Regenerative agriculture. A term that holds a world of possibilities for addressing climate change.
Regenerative agriculture is a land management system that goes beyond carbon zero. Regenerative agriculture actually captures carbon in the soil, therefore, making it a carbon negative operation.
Carbon gets sucked back into the soil, and we reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
This is, obviously, really good news for the planet. Regenerative agriculture has the potential to help combat climate change and can be replicated the world over.
At 100km Foods, we're lucky to partner with innovative and proactive farmers who recognize the role of agriculture in the climate crisis. Many farmers are already transitioning towards implementing regenerative farming practices.
New Farm was one of our first farm partners to transition their farm to regenerative agriculture methods of land management. Owner Gillian Flies is a wealth of knowledge about what it takes to implement regenerative agriculture.
Gillian is hard at work educating other farmers in the Ontario region about how to incorporate these land management methods.
There are many farmers and agricultural workers who are already on the front lines of climate change, like Gillian. They are intimately aware of the worsening rates of soil erosion, droughts, rising temperatures and crop failures. They are actively working to transform their practices to mitigate (or even, reverse) some of the effects of climate change.
But now, let’s talk about the other side of the equation and what chefs and retailers can do to help support regenerative agriculture.
What can you do to support regenerative agriculture?
As it turns out, chefs and their restaurants can do a lot to support regenerative agriculture.
But, the best way to do this is to prioritize putting products produced using regenerative agriculture on your menus and in your storefronts.
Since restaurants and retailers have hundreds of customers a day, it’s also an amazing opportunity to educate consumers. Explain how their food dollars are supporting real environmental change.
Partnership between iQ Food Co, The New Farm and 100km Foods
iQ Food Co. is a Toronto-based restaurant group and healthy takeout that prioritizes sustainability and seasonality. Executive chef of iQ Food Co. Christine Flynn is a long-time supporter The New Farm and regenerative agriculture.
As a result, this week marks the launch of something very special. We're excited to introduce a new partnership between iQ Foods, The New Farm, and 100km Foods.
The New Farm’s organic, regenerative (and REALLY tasty) greens take front row for their summer menu. The Solve it with Salad initiative gives a choice to individuals to make a direct difference with their dollars. They have a suggested menu price that encourages diners to fully support regenerative agriculture! How cool is that?
100km Foods very carefully source identifies every product, and we personally go pick them up at The New Farm. We then deliver the New Farm greens to the iQ Foods locations the next day.
Therefore, consumers can be assured of two things: they are SUPER fresh (hand harvested only 24hrs before); and guaranteed to have been grown using regenerative agriculture.
Chef Christine tells us, “Our hope is that our guests support us in supporting the New Farm, and that we can share our successful model of farmer - distributor - retailer and have it replicated not just nationally but globally.”
This initiative is the start of a new way of thinking about how we can support local agriculture. We can begin small, every day choices about the kind of agricultural methods and distribution model we support.
Because, let’s not forget: thousands of individual choices can add up to make a significant impact!
