"Creation isn't something that happened all at once, a long time ago…creation is something that happens every day, and humans are meant to be stewards of this creation instead of dominating it. We are co—creators of this reality every day, and as such, we need to learn to work with natural systems instead of fighting them. The degree of our success as a society is going to be in direct correlation with our ability to adopt this 'heartset'."
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a plant nutrition and biostimulant consulting company. A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who are growing that supply. John is the host of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, where he interviews top scientists and growers about the science and principles of implementing regenerative agriculture on a large scale.
"Change doesn't happen in the soil, change doesn't happen with plants, change occurs within your heart and your mind. The only difference between a farm that is doing extraordinarily well and one that is not, is in the decisions and choices that the farm manager makes."
In this episode…
- Events that led John to explore alternatives to the conventional agriculture model
- Regenerative agriculture can and should deliver three things: disease and pest-resistant plants, plants that transfer their immunity to the people and animals that consume them, and vibrant, healthy soils that produce organic matter and sequester carbon.
- The dominating, war-like mentality in contemporary large-scale agriculture that is embraced by big agribusiness
- The modern fallacy that we need genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and fertilizers to "feed the world" and the overwhelming evidence that regenerative agroecosystems outperform and outyield modern agricultural systems
- Why "sustainable agriculture" isn't enough for our current needs and goals
- The perspective shift that differentiates modern agronomy from regenerative agriculture with regard to plant nutrition
- Scientific research is now demonstrating that soil biology has more impact on soil and crop health than soil chemistry
- Up to 70% of a plant's photosynthate production can be sent out through the roots to feed soil biology, and the more efficient that process becomes, the more exudates are released in the rhizosphere…so the fastest way to build healthy soil is to grown healthy plants
- Since the mid 1800s, prominent figures have concluded that soils have been degraded to the point that they are no longer able to support the physical, mental and spiritual potential of humans
- The world needs us to shift from the role of dominating and fighting natural systems to becoming co-creators working with these systems
- Openness, awareness, and desire will facilitate connection with this stewardship perspective
Resources
Nutrition and Your Mind by George Watson
The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin
johnkempf.com
Advancing Eco Agriculture
The Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
regen.ag Academy
