While regenerative agriculture can (and should) look different for every operation, the business case and value proposition for replicating and growing its adoption is increasingly garnering interest from groups within and beyond the food system. Many now acknowledge its potential to help address several sustainability crises by sequestering carbon, supporting climatic, environmental and economic health and creating employment and business opportunities. However, scaling the practice continues to face many obstacles.
A Social Innovation Lab is a process that brings together diverse stakeholders to address complex social problems involving research, experimentation, and prototyping of solutions. Labs are convened to generate high-potential interventions by carefully listening to all those affected. They bring research to bear on a problem in order to gain system-level insights that will help redefine problems and identify opportunities for introducing innovation. Labs begin with a focus on defining problems, mapping systems, and gaining a deep understanding of the dynamics that hold systems in place. By supporting multi-stakeholder engagement and prototyping, labs are particularly effective for addressing complex challenges.
Phase 2 of RAL consists of committed producers, industry leaders, food distributors and retailers, academics, policymakers and innovative thinkers working together to learn and take action on initiatives that respond to the question:
RAL participants engage with one another in various formats (e.g. workshops, webinars, breakout groups) to co-create and develop an agreed set of core principles, a shared vision and strategic initiatives to advance regenerative agriculture in the province.
The main goal of RAL is to build supportive ‘infrastructure’ in order to unleash the potential of regenerative agriculture to achieve multiple environmental, economic and social outcomes in Alberta. We are also interested in building pathways to encourage further adoption of regenerative practices.
We refer to this as advancing regenerative agriculture with integrity.
As we’ve advanced through phase 2 of the Regenerative Agriculture Lab, participants have identified five strategic initiatives: Stewardship Ownership, Polycultures/Biodiversity, Train the Healer, Data is Beautiful and Disruptive Distribution.
These areas of focus expanded our understanding of the importance of facilitating transitions to regenerative agriculture. In order to effect change, three essential ingredients have been identified as being significant to enable the shift in practices.
Steward ownership structures enterprises for fairer, more sustainable ownership and decision-making, especially in agricultural land and real estate. It prioritizes long-term stewardship, ensuring land, ecosystems, and communities thrive. This model keeps ownership and decision-making with those directly involved and committed to the land’s mission and values.
Currently, the Steward Ownership group aims to complete four more pilot projects using adaptable structures and templates, offering a unique opportunity not currently available on the market.
Biodiversity is key to regenerative agriculture but isn’t widely adopted due to industry norms and limited research. By working with applied research groups and innovative producers, we can share knowledge and promote biodiversity-friendly practices across Alberta.
The Polycultures/Biodiversity initiative raises awareness and engages researchers, seed companies, and producers. The team has launched a polyculture campaign, providing seed blend samples, running a 14-producer seed plot trial and hosting field days, videos and educational talks.
Regenerative agriculture can’t grow without education. People are hesitant to try new practices, but seeing others succeed makes it easier to take the leap.
The Amplify initiative builds supportive communities for farmers and ranchers adopting regenerative practices. It provides education, training and peer-to-peer learning. Working with other RAL groups and the Alberta Extension Collaborative, Amplify organizes field days, producer spotlights and the human library. All content will be available in the upcoming RAL Resource Hub, offering resources, mentorship and region-specific guidance.
Healthy soil is essential for farming, supporting crops, retaining nutrients, and reducing fertilizer use and erosion. While soil health is gaining attention, barriers still prevent many producers from getting involved.
The Data initiative builds confidence in regenerative practices by collecting and sharing soil health data. It connects producers, scientists and agronomists through field days, an Alberta-wide soil health database and the upcoming RAL Resource Hub, providing resources to help farmers engage in soil health on their own terms.
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Co-operatives have a long history in Alberta of getting the job done. We ask Rod Olson of YYC Growers if co-ops can assist in advancing regenerative agriculture in the province.
Tim Wray grew up on his family’s cattle ranch in Irricana, a small town located 50 kilometres northeast of Calgary in southern Alberta. As a child, he always dreamed of following in his parent’s footsteps and one day becoming a farmer, but first he pursued post-secondary education and later studied at a seminary to become a pastor. His first parish was located in a small agricultural community, which put him back in touch with his childhood dream.
“I lived around farmland and was surrounded by farmers,” says Tim. “I was really in tune with the movement of the seasons and the farm cycle—and I enjoyed that.”
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The conclusion of our conversation with Dana Penrice of Young Agrarians on how new and aspiring farmers and ranchers can be a farm solution that is also a climate solution.
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Dana Penrice of Young Agrarians discusses how new and aspiring agricultural producers are a farm solution and a climate solution that could do a lot good on the Prairies.
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Darrin Qualman of the National Farmers Union takes us through a set of recommendations for building thriving farms and ranches and reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint.
Andrew works with natural ecosystem succession: planting berry bushes on broken, exposed soils and making room for pioneer species – like dandelions, for example – and grasses and shrubs. He points out how “weeds” actually have tremendous value in helping to aerate soils, provide shade for other plants, and stimulate microbiology in the soil. Andrew purposely sowed bunch grasses – a grass that would be in the same phase as the haskaps – as opposed to a creeping grass, like a brown grass, or quack grass.
