 Seth Itzkan of Soil4Climate at the Africa Center for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe May 18, 2019 — Thetford, Vermont — Seth Itzkan, cofounder of Soil4Climate, a global movement promoting better agricultural management, including managed grazing, as a climate solution, will be giving a keynote address on Thursday, May 23rd, at the “TRANSFORM Climate, Communities, and Capital” conference in San Francisco.
An emerging body of peer-reviewed studies have found conducting livestock grazing in a way that emulates the movement of wild herds restores fecundity and wildlife habitat to land degraded by conventional agricultural practices such as tilling (plowing), fallowing, the application of synthetic, fossil fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides, and, ironically, poorly-managed grazing. Farmers throughout the U.S., including Joel Salatin of Virginia, Will Harris of Georgia, and Gabe Brown of North Dakota, among a multitude of others, report higher productivity and profitability as a result of adopting new grazing practices that rapidly improve soil fertility while reducing or eliminating the need for expensive, polluting chemical inputs. The production of fake meat, whether plant-based or lab-grown, results in greenhouse gas emissions, causing the climate crisis to worsen. By contrast, real — not Impossible (™) — meat from real cows captures carbon in soil, empowering agriculture to fulfill its role as the only sector of the economy able to extract billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air annually. “Given the severity of the climate crisis, the last thing needed is more factory food that puts carbon dioxide into the air instead of removing it,” stated Itzkan. Large areas of the world are turning into desert because of a lack of the beneficial ruminant impact with which these grasslands and savannas co-evolved over tens of millions of years. The Southwestern U.S., today mostly barren scrubland, as recently as 150 years ago was home to wildlife-rich tallgrass prairie, kept healthy by enormous herds of bison, antelope, and other grazers. “Saving civilization requires us to think inside the paddock,” observed Itzkan, a reference to Holistic Planned Grazing (commonly referred to in academic literature as Adaptive Multi-paddock “AMP” Grazing), the biological innovation pioneered by Zimbabwean wildlife biologist Allan Savory. A recently published Life Cycle Analysis of beef production, funded by General Mills (™), found Holistic Planned Grazing yields a superior environmental outcome when compared to conventional grazing and artificial “meat” production. Conference organizer Nick Aster said, “We’re really happy to have Seth join us at TRANSFORM. Part of our conference is asking questions that may not have easy answers, and may even rock a few boats. Understanding how meat production can be a regenerative force for the future is a wildly interesting topic. I can’t wait!” “We’re really happy to have Seth join us at TRANSFORM. Part of our conference is asking questions that may not have easy answers, and may even rock a few boats. Understanding how meat production can be a regenerative force for the future is a wildly interesting topic. I can’t wait!” - Nick Aster, conference organizer Soil4Climate, a U.S.-based nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, advocates for soil restoration as a climate solution. Soil4Climate promotes regenerative cropping and grazing practices to improve soil fertility, increase the bionutrient density of food, restore wildlife habitat, reduce flooding, replenish dried-up lakes and rivers, revitalize farming and pastoral communities, and lessen international conflict while sequestering atmospheric carbon. Join the 11,000+ scientists, farmers, policymakers, journalists, and concerned global citizens of Soil4Climate at facebook.com/groups/Soil4Climate Discount tickets to the TRANSFORM conference are available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transform-2019-climate-communities-capital-tickets-53397260644?discount=Friends88jr1 The description of Mr. Itzkan’s talk is below. Holy Cow! It’s true. Cows and other large herbivores properly managed really are essential to reversing global warming and saving humanity. They’ll do this by restoring fertility to billions acres of depleted grassland soils around the planet - from New Mexico to South Africa - reversing desertification and helping perennial plants to sequester prodigious quantities of atmospheric carbon - sufficient to cool the planet and change the weather - literally. Seth Itzkan, cofounder of Soil4Climate Inc., an educational nonprofit that advocates for soil restoration as a climate solution, will discuss the science and practices behind this important innovation and invite you to participate in helping to launch their exciting land restoration project with the Maasai in Kenya. ### Media contact: Karl Thidemann Soil4Climate soil4climate.org karl.thidemann@gmail.com
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 http://www.greenenergytimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GET_May-2019.pdf
