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2023 was a challenging year for Canadian farmers and ranchers and for humanity in general. We had droughts, wildfires, floods, an affordability crisis and a number of armed conflicts. According to scientists working with the European Union, 2023 smashed temperature records globally.

And yet, someone like Nova Scotia organic and biodynamic wine producer, Rachel Lightfoot still finds ways of being optimistic even after her farm got hit by a polar vortex, a dry spring and a very rainy summer all in the same year.

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.


3:19 – Rachel shares her farming story.
8:12 – Rachel shares more about where she farms and the different types of products Lightfoot & Wolfville produce.
9:47 – What types of farming happen at Lightfoot & Wolfville?
12:43 – What styles of wine are produced?
16:51 – What is biodynamic agriculture?
26:19 – How was Lightfoot & Wolfville established?
30:40 – Rachel explains how reciprocity works on her farm.
41:31 – How is biodynamic agriculture helping make Rachel’s farm more resilient?
46:50 – By implementing these practices, are there benefits that extend outside of the farm?
51:51 – Why should consumers care about regenerative agriculture?
58:15 – Why does Rachel care about regenerative agriculture?
59:21 – How does the winery connect people with their product?


Stories of Regeneration
Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series
Lightfoot & Wolfville
Regeneration Canada Farm Map

If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following:


Regenerating Rural Opportunities
Regenerating Humility
EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1
EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2
EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3
EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4

Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.

This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Fifth generation farmer, Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson believes strongly in the practices of regenerative agriculture. Located in Rogersville, New Brunswick, her farm Ferme Terre Partagee currently operates as a coop based on common values and objectives including peasant agroecology and food sovereignty.

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.


5:42 – How did Rébeka come to implement regenerative agriculture practices on her farm?
11:55 – Rébeka shares her farming story.
17:39 – Rébeka talks about the cooperative operating on her family’s land.
23:16 – What led to the decision to create a coop?
29:05 – Why doesn’t Rébeka sell her product to the big grocery store chain?
31:52 – Rébeka shares the unique challenges of the 2023 growing season.
38:00 – What does biodiversity mean to Rébeka and Ferme Terre Partagee
40:01 – What are some of the challenges of doing the closed loop system? 
47:41 – Rébeka talks about the impact that local wildlife has on Ferme Terre Partagee.
54:23 – What methods does Rébeka use to support biodiversity?
1:01:35 – Why should consumers care about regenerative agriculture?
1:03:12 – Why should consumers support producers practicing regenerative agriculture?
1:13:57 – Why does Rébeka care about regenerative agriculture?


Stories of Regeneration
Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series
Ferme Terre Partagee
On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)

If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to:


Regenerating Rural Opportunities
EP 32 – Alley Cropping
EP 37 – Climate Farm Plan
EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1
EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2
EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3
Experimenting with No-Till Regenerative Agriculture – Steel Pony Farms – Red Deer, AB

Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.

This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.

A panel discussion exploring the business case for climate solutions was part of the 2023 Arrell Food Summit: Pathways to Change on November 14, 2023.



Speakers included:

- Mauricio Alanis, Director of Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships, Maple Leaf Foods

- Mohamed Yaghi, Climate and Agriculture Policy Lead, Climate Action Institute, RBC

- Julie Gartside, Global Head of Integration Management Climate Change Strategies Technical Director, SLR Consulting

- Ellery Burton, Principal Managing Partner, Alterra Innovation

- Sally Flis, Director, Sustainability Program Design & Outcome Management, Nutrien Ag Solutions



The discussion explores the “why” behind adopting climate solutions in food and agriculture.



While climate change can be seen only as a risk, many companies are seizing the opportunity to strengthen their resilience to climate impacts, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt new technologies that will create a competitive business advantage and lead to economic growth. Many businesses also recognize that policy changes are already underway, and are moving to align their business practices with investor, stakeholder and consumer values.



Perspectives from farming, industry and policy will inform this panel discussion, which helps companies, industry and decision-makers explore their ‘why’ behind adopting climate solutions in food and agriculture and helps to strengthen the business case for sustainable decisions.



