Agriculture: the Key to Driving Climate Change Response

In the time of climate change, a panel of organic farmers discussed farming trials. It highlighted how the people and the planet have primary importance now that agriculture is most favorable.

The severe growth of the impact of raising climate change on a liable system poses a substantial threat to the livelihoods and ability to maintain the global food security of agricultural communities.

Agriculture has the best position to respond to a lasting solution, secure the future food supply, and uphold the people who produce the world’s nutrition across the entire farming system despite its contribution to the greenhouse gases that fuel climate change. What do farmers need to navigate the trials of farming in the time of climate change, and how are they doing it?

These questions instigated the discourse of the keynote presentation and discussion during the “Growing Stronger: Collaborative Conference on Organic & Sustainable Farming Conference” held online by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) February 22-27. Three farmers shared their viewpoint in regards to the challenges of farming during climate change: Jim Goodman, who runs an organic dairy and direct-market beef farm in Wisconsin; Erin Schneider, M.Ed., co-owner of the Hilltop Community Farm and supports farmers as a Farmland Access Navigator for the Land Access Hub for Renewing the Countryside, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supported program that helps farmers acquire land tenure; and Lea Zeise, co-founder of Ohe. láku, an agricultural cooperative of Oneida families striving toward regenerative agriculture practices.

Addressing climate change requires resources.

Some of the most significant issues at the forefront of farming and its effect on climate change are what we farm, how we farm, and how we use our resources. Agriculture will require more resources to mitigate the challenges presented and achieve climate goals, and policymakers must shift federal agriculture investments to support any development.

According to the Biden-Harris administration, addressing climate change within agriculture is a priority, and so is the increase of carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector; the collection of information from ranchers, farmers, and other stakeholders on how to utilize federal programs to incite adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices; and generate new jobs and sources of income for rural Americans.

However, the resolution of the said panel stated that farmers, who by nature always prepare to lessen risks, possess the power to promote change.

According to Zeise, farmers bear the potential to become a strong constituency without the need to wait for national action.

Following this, the panel debated the resources required by agriculture to address climate change.

According to Goodman, people are the first resource to address since they need to realize the legitimacy of climate change. The panel explains that despite the growth in awareness regarding climate change over the recent years, the persistent misunderstanding about the difference in climate and weather and the effect on the food supply remains present.

Goodman, who farmed conventionally and then organically for more than 40 years, states that change will not occur as fast as it needs to unless agriculture has the resolve to make difficult decisions on its own.

He also adds that big and daring plans are needed, and so is their followthrough.

The panel explains that the required resources to address climate change are not limited to sustainability and renewable energy.

Action is needed, both at a national level and within farming communities, to get many people onto farms, ranging from young people, women, immigrants to local farmers and processors.

It is vital to ensure that once more farmers produce food, they receive fair pay and have access to health care and farming programs to maintain their work.

According to Schneider, farming is economically challenging and, the current system and structure turn to make a living into a difficult task. This past year proved incredibly challenging, with the simultaneous global pandemic and changing weather disturbing global food systems.

Goodman declares that our food system works in an easily disruptable way, being effortlessly affected by climate change from a farmer’s perspective or last year’s COVID pandemic.

The panel of farmers states that change in agriculture can only be attained with a change in society. The usage of the right tools, better technology, support, and resources will help that happen.

Zeise presents a parallel between our current situation and the Stone Age, claiming it did not end because of the lack of stones, it was because of a decision to make different choices, and we must do the same, even if it appears that the options are limited.

How farming can put people and the planet first

The panel believes that better cooperation among farming communities will propel agriculture to put people and the planet first. The resolve and power already reside within the farmers, as they are passionate about maintaining their livelihood.

Zeise states that the power of people coming together to solve an issue – the power of being connected is something in itself that possesses abundant power, which often isn’t referred to when talking about agriculture or technology.

Agriculture and climate change go hand-in-hand. The panel agrees that wherever farmers can collaborate their strengths, a solution can be found.

According to Zeise, agriculture has tremendous power to change our relationship with the Earth. She explains that within the agricultural community, sustainability, regeneration, and reciprocation are pre-existing ideas. She says that the new technologies and buzzwords are old ideas and concepts rehashed into a new way of doing agriculture.

Agreeing with Zeise, Goodman suggests that maybe the only way to reach the future is by looking back to the past and adopting programs that worked. The panel concluded by saying that we have the capacity for meaningful connectedness and empathy as our human strengths.

They also add that, as farmers, they have to address climate change and critically evaluate proposed solutions, how these solutions impact equity and justice for urban, suburban, and rural communities on differently sized farms, and the scientific merit of said solutions.