Healthy Soils Legislation Helps Green New Deal By Seth Itzkan, Steven Keleti, and Karl Thidemann Congressional Democrats have offered an ambitious legislative framework for 2019. Titled the Green New Deal, it seeks to tackle impending climate threats while generating innovative opportunities in the energy, transportation, and agricultural sectors. The Green New Deal includes support of soil health. Between 50% to 70% of agricultural soil has been lost, and rebuilding soil health is crucial for food system security, water quality, and climate change mitigation. A bi-partisan movement at the state level is calling for what is termed “Healthy Soils Legislation.” Proposed bills nationwide promote good land stewardship through principles and practices that support the aspirations of the Green New Deal by providing practical support for farmers and ranchers, many of whom might not otherwise be supportive of climate efforts. Speaking to this point, Bill McKibben, founder of the global climate movement, 350.org, stated, "Soil is increasingly taking its rightful and necessary place in the climate fight; this is a battle farmers and ranchers can help the world win." "Soil is increasingly taking its rightful and necessary place in the climate fight; this is a battle farmers and ranchers can help the world win." - Bill McKibben A promising indicator of this comes from New Mexico where a Healthy Soils Act was approved with rare, overwhelming consensus. The House version passed with a vote of 48-6 and the Senate version passed unanimously, 34-0. Officially titled “An Act Relating to Natural Resources,” the New Mexico law creates a Healthy Soil Program and a Healthy Soil Grant Program in the state’s Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the program is “to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology and water retention to improve the health, yield and profitability of the soils of the state.” It should be noted that the phrase, “increase soil organic matter,” literally means to increase the carbon content of soil. Carbon is naturally accumulated in soil through the photosynthesis process. Conventional farming and ranching practices have greatly depleted soil of its carbon, contributing to global warming and exacerbating the impact of droughts and floods. Fortunately, improved cropping and grazing methods embraced by environmentalists and producers, and emphasized in Healthy Soils legislative efforts, can reverse this negative trend and increase soil carbon, making these approaches important allies in the climate flight. It is estimated that improving soil globally can sequester many billions of tons of excess atmospheric carbon annually. Such “drawdown” efforts — that pull carbon out of the air — will be essential as we take measures to bring atmospheric carbon dioxide back down to safe levels. Commenting on the bi-partisan nature of the New Mexico effort, Jeff Goebel, a management consultant involved in drafting and lobbying for the legislation stated, “We understood that the only people who can actually change the health of the soil on a daily basis are ranchers, farmers, foresters, and gardeners. Therefore, we need to do everything possible to help land managers be successful. We were adaptive (consensual) in the language without giving up the integrity of the legislation.” "We understood that the only people who can actually change the health of the soil on a daily basis are ranchers, farmers, foresters, and gardeners." - Jeff Goebel Nebraska recently passed legislation to create a Healthy Soils Task Force to develop a healthy soils initiative and action plan. A Massachusetts bill, “An Act to Promote Healthy Soils,” directs the state to form a Healthy Soils Program that shall “seek to optimize climate benefits while supporting the economic viability of agriculture in the commonwealth…”. With strong bi-partisan support from both chambers, passage is likely. Healthy soils legislation has also been in legislatures in 2019 in the following additional states: Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Illinois, Iowa, Washington and Oregon. A complete list of state-level healthy soils legislative efforts is available at the Soil4Climate website, www.soil4climate.org. 
See full state legislative Google spreadsheet here
Comments from Steven Keleti Connecticut (HB6647) draft includes definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs; draft not filed, due to full docket – will be submitted for 2020 session. Illinois (SB1980/HB2737) adds definition for “soil health”, and includes soil health in soil and water conservation districts law – moving forward in both chambers and has broad support. (HB2819) allows Dept. of Natural Resources to require soil health requirements in leases of state land – tabled in committee Iowa (HSB 78) provides for tax exemption for planting cover crops – stalled in committee. (HF 102) provides "for a statewide soil resource health and recovery monitoring system” – stalled in committee. Massachusetts (SD1438/HD3065) adds definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs, adds expert on healthy soils practices to food policy council – broad bi-partisan support with 37% of legislators co-sponsoring, hearing likely in May. Nebraska (LB243) creates Soil Health Task Force – signed into law 4/17/2019! (LB283) funding for creation of climate action plan, including through improvements to soil health – stalled in committee. (LB729) provides incentives for cover crops – stalled in committee. New Mexico (SB218/HB204) sets up healthy soils program – signed into law 4/2/2019! New York (A02718) provides tax exemption for carbon farming, with exemption based upon the economic value of carbon sequestered – in committee. Oregon (HB2020) sets up cap-and-invest, allowing funding of agricultural sequestration of carbon – in committee. Washington (SB 5947/HB 2095) sets up sustainable farm and field program – in committee at end of session. It is still reasonably possible for legislation to be filed this session in: Ohio – draft legislation exists, adding definition of healthy soils practices to soil and water conservation districts law and creates fund for healthy soils programs; there appears to be a legislator interested in submitting the bill, yet more support is needed. Vermont – H903 from last session probably will be taken up again, providing improvements to Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program. Perhaps another healthy soils bill will also be filed. It is likely that legislation supporting healthy soils will be before legislatures in 2020 in (east-to-west): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington, and possible in numerous other states.  Karl Thidemann Reciting "Climate Farming" Poem at Healthy Soils Hearing, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, Boston, MA.
Climate Farming by Karl Thidemann So, what's the future? Is there no hope? Healing the land Can help us cope And grow better food With less flooding, too Put carbon in soil Is what we must do Draw down the heat Slow the sea rise Let birds and bees Thrive in the skies Good farming is how We deal with this mess Now the climate's fixed What's next to address? This was for Massachusetts state legislators at the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture hearing on the Healthy Soils Act - "An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth" - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S438. The full testimony is here https://youtu.be/OQvfQcFeofM youtu.be/OQvfQcFeofM #HealthySoilsAct  Seth Itzkan & Karl Thidemann, Cofounders of Soil4Climate Inc, give testimony to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture hearing on the Healthy Soils Act - "An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth," May 14, 2019. - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S438. Includes Karl Thidemann reciting his poem, "Climate Farming."
YouTube video is available here. Climate Farming by Karl Thidemann So, what's the future? Is there no hope? Healing the land Can help us cope And grow better food With less flooding, too Put carbon in soil Is what we must do Draw down the heat Slow the sea rise Let birds and bees Thrive in the skies Good farming is how We deal with this mess Now the climate's fixed What's next to address? #HealthySoilsAct  Soil Advocate Presents Pro-Meat Message at Vegan and Vegetarian Event Soil4Climate Executive Makes Climate Case for Better Grazing "I am honored to speak to activists who care so much about climate, health, and ethics in the food supply. I stand with them, and ask that they stand with me in recognizing the role of properly produced meats to restore pasture and sequester carbon." - Seth Itzkan March 13, 2019 - THETFORD, Vermont - Wearing a Maasai robe and holding a club given to him by tribal elders in Kenya, Seth Itzkan, co-founder and co-director of Soil4Climate, a Vermont-based, nonprofit NGO advocating for soil restoration as a climate solution, recently delivered a pro-regenerative grazing and pasture-fed meat message to a largely vegan and vegetarian audience at the 5th Annual Long Island Film and Food Festival in Huntington, New York (on March 3, 2019). The event was hosted by renowned chef, food activist, and life-long vegetarian, Bhavani Jaroff, founder of iEatGreen, a consultancy providing information and education on healthful cooking to schools, corporations, and families. "I am honored to speak to activists who care so much about climate, health, and ethics in the food supply. I stand with them, and ask that they stand with me in recognizing the role of properly produced meats to restore pasture and sequester carbon," wrote Itzkan in a blog post accompanying a livestream of his presentation. Itzkan observed that the issue of eating meat is often conflated with the environmental harm caused by factory farming, “... but that’s just a modern aberration, really since World War II.” He continued, "It didn't used to be that way. My proposition [is] to stop factory farming. Meat is a good thing, and more of the right type of grazing is needed to convert the [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation] system back to healthy meat and pasture and carbon drawdown.” "My proposition [is] to stop factory farming. Meat is a good thing, and more of the right type of grazing is needed to convert the [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation] system back to healthy meat and pasture and carbon drawdown.” - Seth Itzkan Itzkan noted that when ruminants (cows) are managed properly, they benefit the climate by restoring grasslands, which serve as capacious natural repositories or “sinks” of atmospheric carbon. "Much of the land surface of the world is some sort of grassland or savanna that co-evolved with grazing animals. The soils there are incredibly deep, and rich, and they’re huge carbon stores,” he said. Itzkan also emphasized the necessary relationship between grasslands and the ruminants they coevolved with, saying, "[grasslands] need animals, frankly grazing animals, frankly ruminants, and lots of them, many more than there are now." "Much of the land surface of the world is some sort of grassland or savanna that co-evolved with grazing animals. The soils there are incredibly deep, and rich, and they are huge carbon stores." - Seth J. Itzkan Iowa, today almost entirely devoted to soy production, was formerly home to some of the finest tall-grass prairie and carbon-rich soil on the planet, commented Itzkan. The once thriving, biodiverse ecosystem, created over millennia through the beneficial grazing impact of native ruminants, including bison, has been highly degraded by industrial farming. "That whole state, all of it, used to be tall-grass prairie, with grasses this high [up to one’s eyeballs] and literally the best soil on earth, ten feet deep. How do you think it’s going to be tall-grass prairie again?” he asked, concluding, “With more grazing, not less.” "The whole state [of Iowa], all of it, used to be tall-grass prairie...