More information:

https://arrellfoodinstitute.ca/

During the growing season of 2023, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions teamed up with Regeneration Canada to connect with agricultural producers across Canada who are tackling the pressing social and environmental crises through the adoption of regenerative agriculture. 

One such farm is Axten Farms, situated in Minton, Saskatchewan. With a steadfast commitment to growing healthy grains, Axten Farms takes a regenerative approach focused on enhancing their land’s soil biodiversity, creating a thriving environment for food production. Their unwavering dedication is captured in their motto, “Loyal to the Soil.”

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.


3:42 – Tannis and Derek Axten share their farming experience and background.
8:11 – What are the future plans for Axten’s farm?
11:20 – Derek shares his experience learning about intercropping.
15:55 – What are the benefits of intercropping?
18:42 – What are the outcomes that Tannis and Derek have seen with intercropping?
23:58 – Derek and Tannis talk about where their farm is situated.
25:32 – How can soil be fragile?
28:10 – Why do Tannis and Derek keep their soil covered?
31:54 – How do they keep their soil covered?
37:05 – The Axtens talk about regenerative agriculture practices that they use on their farm.
42:30 – What are some of the inputs that the Axtens use on the farm?
47:34 – Is farming with a regenerative mindset more than ‘just farming’?
51:03 – What are the benefits of regenerative agriculture?
56:12 – Why do the Axtens implement regenerative agriculture practices on their farm?
58:23 – Derek talks about the differences between organic agriculture and regenerative agriculture practices.
1:04:12 – What can others do to increase the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices?


Stories of Regeneration
Stories of Regeneration Short Films Series
Gabe Brown – Soil Health Academy
Axten Farms

If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to:


Ep 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1
Intercropping: Experimenting for Diversity – Andy Kirschenman

Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.

This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Water is Food - Emerging Knowledge is a panel discussion hosted by the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. This was held on World Food Day on October 16, 2023, as a panel discussion looking at emerging research and insights into best practices, barriers and opportunities at the intersection of water and agri-food.

Arrell Food Institute director Dr. Evan Fraser moderated a panel of University of Guelph experts at the intersection of water and agri-food to discuss the latest research and best practices in their fields.

The panel discussion features:

- Dr. Larry Goodridge, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety and professor in the Ontario Agricultural College’s Department of Food Science, who will discuss research in detecting and treating waterborne pathogens that can impact the food system.

- Dr. Tongzhe Li, professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) and the inaugural Arrell Family Chair in Behavioural and Experimental Economics, who will share insights from research conducted on consumer preferences toward growing fresh foods using recycled irrigation water.

- Dr. Hugh Simpson, researcher at the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, who will discuss private water wells and their importance to local food. Simpson is currently working on a project with U of G researchers to examine the needs of the rural community for guidance about private water wells for agricultural, business and domestic purposes.


The event took place at the Anita Stewart Memorial Food Lab in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics.

This World Food Day 2023 event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with: Food Tank, Driscoll’s, WholeChain, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University. and in collaboration with: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Arrell Food Institute, Compass Group Canada.

Thanks to the Arrell Food Institute for permission to air this recording.



https://arrellfoodinstitute.ca/

https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/en

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8vAPL48kaI

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community.
In the soil, you’ve got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age.
Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.

4:42 – Blake Vince shares some information about himself.
6:50 – Did Blake always want to be a farmer?
8:31 – Blake explains his farm’s environment and typography.
9:45 – What have been some of the challenges for Blake this year?
12:32 – What is tile drainage?
18:57 – Blake talks about no-tillage.
36:07 – What else is Blake doing to maintain soil health?
41:55 – Blake talks about his crop rotation.
51:16 – How can consumers support farmers who are in the process of weaning their soil off of inputs like fertilizers?
59:13 – Does Blake find it hard, being one of only a few producers in his community farming in an “unconventional” way?
1:07:06 – Blake shares his final thoughts.


Stories of Regeneration
Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series


Soil Your Undies “The Cotton Test”
Kiss The Ground

If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to:

EP 20 – The Brown Revolution
EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1
EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2

Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.
This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Thanks to Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada for permission to air this episode.