Amata Green: Combating Climate Change In The World of Ag
Climate change is undeniably one of humanity’s greatest challenges; threatening increased natural disasters, rising sea levels, and food scarcities. One of our greatest tools in combating the threat of climate change is how we manage our soil. Occupying the third largest carbon pool, soil plays a critical role in managing greenhouse gasses. The Earth’s soil contains 2,500 gigatons of carbon which accounts for three times the carbon in the atmosphere. It is a natural filtration system, storing about 25% of the world’s total fossil fuel emissions each year. A very small change in the way we store carbon in soil can produce drastic impacts on atmospheric gas management.
Unfortunately, the way we treat soil does not reflect the importance of its use in maintaining our atmosphere. Agricultural soil has been degraded by intensive agricultural practices, excessive application of chemicals, and erosion. Degradation has led to depletion of carbon and nutrients contained in the soil. This compromises the soil’s ability to produce healthy plant activity, lowering crop yields and leading to the use of more agricultural chemical use.
Amata Green’s vision is to create a sustainable future in the agricultural industry, whether growers are raising animals, raising crops, growing in soil or hydroponically, horizontally or vertically--we are on a mission to help growers overcome barriers to becoming organic certified. We are dedicated to creating a food system that provides healthful, non-toxic, nutritious food to the people of this planet while at the same time reducing environmental pollutants and restoring climate stability.
Reducing the elements in agriculture which contribute to climate change are some of the goals of the regenerative agriculture movement. In part, this could also be done by addressing the food supply chain by bringing the food source closer to the population densities where it is consumed. This could be accomplished by standing up indoor vertical farming facilities in old warehouses right inside the city. Maybe it means converting farm bio-waste like corn stalks or cow manure into biochar to sequester carbon for up to a thousand years. Or maybe it means spreading millions of tons of biochar onto the millions of acres of farmland to help rebuild the soil and reduce erosion and leaching. Maybe it means setting up more hydroponic greenhouses which can reduce agricultural water usage by 80%. Or maybe it means feeding our beef cattle small amounts of seaweed to reduce the methane emissions from their front and back ends. Creating healthy soil is essential right along with reducing pollutants into the air and environment. Any, and all, of these solutions can help make a dent in climate change.
Whatever combination of solutions we decide to use, we need to look at every new day as a new opportunity to learn from our past mistakes and do better. We can win the fight against climate change, but it’s going to require hard work. The solutions to our global climate problems are out there, now we all just need to work together in implementing them.
Contact Amata Green if your company would like a consultation in reducing its carbon footprint.
About the Authors:
Sandia Martin is the Founder and CEO of Amata Green. Ms. Martin consults with growers and food companies need help with sustainability problems, ag education, environmental issues, organics, organic transitioning, legal consulting, vertical farming, hydroponic farming and overall implementation of sustainable or regenerative practices. She is a Law School Graduate and holds her J.D. and Environmental Law Certification from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Colin Hughes is a student intern at Amata Green, pursuing a J.D. at the University of Maryland School of Law, with a focus in Environmental Law. His interests include climate change policy, natural resource management and environmental regulation.