Have you heard of a Carbon Sink? Not the type of sink
that you use to brush your teeth or wash your hands. This sink is much larger
than the one in your house, and takes in the carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
One of the largest sinks we have is right under our feet–literally. Healthy
soil has the potential to absorb all the CO2 in the atmosphere if treated
correctly. Can you imagine? A way to suck carbon dioxide out of the air that
does not involve major technological advances and relies instead on tools and
methods that our great grandparents used as a matter of course.
In late April, the Rodale Institute published a white paper
report stating that “we could sequester (obtain &
retain CO2) MORE than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions” through
regenerative organic agriculture. Studies done in Iran and Egypt
found that the use of regenerative organic agriculture on all current cropland
could sequester 40% of annual CO2 emissions. On top of that, by using this
model on global pastureland, we could sequester an additional 71% of CO2
emissions.Even half of this would make significant change. Finally, a real
life solution to turn back the carbon clock!
So what is this “regenerative organic agriculture?” It is
quite simple. It is the type of agriculture that relies on “old-school” organic
practices instead of pesticides and fertilizers. In particular this model
emphasizes the use of cover crops, residue mulching, crop rotation and
composting and then allows nature to “regenerate when disturbed.” By using
these organic methods, we are allowing nature to heal itself.
Currently our food system is contributing to 30% of
global greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture, by itself, is responsible for 10%
of emissions. Rather than acting as the positive influence for the climate that
it could be, our overreliance on an industrial farming system model has led to
deterioration of topsoil from the increased usage of synthetic fertilizers,
monoculture and mass farming.
The good news is our food system doesn’t need to be part
of the problem. On the contrary, this study shows that our food system can be a
crucial and indispensable part of the solution. In addition to the carbon
sequestration benefits, in more extreme weather conditions such as those
associated with climate change, organically grown crops are more resilient and
out-competed conventional yields by 28-34%.
What does that leave us with? Hope. That 4-letter word
that keeps us going. As an individual, you can join the movement and start by
growing food in your backyard. If you’re in an urban setting, don’t let that
stop you. Check out all the cool things happening with urban farming. And don’t
forget that every time you go to the grocery store, you are voting with your
dollars. So choose local, sustainable, Non-GMO & organic. If these options
are not already available, why not ask the store manager and demand change?
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