By REESE AMOROSI
In his latest book, ReGen: A New Future for Farming, Food and Health (Norton), David R. Montgomery makes a case for regenerative farming – a practice that focuses on soil health – by alerting readers that “a century of conventional farming has left our planet with sick soil” and this is “accelerating food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change.”
In ReGen, Montgomery, an acclaimed geologist and professor of Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, writes that the current state of soil degradation is largely due to “routine tillage” (a variety of methods used to break up soil, frequently done during planting) and agrochemical use.
Montgomery explains that soil degradation happens in both conventional and organic farming. The main difference between the two systems is well known: conventional farming allows for agrochemical use, while organic farming does not. What they have in common, though, is that most farmers in both methods plow to control weeds. There are no-till farmers, but most rely on herbicides to control weeds. All of these actions are “further degrading soils society depends on.”
The good news is that this is a solvable issue, and this is where regenerative organic farming comes in. Montgomery points out this method minimizes or avoids physical and chemical disturbances and focuses on soil health “through low or no-till practices.” This is achieved by using cover crops (crops grown for soil enrichment as opposed to for harvest), rotating crops (alternating what is planted improves soil fertility and discourages crop-specific pests and weeds), and using organic compost and mulch.
ReGen offers even more solutions in a chapter that debunks “key myths that shape perceptions of conventional agricultural policies,” and a chapter with ten solid policy recommendations, the first being, “reform agricultural subsidies to support building soil health” instead of subsidizing degenerative farming.
ReGen is not only an interesting read, it is an important read. The wisdom Montgomery shares throughout ReGen is crucial knowledge for growers large and small. But it is essential knowledge for non-farmers as well – it is imperative to learn about and support farming practices that will feed our future generations, address biodiversity loss and counter climate change.
For more information about ReGen visit W. W. Norton & Company
For more books by author David R. Montgomery click here.
