Simple Mills’ Post

Regenerative agriculture is here to stay. 🌱 And it's growing exponentially. 📈 There was a 130% increase among companies adopting various regenerative agriculture practices from 2019 to 2022. [1] Including 79 publicly listed agri-food companies with a combined annual revenue of $3T. [2] CPG companies led the adoption of regenerative agriculture, growing the most out of any segment from 2019-2022. [1] And it's created a growing interest in regenerative agriculture amongst consumers. [2] Consumers mainly agree that farming practices are connected to their food's nutrient density and personal health and that their food choices affect the climate and environment. [3] And they are excited to see more regenerative products on the shelves.[4] But barriers to adoption remain.[5] 👩🏻🔬 Believing there is a lack of scientific evidence for regenerative agriculture --- Some people still equate RA to a "values-led" movement with little evidence, but the truth is far from that assumption. You can find research in the comments about the benefits and proof behind regenerative agriculture. 🔬 Believing that additional studies are needed before taking action --- Plenty of research indicates the connection between soil health, human health, and nutrient density. What is required now is to connect verified outcomes that engage customers and drive top-line growth for companies. 📣 The worry about marketing complicated soil science to engage consumers --- Brands may hesitate to engage their audience with the scientific details, fearing regulatory issues in making such claims. But this is where 3rd party certifications come into play, where regenerative outcomes can be verified. This information was organized and created by the Nutrient Density Alliance to help companies communicate nutrient density and regenerative agriculture more clearly. It's exciting to see the growth of regenerative agriculture across the entire supply chain, from farm to consumer and everything in between. Change is compounding, and transformation is occurring. #soilhealth #sustainableagriculture #farming #agriculture #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #farm #food #cpg #climate #science

Good resources indicating that regenerative soil practices can impact the nutrient density of our food, compiled by Arlene Barclay @ Climate Farmers Preliminary studies with small sample groups concluded that crops produced through regenerative practices had an 11-34% higher nutritional composition, and on average contained more magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, vitamins B1, B12, C, E , K, and phytochemicals. The analysis of meat products followed. Beef and pork from regenerative farms contained more omega-3s and α-linolenic acid. In general, crops had more anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compounds. Degenerative practices like chemical interventions kill microbiological life in the soil. Over the long term, not only it will grow less nutritious food -- it might not grow food at all. Healthy and diverse microbian mass = healthy soil = better-fed crops = better-fed people. (At FARFARM we have been carefully tracking soil microbial mass through DNA extraction [+ enzymes + organic matter]. We are hoping this methodology will give us more precise and reliable results for biodiversity measuring, that combined with other chemical, biological and physical analysis will paint a hollistic soil portrait and evolution through time. Message me if you have specific experience about this, would love to exchange experiences.) I hope to see more about the relationship between soil and nutrition to add to the endless list of the advantages of regenerative farming.

Does #regenerativeagriculture produce healthier food? ☘️ 🍏 It has been proven that regenerative management not only improves #ecosystem health, but also nutrient density. Higher nutritional value has been found in foods produced in regenerative systems rather than in conventional plots, but why could this be? 🤷 Soil! Different #farming practices influence the quality of soil, which then has an impact on the quality of our food. So why haven't we switched to regenerative agriculture completely? 🤔 Because farmers are not provided with enough support and knowledge in regards to how to implement new practices, and therefore are unable to know if such methods would work on their land. Financial barriers are also a large issue. We must put our efforts in as a collaborative to provide #farmers with the support they require to work towards more sustainable farming practices. 🚜 Find out more about what we can do for regenerative agriculture here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3tSixGt ⭐ This blog was authored by Arlene Barclay of Climate Farmers, one of our startups who on a mission to scale regenerative agriculture and reverse climate change in Europe by working directly with farmers and developing best practice tools. ⭐

