Can Regenerative Agriculture Reverse Climate Change And Chronic Disease? with Allen Williams

Mar 24, 2021

In this discussion, Allen Williams, a leading expert in regenerative agriculture, shares insights on the crucial link between farming practices and climate health. He highlights the transformative power of regenerative techniques in reversing soil degradation and enhancing food quality. The conversation also tackles the mental health struggles faced by farmers and the necessity for sustainable change. Williams discusses how educating farmers on these practices is vital for creating resilience in agriculture, benefiting both the environment and our well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Williams' Regenerative Upbringing

Allen Williams grew up on a diverse farm in South Carolina, raising various livestock and crops.
They sold their produce through a general store, practicing what's now called regenerative agriculture without realizing it.

INSIGHT

Shift to Conventional Agriculture

Williams' college education shifted his perspective on farming towards conventional methods.
He realized the significant impact of food sourcing and production on quality.

INSIGHT

The Farmer's Struggle

Many farmers are trapped in a cycle of debt, relying on loans and crop insurance.
They often feel disempowered, with decisions made by lenders, suppliers, and consultants.

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Can Regenerative Agriculture Reverse Climate Change And Chronic Disease? | This episode is sponsored by BiOptimizers, Thrive Market, and Cozy Earth

When we look at rapidly declining soil health, rising rates of depression and suicide in farmers, and our climate crisis, it can be easy to wonder how we got here. The answer is multifaceted, but a common theme of industrialized agriculture runs throughout. Today on The Doctor’s Farmacy I talk to Allen Williams about how we have strayed from beneficial regenerative farming practices to adopt destructive ones, and how to find our way back.

Allen is a founding partner of Understanding Ag, LLC and the Soil Health Academy, and is a partner in Joyce Farms, Inc. He has consulted with more than 4,000 farmers and ranchers in the US and other countries, on operations ranging from a few acres to over 1 million acres. Allen and his partners pioneered many of the early regenerative agriculture principles and practices and now teach those to farmers globally. He is a “recovering academic,” having served 15 years on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University and Mississippi State University teaching genetics and physiology. Allen has been featured in the Carbon Nation film series, Soil Carbon Cowboys, on the Dr. Oz show, ABC Food Forecast News, and in Kiss The Ground, A Regenerative Secret, The Farmer’s Footprint film series, and the Sacred Cow film series.

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Here are more of the details from our interview:

Allen’s experience farming in his early life (7:23)

The average experience of farmers today (14:06)

Educating farmers on the benefits of regenerative agriculture (23:47)

Six principles of soil health (30:39)

Major harms of our conventional agricultural system (44:04)

The importance of the soil microbiome and how it relates to the human microbiome (55:44)

Conventional vs. regenerative agricultural wisdom (1:03:00)

Animal agriculture and climate change (1:14:09)

Debunking a common misconception about carbon (1:26:45)

Allen’s experience working with big business through the organization Understanding Ag (1:33:10)

Learn more about Allen Williams’ work with the Soil Health Academy at https://soilhealthacademy.org/home and with Understanding Ag at https://understandingag.com/.