In last week’s post about Alan York and his posterchild biodynamic farm, a well funded operation
Biodynamic farming requires a pretty stiff certification from Demeter. And it differs from other forms of alternative farming in its demand for an almost closed ecosystem. Since theof “Organic” has now
Even hydroponic food producers successfully fought to be
The term regenerative agriculture or even regenerative organic agriculture has been more of a collection of ideas stemming from the founding tenets of organic and biodynamic farming, bundled together currently with sequestering more carbon in our soils as a way of easing climate change. Organic farming’s original tenets were based on the non-chemical-based maintenance of healthy soil, pasturage and lack of 20th century confinement of livestock. Biodynamics preaches the development of a balanced and biodiverse ecosytem within a farming property. Regenerative agriculture – which includes tenets from both philosophies, additionally embraces some social and consumer issues that are now painfully pressing on our radar screens. With formation of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, hopefully a new chink has developed in the armour of Big Ag.
Applicants for ROA certification must commit to building the organic matter in soil, using conservation-approved tillage, cover crops and rotation. No applicant can use GMO products or gene editing processes. Hydroponics is forbidden, as is any synthetic treatment. Biodiversity is promoted, as is rotational grazing for livestock.
ROA further defines membership by insisting on humane animal husbandry, which includes the Five
Where this association moves beyond older forms of sustainable agriculture is in championing social rights as related to agriculture. It promotes the development in farming communities of democratic organizations, and emphasizes that all farm members have an obligation to strengthen respective skills and resources. ROA advocates for fair payments to farmers, good working conditions and living wages for workers, and forbids forced labors. It demands a long-term commitment to the farm by the applicant and will audit members for transparency and accountability. Obviously, many corporations using the shelter of USDA organic would not make the grade.
In answer to the need for investment capital that has its nose sniffing in the right direction (such as the anonymous venture capitalist for Apricot Lane Farms) help is on the way. A Google search reveals a spadeful of funds that support sustainable, biodynamic, organic and regenerative organic farming and ranching ventures. One such investment group is Bio-Logical Capital . As a capital management partner in a variety of ventures, one that stood out for me was what Bio-Logical Capital is accomplishing in partnership with an ROA farm in Vermont – Philo Ridge Farm
Bio-Logical Capital was founded by a board member of The Nature Conservancy and has a small board of activist investors. While real estate development is sometimes part of their land management approach, it differs in that they want to integrate renewable energy, water stewardship, and regenerative and sustainable agriculture. There is a focus on land health and building sustainable communities
The farm offers a dinner service as well, somewhat like the Ferme-Auberge program in France. Bio-Logical has hired and trained staff, overseen construction of the farm’s infrastructure and guided the owners into creating a diversified farm. The farm is now aligned with a university program for soil testing and other farm management programs so as to quantify the results of long-term regenerative organic farming. The investment arm and the farm owners want Philo Ridge to be a model for other farms in the Northeast as Apricot Lane is on the West Coast.
After owning one of the best cooking stores in the US for 47 years, Nancy Pollard writes a blog about food in all its aspects – recipes, film, books, travel, superior sources and food related issues.
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