Regenerative agriculture is really pretty simple. It starts with making the soil and the plants healthy. Healthy soil grows healthier plants. Healthier plants produce better food and healthier people.
One of the major advantages of regenerative agriculture is nutrient density—food grown using regenerative practices can contain higher levels of important micronutrients. Those nutrients end up in the food we eat, and can contribute to better human health. Regenerative agriculture is not just about growing more food; it’s about growing more nutritious food.
We’ve spent years treating health problems after they happen. Regenerative agriculture is about getting the system healthy in the first place.
In order to encourage farmers to consider making regenerative agriculture their practice, they have to know they will come out winning. You can’t ask farmers to change the way they farm if they’re going to make less money.
AEA (advancing eco agriculture) is doing this work with farmers. The creator of AEA, John Kempf started the regenerative agronomy consulting company after seeing something very simple on his own family farm. The same crop could be sick in one field. and healthy in another. He wanted to understand why. AEA works with farmers to understand what their plants actually need, and help them grow healthier, stronger crops. A truly healthy plant becomes naturally more resistant to insects and disease; this can mean fewer chemicals, fewer unnecessary inputs. It’s really no different from people. A healthier person generally needs fewer medicines and treatments. The idea is to create agricultural health rather than constantly treating problems.
I’m a real estate and construction guy. I’m not an agronomist. I met John Kempf 18 years ago, and when he explained this to me, it made common sense. It isn’t about telling farmers they’ve been doing everything wrong. It’s about giving them better tools, and ultimately connecting the farm, the food and the community.
Today, because of commercial agriculture, much of our food can come from halfway around the world. That’s how disconnected we’ve become from where our food originates, who grows it and how it’s grown. That’s where the agrihood comes in. An agrihood isn’t just houses with a cute little farm out front. The agriculture should actually be part of the community. The homes themselves should also be part of the idea. They can be built sustainably, without many of the toxic materials commonly used in construction. It’s not just about creating healthier food. It’s about creating a healthier place to live.
People should know where their food comes from. Kids should know where their food comes from. We’ve disconnected people from the land and from the people who grow their food. An agrihood gives us a chance to reconnect them. And this can’t just be for wealthy people; if we really believe better food matters, it has to be accessible to regular families and low-income families, too. To me, it all connects: healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy food, healthy homes, healthy people and healthy communities.
The goal isn’t to build one agrihood. It’s to create a model that works and can be repeated around the country, and then around the globe. The impact goes beyond farms and the people eating the food. If we can improve the soil, use fewer unnecessary inputs, grow healthier food and build healthier communities, it ultimately makes a positive impact on the world. jeffreycolle.com/agrihood
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