Scientists have known for a long time that solutions for climate change are locked in healthy soils. Now Canadians are asking for action through regenerative agriculture.
Montreal, August 8th, 2019 – The window of opportunity to reach Canada’s climate targets is closing, and yet the solution is right under our feet.
Citizens want climate action now. Through Regeneration Canada’s “Farming for the Climate” campaign, Canadian citizens are calling upon the leadership of all political parties to include a serious climate action strategy that includes incentives for soil carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture. Already, more than 900 concerned citizens have spoken since the campaign’s launch this summer.
Scientists tell us we have 11 years to cut global emissions in half to avoid climate change’s most devastating impacts. They maintain that we urgently need to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in addition to reducing emissions if we are to achieve this goal.
Right now, the world’s soils are under threat: they are becoming less and less fertile and are losing their capacity to store carbon, due in large part to industrial agricultural practices. A global movement supported by scientists is calling for regenerative agriculture as the most promising opportunity to draw down atmospheric carbon and store it in soils. By implementing the best regenerative practices on Canada’s agricultural land, we could potentially offset all of the country’s current annual emissions.
Regenerative practices increase long term soil fertility and yields, enhance nutritional quality of foods, improve water storage and filtration capacity, and enhance biodiversity as well as climate resilience.
This is our best chance to reverse climate change while fostering healthy food systems.
That’s why Canadians want to elect a government that will have a serious plan to incentivize soil carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture, including:
- Compensating farmers for practices that promote soil carbon sequestration;
- Promoting research programs on best soil management practices;
- Providing technical assistance to farmers to successfully transition to regenerative practices;
- Facilitating citizen access to regenerative foods and products.
Petition page: https://regenerationcanada.org/en/regenerative-agriculture-petition/
Regeneration Canada website: https://regenerationcanada.org
For information, accreditation or for interviews with speakers:
Gabrielle Bastien
Founder and Executive Director, Regeneration Canada
514-616-6004
gabrielle@regenerationcanada.org
