sustainable agriculture, many farmers fail to adjust their practices due to financial expenses, lack of support, policy barriers, and negative social stigmas.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming that balances meeting the food needs of a community without depleting Earth's natural resources. It aims to prioritize environmental health, social equity, and economic success.
What types of practices are involved in sustainable agriculture?
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation involves changing the plants that are grown in a field each season. This improves crop yields, supplies the soil with a diverse selection of nutrients, and reduce pests. Each crop benefits the soil in a different way and rotating the types planted boosts the soil health. Soil is the basis for all crop growth and feeding livestock, meaning that a healthy soil can boost the overall success of farming.
Organic Farming
Growing crops and raising animals without the use of synthetic chemicals. Using chemicals in farming can expose humans to toxins, deteriorate soil health, contaminate water, and can lead to long-term illnesses. Using natural fertilizers and pesticides helps protect the land, animals, and humans.
Regenerative Agriculture
Farming that focuses on restoring and improving the soil health of the land. Strategies like cover cropping (growing crops between main crops to add soil nutrients and prevent erosion), rotational grazing for livestock (prevents overgrazing and spreads natural fertilizer), composting, planting a variety of crops and native plants to build biodiversity of the farm ecosystem.
No-Till Agriculture
A sustainable farming method where the soil is not plowed or turned over before planting crops. This maintains soil health, reduces erosion, and allows the soil to retain more carbon and water in the ground.