Regenerative Agriculture and the Role of Packaging in the Food System

Had such an informative in interesting conversation with Holly Arbuckle from Singing Pastures in October of 2023. Our interview is live now on the People of Packaging Podcast

Here's an article from Deciphr.ai about Holly and Singing Pastures:

Regenerative Agriculture and the Role of Packaging in the Food System

By Adam Peek

Regenerative agriculture is a farming practice that focuses on improving the health of the soil over time, rather than simply sustaining it. This approach recognizes the importance of the soil's biology and aims to create a healthy, living microbiome in the soil. Holly Arbuckle, co-founder of Singing Pastures, a regenerative agriculture farm, explains that healthy soil is essential for a variety of reasons. It helps prevent flooding and drought, captures carbon from the atmosphere, and produces nutrient-dense food. In this article, we will explore the concept of regenerative agriculture and its implications for the food system. We will also discuss the role of packaging in delivering regeneratively produced food to consumers.

The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture

Arbuckle explains that regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainable agriculture, which aims to maintain the current state of the soil. Regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, focuses on improving the soil over time. She compares it to a relationship, stating that we don't want a sustainable relationship that just stays the same; we want a regenerative relationship that continually gets better. The same principle applies to soil health.

Healthy soil is teeming with life, with a tablespoon of healthy soil containing more living organisms than there are humans on Earth. This living microbiome in the soil plays a crucial role in various aspects of the ecosystem. Healthy soil absorbs water, preventing flooding and drought, and captures carbon from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change. Additionally, healthy soil produces nutrient-dense food, as the living organisms in the soil help break down minerals and make them available to plants. This nutrient transfer occurs through a symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi, where plants provide sugar to fungi in exchange for minerals.

Arbuckle emphasizes the importance of nutrient-dense food, as the nutritional value of our food has been declining over the years. By focusing on regenerative agriculture, we can improve the health of the soil and produce healthier, more nutritious food. This has implications for human health and the healthcare industry, as healthier individuals can live fuller lives and reduce healthcare costs.

Packaging and the Food System

Packaging plays a crucial role in the food system, especially when it comes to delivering regeneratively produced food to consumers. Arbuckle acknowledges that packaging is necessary to protect and preserve food, particularly in the case of shelf-stable meat products like Singing Pastures' pork snack sticks. These products require packaging that keeps out air to maintain their shelf stability.

However, Arbuckle also recognizes the environmental impact of packaging and the need to find sustainable solutions. She mentions the use of plastics in packaging and the challenges associated with finding compostable alternatives. While there is a growing interest in compostable plastics, the technology is still developing, and not all compostable plastics are suitable for composting. Arbuckle suggests looking to nature for solutions, citing the work of Paul Stamets, a mushroom and fungi expert, who has discovered fungi that can break down plastics and chemicals.

Arbuckle acknowledges the limitations imposed by USDA regulations and the need to work with co-packers who can meet these requirements. Singing Pastures strives to find packaging options that do not use BPA and other harmful substances. Additionally, they view packaging as an opportunity to tell their story and educate consumers about the benefits of regenerative agriculture. By using packaging to communicate their values and mission, Singing Pastures aims to challenge the perception that meat is the enemy and highlight the potential for producing better meat that is healthier for both consumers and the land.

The Journey of Singing Pastures

Singing Pastures is a regenerative agriculture farm that focuses on raising pigs using sustainable and regenerative practices. The farm follows the principles of regenerative agriculture, including rotational grazing and the use of non-GMO grain to supplement the pigs' diet. By moving the animals from one pasture to another, Singing Pastures mimics the natural grazing patterns of bison, which helps improve soil health and promotes the growth of nutrient-dense grass.

Arbuckle shares the success story of Singing Pastures, highlighting the transformation of their farm over the past five years. Through regenerative agriculture practices, they have witnessed a dramatic improvement in the health of the soil and the grassland bird population on their farm. The increase in grassland birds, such as the bobolink, is a testament to the positive impact of regenerative agriculture on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Regenerative agriculture offers a promising solution to the challenges facing our food system. By focusing on improving soil health, regenerative agriculture can address issues such as flooding, drought, climate change, and nutrient deficiencies in our food. However, the journey towards a regenerative food system requires collaboration and innovation at every stage, including packaging.

Packaging plays a vital role in delivering regeneratively produced food to consumers. While there are challenges associated with finding sustainable packaging solutions, there is also an opportunity to use packaging as a tool for education and storytelling. Singing Pastures exemplifies this approach by using their packaging to communicate their values and mission.

As consumers, we have the power to support regenerative agriculture and sustainable packaging by making conscious choices about the food we buy. By supporting brands like Singing Pastures, we can contribute to the growth of regenerative agriculture and the development of sustainable packaging solutions. Together, we can create a food system that nourishes both our bodies and the planet.

To learn more about regenerative agriculture and its impact on the food system, I recommend watching the documentaries "Kiss the Ground" and "Common Ground." These films provide valuable insights into the potential of regenerative agriculture and the importance of healthy soil. Additionally, you can visit Singing Pastures' website at singingpastures.com to explore their range of regeneratively produced meat products and support their mission.