In response to Adeline Ellison’s “Spare the Till – Carbon Farming’s Impact on the Climate”
In her post, Adeline discusses an article that highlights carbon farming as a potential opportunity to mitigate environmental damage and combat climate change. Adeline states, “the excitement of a revolutionary idea (and the potential for profit) can get ahead of the actual science.” She goes on to say that there is “potential for groups to continue to back a science that may not be entirely sound”. The science does however seem to be “sound”, as the article itself stated that the National Academies of Sciences’ research suggested that soil sequestration could remove 250 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year in the US, and could provide nearly 10 percent of carbon reduction needed to avoid a 2-degree increase in temperature if implemented globally (Popkin).
The idea of implementing practices that contribute to soil regeneration and thus a carbon sink should be a non-issue. I do agree that systemic thinking is required, especially since stopping CO2 creation at the source is more effective than attempts to tend to the issue with a band-aid solution. Monica Price’s system mapping video and class visit demonstrated that complicated issues need be regarded in whole systems approach. She discussed root causes, feedback loops, and causal loop diagraming. Understanding feedback loops can help mitigate the tendency for people to blame stakeholders in a system. For example, farmers should not be blamed, as they are simply acting rationally in a capitalist society and have their own livelihoods at stake.
In addition, it is also important to consider that adjusting one part of a system can have a domino effect to other connected issues. If policy encourages soil regeneration, local economies can be revitalized and boost the overall wellbeing of communities.
Monica Price Food Map:
Original article:
https://thefern.org/2020/03/is-carbon-farming-a-climate-boon-or-boondoggle/