Cellular Agriculture! 🌱 Ever wondered about a world where burgers grow in labs instead of pastures? 🍔🔬 Welcome to the era of Cellular Agriculture - a game-changer in the way we produce food. Cellular Agriculture is a cutting-edge approach to food production that involves cultivating agricultural products, such as meat, dairy, and leather, by utilizing cell cultures in a controlled environment, without the need for traditional farming. Sustainable Sizzle: ⭐️ Traditional farming leave heavy environmental footprints. Cellular agriculture allows us to cultivate meat, dairy, and even leather without the ecological toll of traditional methods. Animal-Friendly Feast: ✅No more ethical dilemmas! Cellular agriculture enables the production of animal products without raising and slaughtering animals, promoting cruelty-free alternatives. Resource Efficiency: 💯 With reduced land and water requirements, cellular agriculture presents a sustainable solution to feeding our growing population without straining our planet's resources. Novel Nutrition: 🧪💡 Scientists can tweak cellular agriculture to create custom nutrition profiles, providing healthier and tailored food options for consumers. Examples to Marvel At: 🌟 Several companies are leading the charge in cellular agriculture. Check out: UPSIDE Foods : Pioneering lab-grown meat, redefining our approach to protein. Perfect Day: Crafting animal-free dairy products using precision fermentation. Geltor: Producing sustainable, animal-free collagen for various applications. What's your take on the future of food through cellular agriculture? 🌍🌿 #cellularagriculture #sustainablefood #futureoffarming #innovationinagriculture #foodtechnology 🚜🔬 Image Source: GreenBiz, Shutterstock

Missed our latest webinar, 'Regenerative Agriculture: Problem or Solution?' Do not worry, we have you covered! 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/etVvEjAp So much ground was covered, with many interesting points stemming from the discussion. A lot of work needs to be done to focus the debate around regenerative agriculture, but the opportunity to scale is most certainly there! Some key points: 1️⃣ Are food systems really designed to be regenerative, or is 'regeneration' another buzzword masquerading market economics? 2️⃣ #Organic is #Regenerative! 3️⃣ What food has the farmer chosen to produce? Was this decision merely based on price, or on from pressure from supermarkets? The choice of crops we grow is vital in defining a regenerative food system. 4️⃣ Food companies should act as partners to farmers in their operations, supporting them in generating stronger cashflows and reporting on their sustainability efforts. As Thomas Gent said, “we’d love you to be there and sit on our team”.   5️⃣ As Anna Pierce mentioned, "we can’t just apply a cookie cutter approach". Each farm is different, and the level of financial and technical support will vary. Food and drink businesses should be mindful of what they ask farmers and evaluate each farm on a case-by-case basis. 6️⃣ Learning from Roger Saul's Mulberry days, where the profit from luxury fashion stemmed from selling direct to consumer. Should food follow a similiar model? 7️⃣ Did you know there are more gold courses than orchards? Thanks for that key stat Duncan Williamson! 8️⃣ How will farming communities get paid for regenerative, and in particular biodiversity efforts? Governments should step in and provide funding guarantees. This will incentivise lenders and financiers to provide more favourable terms to farmers.  Many thanks to Alex Cullen for her wonderful moderating skills! Ultimately, the message of regenerative agriculture is overwhelmingly positive. The future looks bright and regenerative!

🌱 Unlocking Potential: The Importance of Seed Treatment in Agriculture 🌱 Seeds are not just tiny packages of potential; they're the foundation of our food supply and the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. Today, I want to shed light on the often-overlooked but crucial practice of seed treatment and its profound impact on crop productivity, resilience, and environmental sustainability. 🌿 Enhanced Germination: Seed treatment techniques such as priming and coating play a pivotal role in enhancing germination rates. By pre-conditioning seeds with beneficial substances, we can kickstart the germination process, ensuring a stronger start for our crops and maximizing yield potential. 🌱 Disease Prevention: One of the greatest threats to crop health is disease. Seed treatment offers a proactive defense against pathogens by incorporating fungicides and other protective agents into the seed coating. This preemptive measure not only safeguards the seedling but also reduces the need for post-emergence chemical interventions, promoting eco-friendly farming practices. 🌿 Nutrient Efficiency: In an era where sustainable resource management is paramount, seed treatment emerges as a champion of efficiency. Coatings enriched with essential nutrients provide young plants with a nutrient boost during their critical early stages, optimizing growth while minimizing nutrient wastage. 🌱 Environmental Sustainability: By mitigating the risks of disease and optimizing nutrient uptake, seed treatment contributes to overall environmental sustainability. Reduced chemical usage, lower environmental impact, and enhanced crop resilience are just a few of the ways in which seed treatment aligns with our commitment to responsible stewardship of the land. As we navigate the complexities of modern agriculture, let's not overlook the transformative potential of seed treatment. By investing in this essential practice, we empower farmers to cultivate healthier crops, mitigate risks, and build a more resilient food system for future generations. Let's continue to nurture the seeds of progress together! 🌍🌱 Narendra Reddy MSc Seed Science and Technology #SeedTreatment #SustainableAgriculture #CropProductivity #EnvironmentalStewardship #Innovation