[with] the best soil on earth...Well, how do you think it’s going to be tall-grass prairie again? We need more grazing. Not less, more.” - Seth J. Itzkan During the question-and-answer session following his formal remarks, Itzkan discussed research supporting the innovative grazing approach to grow soil and sequester carbon advocated by ecologist Allan Savory. In particular, a 2016 paper by Texas A&M research scientist Richard Teague, Ph.D. showed that “Adaptive Multi-paddock (AMP) Grazing,” a form of grazing management akin to the Savory approach, sequestered in soil one ton of carbon per acre per year. If utilized on suitable rangeland throughout North America, AMP Grazing could capture in soil 800 million tons of carbon per year, an amount comparable to approximately two-thirds of America’s greenhouse gas emissions. An annotated list of published, peer-reviewed papers cited by Itzkan appears below. Although Itzkan was the contrarian in this milieu, the mostly plant-based diet audience was primed to hear his comments with an open mind following a gracious introduction by Jaroff, whom Itkan called “a saint in the foodie movement.” Following Itzkan’s presentation, Jaroff stated, "We were happy to have Seth join us to present Soil4Climate’s work on climate change. On our path to addressing climate change in the food choices we make, it’s important to attack the problem from all sides. Let vegans reduce global warming by not eating meat, and let meat eaters address global warming by only eating meat that is raised on pasture, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.” "We were happy to have Seth join us to present Soil4Climate’s work on climate change. On our path to addressing climate change in the food choices we make, it’s important to attack the problem from all sides. Let vegans reduce global warming by not eating meat, and let meat eaters address global warming by only eating meat that is raised on pasture, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.” - Bhavani Jaroff During his presentation, Itzkan wore a decorative robe and held a traditional club, given to him by members of a pastoral Maasai community in Kenya, to honor their partnership with Soil4Climate on a regenerative grazing program near Nairobi. Sponsors for the event included Cinema Arts Centre, iEatGreen, Slow Food North Shore, and NOFA-NY. Itzkan’s full 18-minute presentation, including the Q&A session, is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSexbG7-7A Soil4Climate advocates for soil restoration as a climate solution. We promote regenerative cropping and grazing practices to improve soil fertility, increase the bionutrient density of food, restore wildlife habitat, enhance drought and flood resilience, replenish dried-up lakes and rivers, revitalize farming and pastoral communities, and ameliorate international relations while sequestering atmospheric carbon. Allan Savory and Richard Teague serve on the Soil4Climate Advisory Board. Annotated Peer-Reviewed Citations for Grazing as a Means of Building Soil Carbon and Mitigating Global Warming
Texas A&M study finds 1.2 tons of carbon per acre per year (1.2 tC/ac/yr) drawdown via properly-managed grazing, and that the drawdown potential of North American pasturelands is 800 million tons (megatonnes) of carbon per year (800 MtC/yr). Teague, W. R., Apfelbaum, S., Lal, R., Kreuter, U. P., Rowntree, J., Davies, C. A., R. Conser, M. Rasmussen, J. Hatfield, T. Wang, F. Wang, Byck, P. (2016). The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture's carbon footprint in North America. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 71(2), 156-164. doi:10.2489/jswc.71.2.156 http://www.jswconline.org/content/71/2/156.full.pdf+html University of Georgia study finds 3 tons of carbon per acre per year (3 tC/ac/yr) drawdown following a conversion from row cropping to regenerative grazing. Machmuller, M. B., Kramer, M. G., Cyle, T. K., Hill, N., Hancock, D., & Thompson, A. (2015). Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter. Nature Communications, 6, 6995. doi:10.1038/ncomms7995 https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7995 Michigan State University study finds 1.5 tons of carbon per acre per year (1.5 tC/ac/yr) drawdown via proper grazing methods, and shows in a lifecycle analysis that this more than compensates for a cow’s enteric emission of methane. Stanley, P. L., Rowntree, J. E., Beede, D. K., DeLonge, M. S., & Hamm, M. W. (2018). Impacts of soil carbon sequestration on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Midwestern USA beef finishing systems. Agricultural Systems, 162, 249-258. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.02.003
