E250: Roots of Change – Successful, incentive-based food and farm policy advocacy

October 8, 2024

Join Kelly Brownell in a conversation with Michael Dimock, Executive Director of Roots of Change, about transforming food systems through innovative policies. Discover how Roots of Change collaborates with various stakeholders to create nutrition incentive programs and support sustainable agriculture, focusing on community-first approaches. Learn about pioneering projects, insights into policy influence, and the future of agricultural practices. This episode provides an optimistic view of the evolving food system landscape and the potential for significant positive change.

Related podcasts: Advocacy & Food | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Community & Economic Development | Equity, Race & Food Justice | Food Policy | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E226: Hope for regeneration: photographic documentary of rangeland conservation

January 24, 2024

It has been said many times that a picture is worth a thousand words. Our guest today is documentary photographer Sally Thomson, the creative genius behind the book “Homeground.” She hopes her photos of 24 ranchers and land managers can broaden people’s understanding of the impact conservation ranching has on the health of the land, the animals, and the people who live, work, and recreate in Southwestern and Rocky Mountain rangelands. Her book also includes rancher quotes and essays from land managers working to address challenges of climate change and diminishing resources and to find sustainable land management solutions.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E222: The Regenerative Ag Legacy of White Oak Pastures

December 7, 2023

White Oak Pastures is a sixth generation, 156-year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. It’s also the home of Rancher Will Harris who runs an expansive, zero waste production system with the animals he pasture raises and butchers on the farm. White Oak Pastures produces grass fed beef, lamb, goat, and Heritage pork, and pastured turkeys, chicken, duck, geese, and more. Will is a vocal and passionate champion of radically traditional farming as the path to regenerative land management, humane animal husbandry, and revitalizing rural communities. This is the second time we’ve spoken with Will Harris. The first time came right on the heels of a really interesting national meeting held in Tennessee on regenerative farming, where I became very impressed with Will and the work he’s doing. He was kind enough to join us for a podcast at that time. Our discussion today happens to coincide with the release of a book that Will has written entitled, “A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: One Farm, Six Generations, and the Future of Food.”

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Regenerative Agriculture | Voice of Farming |

 

E211: Soil Wealth Areas: a Tool to Spur Investment in Regenerative and Organic Ag

August 1, 2023

There’s much excitement out there about regenerative and organic agriculture, but how can they be financed and how can capital providers support these important approaches to agriculture? A new report by the Croatan Institute addresses this issue by emphasizing soil wealth areas. So, what does this mean? Well, we’re going to learn about that from researcher Jamie Silverstein, an author of that report.

Related podcasts: Community & Economic Development | Philanthropy & Food Systems | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E179: Investing in Soil Regeneration for Human Health & Environmental Health

August 31, 2022

Today, we’re speaking with geologist David Montgomery, co-author with Anne Bikle, of a new book called “What Your Food Ate.” Very interesting title. David is professor in the College of the Environment at the University of Washington and earlier had been awarded a MacArthur fellowship. You may already be familiar with him through his acclaimed book called “Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations.” Dr. Montgomery has long argued that the root of good health begins with dirt, a factor that we ignore at our peril.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E178: A Call to Invest in Agriculture’s Missing Middle

August 24, 2022

We’ve done many podcasts on the topic of regenerative agriculture, which is a conservation and rehabilitation approach to farming and ranching that enriches and restores the environment while also producing more nutrient dense food. Today, we are speaking with Anna Aspenson of the Croatan Institute about the need for financial investment in regional food production, and processing infrastructure, such as meat packing, grain milling and malting and produce canning, or even freezing facilities.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Community & Economic Development | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E167: Muller Shepherding Regenerative and Restorative Agricultural Practices

May 19, 2022

Today’s podcast is part of our Regenerative Agriculture series. I’m speaking with Mark Muller, Executive Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation (RAF). The RAF seeks to foster the economic policy and knowledge conditions that support land stewardship, climate solutions, racial equity, adjust economy, and thriving rural communities.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Regenerative Agriculture |

 

E157: Adam Zipkin on Transitioning to an Agricultural System that Benefits Everyone

February 17, 2022

Today, we’re going to explore industrial agriculture and what that means to farmers and ranchers, to farm workers, to corporations, and consumers. Our guest today, Adam Zipkin, serves as council to New Jersey Senator, Cory Booker. He advises Senator Booker on issues related to food policy, agriculture, and animal welfare. Booker has been deeply engaged in legislation such as the Farm System Reform Act, Black Farmers Act, and the Climate Stewardship Act.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Community & Economic Development | Equity, Race & Food Justice | Food Insecurity | Food Policy | Regenerative Agriculture | Urban Agriculture |

 

E153: The Farmer’s Language of Climate Change and Land Regeneration

January 20, 2022

Today, we’re talking with ecologist, Steven Apfelbaum, author of “Nature’s Second Chance”, a book that was named a top 10 environmental book in 2009, and was one of the top 10 books for understanding what you can do about climate change. So Steve is going to talk about his work to improve soil health, a really amazingly interesting and important topic, but also how grazing and how farming can be improved, and how to restore land using nature’s own processes. He’ll also speak about how such work minimizes climate impact, while also reducing flooding, increasing food quality and nutrition, and improving land health. Steven Apfelbaum is a senior ecologist and science advisor at RES, Resource Environmental Solutions, and Founder and Chairman of Applied Ecological Services. This podcast is part of our Regenerative Agriculture series.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Regenerative Agriculture | Voice of Farming |

 

E147: Farmer-scientist Measures the Real Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture

November 1, 2021

Today’s podcast is part of our Regenerative Agriculture series of podcasts. We’re talking with agroecologist Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, CEO for Blue Dasher Farm in South Dakota, and also founder and director of the ECDYSIS Foundation. Dr. Lundgren connects the worlds of science and agriculture, and his working regenerative farm is also a scientific research hub.

Related podcasts: Agriculture & Tech | Climate Change, Environment & Food | Regenerative Agriculture | Voice of Farming |