What do we agree and disagree on when it comes to the practical implementation of #regenerativeagriculture? We discussed its potential on a panel with Kaufland Deutschland, a Klim project farmer and the Forum Moderne Landwirtschaft. 🔑 The panel participants aligned on six key learnings 🔑 👩🏼🌾 A Practical Definition of Regenerative Agriculture: Regenerative agriculture involves a set of practices aimed to improve soil health, and thereby ensuring food security through more resilient crops. It can be used as a toolbox of methods that farmers can choose from to cultivate their soil. 🫛 Improving Crop Rotation Diversity has Positive Outcomes for Farmers: The farmer Harald Will who is part of Kaufland’s and Klim’s project emphasises the need to find tools and practices that are individually suitable for each farm. He illustrates this using his own experience with transitioning to regenerative agriculture, planning more diverse crop rotations, and using summer and winter plants that offer several benefits for the soil - like improved water retention, less fungal infestation, production of bio-mass and weed suppression. 🛒 Companies like Kaufland Invest in Regenerative Agriculture to Protect their Core Business: Paulina Elena Manthey highlights the role of sustainability in corporate strategy. This includes ensuring food security through stable supply chains and promoting soil health, as well as achieving climate goals through carbon storage in the soil. 💻 Digital Tools Support the Transition: Klim serves as a link between farmers and food companies. The platform makes emission reduction on German farms measurable, thus enabling agriculture to be part of the climate solution. 💚 Deepening Connections Through Transparency: Farmer Harald Will has shifted from shipping his harvest to a port to knowing exactly where his grains go. He can now see his carefully grown grains become part of a Kaufland’s private label breakfast cereal mix. This tangible link to the fruits of his labor not only brings him a sense of pride and satisfaction. Similarly, Kaufland values this transparency, appreciating the personal connection they have with their farmers, enriching the story behind their products. 🤝 Collaboration and Responsibility of All Stakeholders is Required to Enable Farmers to Integrate Regenerative Practices: The panelists agreed that it’s important to build partnerships, trust in each other, and have shared goals. It's about farmers, companies, and consumers recognising their responsibility and taking action to further develop and promote regenerative agricultural practices. #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #SoilHealth #FoodSecurity #Sustainability

What are some agricultural trends we can expect to see in 2024 and beyond? One is an uptick in regenerative farming practices to address and positively impact climate change and carbon management. The author makes a valid point: it will be essential for the agriculture industry to collect more data and increase collaboration across industries to drive further adoption of regenerative practices.    #sustainablefarming #agriculture #agtech #biologicals    https://lnkd.in/eYnbb_Dv  

Thought provoking article on 'Regenerative Agriculture'. Key takeout’s for me: - We don't need to grow more food, we need to grow different food in different ways. - Need to make sure that human health is front and centre of this debate. - Animals have a key role to play in health soil. What's good for the land is good for us (albeit more research is needed), I believe we should keep this simple message front of mind as we develop our systems and processes to be more sustainable. Thanks to safefood Knowledge Network & David Burrows. Sign up to safefood'Knowledge Network' for up to date knowledge sharing in food production. #RegenerativeAgriculture, #Safefood

Regenerative agriculture is one of our greatest opportunities to address the environmental, social and health challenges related to food production, along with the financial well-being of farmers. 👩🌾 So, what's stopping us from making regenerative agriculture practices the norm in Europe? 🌱 ➡ The current #regulations and policies fail to account for the complexity that we face to transition to regenerative practices, such as quantifying outcomes other than carbon. ➡ While it produces more #nutritious food, it's hard to demonstrate the nutrient density to the consumer clearly. ➡ Regenerative farming requires specialised #knowledge and skills. ➡ Farmers lack the #financial support to transition to sustainable farming practices. These are some of the challenges around scaling regenerative agriculture that we've addressed at the Regenerative Agriculture Summit Series, together with Jolijn Zwart-van Kessel from Foodvalley NL, Anco van Schaik from Danone, and Iker Bilbao from NEIKER BRTA, Václav Kurel - CEO Carboneg, who are helping transform the agricultural system. The opportunities are huge. 💸 "Regenerative agriculture will become an increasingly critical area for investment and innovation over the next decade" says Richard Zaltzman, our Chief Impact Officer. We are, first of all, a human system. 🙋♂️ This is why we continue to work with all stakeholders in the agrifood industry to help accelerate this transition, and to support innovative models that provide solutions to farmers, companies and consumers. Learn how you can get involved: 👉 https://lnkd.in/d47HsApz