This page is reposted here: https://www.soil4climate.org/news/soil-advocate-presents-pro-meat-message-at-vegan-and-vegetarian-event
Annotated Peer-Reviewed Citations for Grazing as a Means of Building Soil Carbon and Mitigating Global Warming
Texas A&M study finds 1.2 tons of carbon per acre per year (1.2 tC/ac/yr) drawdown via properly-managed grazing, and that the drawdown potential of North American pasturelands is 800 million tons (megatonnes) of carbon per year (800 MtC/yr). Teague, W. R., Apfelbaum, S., Lal, R., Kreuter, U. P., Rowntree, J., Davies, C. A., R. Conser, M. Rasmussen, J. Hatfield, T. Wang, F. Wang, Byck, P. (2016). The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture's carbon footprint in North America. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 71(2), 156-164. doi:10.2489/jswc.71.2.156 http://www.jswconline.org/content/71/2/156.full.pdf+html University of Georgia study finds 3 tons of carbon per acre per year (3 tC/ac/yr) drawdown following a conversion from row cropping to regenerative grazing. Machmuller, M. B., Kramer, M. G., Cyle, T. K., Hill, N., Hancock, D., & Thompson, A. (2015). Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter. Nature Communications, 6, 6995. doi:10.1038/ncomms7995 https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7995 Michigan State University study finds 1.5 tons of carbon per acre per year (1.5 tC/ac/yr) drawdown via proper grazing methods, and shows in a lifecycle analysis that this more than compensates for a cow’s enteric emission of methane. Stanley, P. L., Rowntree, J. E., Beede, D. K., DeLonge, M. S., & Hamm, M. W. (2018). Impacts of soil carbon sequestration on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Midwestern USA beef finishing systems. Agricultural Systems, 162, 249-258. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.02.003 Letter to Greta - Veganism is not the Answer - Grasslands Heal - We Need More Animals - Not Less3/1/2019  From: Seth Itzkan <seth.itzkan@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 10:33 AM Subject: Soil4Climate To: <GretaThunbergMedia@gmail.com> Hi Greta, I can't imagine that you will actually see this email, but on the chance that whoever sorts your thousands of emails for you, chooses to pass this on, I would be most delighted by your reply and to continue the discussion at your convenience. I am the codirector and cofounder of a global environmental organization incorporated in the United States called Soil4Climate. We advocate for soil restoration as a climate solution. This is essential because it is now understood that just cutting back or even completely ceasing CO2 emissions will not lessen the climate catastrophe that is already barreling down upon us. We are going to need to complement emissions cessation with "drawdown," - carbon sequestration - and the largest and most reliable "sink" for this drawdown is in soil. It is also true, that the largest areas for this carbon "sink" are in grasslands and that these grasslands must be managed with grazing - done properly. This requires animals to be part of the food system, but, in a way quite different than that meat factory model that is legitimately frowned upon. Being "vegan," however, is not the answer. The answer is in supporting small-holder, regenerative ranches, where soil carbon increases can be verified and where the return to fecundity is plainly apparent. Below is the post I made on your FB page. I hope you will read it and I welcome discussion with you on this topic as you see fit. Thank you for your time and consideration and for your courageous efforts on behalf of our climate. Best regards, - Seth Itzkan Soil4Climate Inc. www.soil4climate.org facebook.com/groups/soil4climate https://www.facebook.com/gretathunbergsweden/photos/a.733630957004727/767646850269804/?type=3&comment_id=668445086918269¬if_id=1551290955999502¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic Feb 27, 2019 Hi Greta Thunberg, Thank you for your courageous efforts which are so crucial today. I invite you, however, to reconsider the #vegan stance. That is a misdirection promulgated as a response to the worst aspects of animal agriculture - such as factory farms. There are entirely alternative - and essential - approaches to animal agriculture that manage animals in ways that are ethical and environmentally responsible, and, in fact, necessary for restoring soil to #drawdown atmospheric carbon and bring back fecundity to two-thirds of the landed surface of the planet. We discuss this in Soil4Climate and other groups, such as Regenerative Agriculture Group, reGenerative Grazing Group, Holistic Management Discussion Group, and EOM-Ethical Omnivore Movement. There is also the EOYM - Ethical Omnivore Youth Movement. Please familiarize yourself with these efforts to restore sanity and soil in our agricultural sector. Animal consumption is not the problem - it is land management - and this, in turns out - will be our greatest hope for carbon #drawdown. Below are just two of many papers that put this situation into proper perspective and that show the path to a regenerative future. We are happy to discuss this with you at your convenience. Thank you - Seth The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint in North America http://www.jswconline.org/content/71/2/156.full.pdf+html Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7995  Ten Years of Land Restoration in Zimbabwe, by Seth Itzkan  Hunter Lovins at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Nov 13, 2018, discusses grasslands, soil, climate, and the positive role of Soil4Climate in helping to reverse global warming. Hunter Lovins at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Nov 13, 2018, discusses grasslands, soil, climate, and the positive role of Soil4Climate in helping to reverse global warming. “When the grasslands of the world, which are the world’s second largest carbon sink, co-evolved, they did so with grazing animals. When a cow or a gazelle or any grazing animal eats grass, the roots sluff polysaccharide sugars. That feeds a biological community in the soil which mineralizes the carbon, that’s either in the root mass or in the manure or in the grass that’s being trampled into the ground, and it turns into mineral carbon in the soil. That’s why when the first pioneers went west from here, they found ten feet of thick black soil. That black is carbon, and as Karl (Thidemann) said, the world around, it’s now down to inches. We have decarbonized the soil the way in which we grow commodity crops.” “So, in the book (A Finer Future) we describe Gabe Brown. Gabe was a go and broke corn, soybean, commodity farmer in the Dakotas. Because he was going broke, he said, ‘I’ll try something else.’ First he went to no-till. He stopped breaking the soil and inverting it. Then he planted cover crops, some of them very deep rooted. Then he brought animals on: cattle, goats, sheep. At that point - and he was measuring carbon in his soil. He went from a little over 1% soil organic matter, to in some of his pastures, over 11% soil organic matter. He’s rolling climate change backward. And this is exactly what Seth and Karl and Soil4Climate is talking about.” “There are some articles here (picking up an article) ‘Agriculture of Hope: Climate Farmers of North America’ and then a more technical article over there that (Professor) Bill Moomaw had a hand in (Hope Below Our Feet: Soil as a Climate Solution - written with the Global Development and the Environment Institute - GDAE at Tufts University). So, I called Seth when I was writing the book. I called Seth and said, 'I’ve got some calculations, the numbers of which I don’t trust. How much carbon can we capture and put in the soil?' So, Seth called Karl, called Bill Moomaw, put together a little team and we did some back of the envelope calculations. These are rough calculations. But if you take the best evidence of folk like Gabe Brown - and there now are getting to be reams and reams of peer-reviewed, technical journals showing what farmers and ranchers have done in increasing their soil carbon, and you multiply that out over the grasslands of the world, how soon, how much could we pull down, and how soon could we get back to the preindustrial levels of carbon in the atmosphere? Back of the envelope: 30 years. Yeah. Wow! This is a big, 'Wow!' So, Tony Seba’s stuff solves half of the climate crisis. Soil4Climate solves the other half. We’ve solved it!” Cited papers: THE AGRICULTURE OF HOPE: CLIMATE FARMERS OF NORTH AMERICA BY SETH ITZKAN, KARL THIDEMANN, AND STEVEN KELETI https://permaculturemag.org/2017/09/agriculture-of-hope/ Hope Below Our Feet: Soil as a Climate Solution http://www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/Pubs/climate/ClimatePolicyBrief4.pdf This video of Hunter Lovins on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlTgWVDIM44 |
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