And though these leaders have contributed their knowledge and skills to the organic movement, they are often left out of mainstream history. Learn some of their important stories, and contributions to regenerative and organic farming, here:. Long before the arrival of Europeans to North America, Indigenous populations protected the land and preserved biodiversity through holistic land management.
For thousands of years, their methods of growing and sharing food centered natural cycles and stewarded healthy ecosystems and communities. The concepts of intercropping and polyculture can be traced back to Indigenous traditions, such as the Three Sisters: an interplanting of corn, squash, and beans. Growing multiple crops together proved to be a highly productive system that fostered soil health and bolstered biodiversity. Today, regenerative organic agriculture draws on these practices by encouraging cover cropping , crop rotation , and intercropping.
Agroforestry and permaculture, systems that fall under the regenerative umbrella, also originated with Indigenous populations. Today, regenerative organic agriculture seeks to bring that balance to the forefront once more, renewing agriculture under a philosophy built on thousands of years of ancestral knowledge from all over the world. Rather, people belong to the land. This means that truly regenerative systems must reckon with a long history of Indigenous displacement and oppression.
George Washington Carver grew up in a post-Civil War South whose soils had been ravaged by the cotton industry. Monoculture had depleted the land of its nutrients, leaving it susceptible to disease and its farmers subject to economic instability.
Eager to pursue solutions to these problems, Carver enrolled at Iowa State Agricultural College to study botany, making history as the first Black student.
Soon after graduating, he accepted a position as Agriculture Director at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. During his 47 years there, Carver developed and advocated for a system of farming that highlighted crop rotation as a method of restoring nutrients to the soil. By alternating cotton with legumes such as peanuts, he showed that farmers could replenish stores of nitrogen, building healthier soil.
Platt is an environmental journalist and editor covering endangered species, climate, pollution and related topics. Learn about our editorial process. Share Twitter Pinterest Email. Organic Farming: History, Timeline, and Impact. Oat Milk vs. The 8 Best Organic Mattresses of What Does Organic Really Mean? Food and Farming Practices. Food Sovereignty: Definition, Principles, and Importance. Green Revolution: History, Technologies, and Impact.
Definition, Examples, and Environmental Concerns. Understanding Agroecosystems: Examples and Outlook. What Is DDT? Environmental Impact and Current Uses. Soil Conservation: Methods and Benefits. Is Almond Milk Bad for the Environment? Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. In s, India had surplus foodgrains and once again became and exporter of food grains.
As time went by, extensive dependence on chemical farming has shown its darker side. The land is losing its fertility and is demanding larger quantities of fertilizers to be used. Pests are becoming immune requiring the farmers to use stronger and costlier pesticides. Due to increased cost of farming, farmers are falling into the trap of money lenders, who are exploiting them no end, and forcing many to commit suicide. Both consumer and farmers are now gradually shifting back to organic farming in India.
It is believed by many that organic farming is healthier. Though the health benefits of organic food are yet to be proved, consumers are willing to pay higher premium for the same. Many farmers in India are shifting to organic farming due to the domestic and international demand for organic food. Further stringent standards for non-organic food in European and US markets have led to rejection of many Indian food consignments in the past.
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