WHAT IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE?
What’s the difference between sustainable agriculture and regenerative agriculture?
At its purest, regenerative agriculture is a lifestyle and farming methodology designed to create and enhance life within a farm’s ecosystem. This dynamic and holistic approach to agriculture, incorporates permaculture and organic farming practices–resulting in healthy soil capable of producing high-quality, nutrient-dense crops; while improving the land, and securing a balanced and biodiverse farm ecosystem.
Where sustainable agriculture aims to replenish what it depletes to maintain the current level of soil health, regenerative agriculture goes above and beyond-pushing the agricultural process further.
WHY IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IMPORTANT?
Why does Wilderland promote itself as a regenerative organic farm?
The loss of Earth’s fertile soil and biodiversity pose a serious threat to humanity’s food security and future survival. Through many standard agricultural practices, soil is being polluted and decarbonized resulting in mass land desertification and erosion. It is estimated over 12 million hectares of productive land become barren every year. At this rate of soil destruction, soil scientists project within 50 years we will no longer have enough arable topsoil to feed ourselves. In addition, the agricultural and forestry industries account for approximately 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which does not include the transportation of these agricultural and forestry goods.
Despite the current conditions of agriculture’s enormous harm to the environment, it also has enormous potential to heal it. As Canada’s first regenerative organic Rhodiola rosea farm and one of the first in our growing regenerative agricultural community, we have firmly planted our flag in the regenerative agriculture movement. We are proud to be part of the healing and believe that transitioning to more regenerative forms of agriculture is critical. We believe in a future where farmers can provide our continuously booming world population with fresh, nutrient-dense food, grown in regenerative soil ecosystems. Regenerative agriculture is the future, and the future is now.
WHAT SPECIFIC REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES DOES WILDERLAND USE?
Wilderland’s approach to regenerative agriculture covers six primary farming practices including:
- Conservation-only tillage: No-till and minimum-till such as disking
- Soil cover: Cover cropping and organic mulch
- Biodiversity: Cover cropping, intercropping and companion cropping, diverse plant rotations, pollinator-supporting flora buffers, and animal habitat creation and conservation
- Perennial crops: 100% perennial crops, seed harvesting, windbreak preservation, and native perennial vegetation conservation
-
Organic inputs: Compost, compost tea, organic-only biostimulants including biochar, composted animal manures, mycorrhizal (fungi) application, plant/food compost, and absolutely no use of any synthetic/chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides
- Water management: Rainwater harvesting, minimal water use, and water conservation
Visit our Knowledge Centre or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok where we post the latest on regenerative agriculture and our farming practices.
