Drizin, Zoharia

“Regenerative Agriculture as a Beneficial Climate Change Mitigation Strategy”

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Major: Environmental Studies and Spanish

Freshman; College of Science and Health

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Abstract

My research paper focuses on regenerative agriculture and how it can be used for climate change mitigation, specifically through no-till and cover crop technologies. Climate change is a catastrophic risk, and the high levels of carbon in the atmosphere are causing flooding, wildfires, freshwater crises, heat death, and many other elements of change. These disasters are threatening the continuation of human civilization in its current form.Some numerous technologies and innovations could help slow this process, but many of them are expensive and require major shifts in our society's relationship with energy, food, and industry. Regenerative agriculture, aka carbon farming, is one of the cheapest solutions in the field. It won't fix all carbon pollution, but it can make a serious dent. Regenerative agriculture is a relatively new and unknown method in the agriculture industry. It was developed as an improved substitute for sustainable farming. Sustainable farming focuses on creating climate change-resistant crops and emphasizes the idea of making sure agriculture doesn't contribute to the worsening of climate change. Regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, focuses on not just preventative measures, but also on the revitalization of the environment through carbon recapture. Through this essay, I will examine the ways regenerative agriculture reduces carbon in the atmosphere. I will also examine the variables as to why farmers may be hesitant to adopt these methodologies.

Class: Honors 100

Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry

Professor: Michael Raleigh

Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse