On Sale This Week: Extra Lean Ground Beef + Pork Side Ribs

Agriculture and Climate Change: A Farmer's Perspective

written by

Mike Dougherty

posted on

June 4, 2023

The discussion around agriculture and climate change has been growing louder in recent years. Farmers have long faced pressure to reduce emissions, but lately, the push has turned into stronger calls for drastic change.

To get a sense of how this issue is being discussed, listen to John Kerry’s speech at The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit. It starts around the 21-minute mark and runs for about 22 minutes. You can link to it here.

What’s Happening in Other Countries

In places like the Netherlands, farmers are being offered 120 percent of their farm’s value to sell. It might sound generous, but if they refuse, they will be forced to sell, and they are banned from starting a new farm anywhere in the EU.

Meanwhile, Ireland is being pushed to cull thousands of cows to meet climate targets. These policies raise questions about who is really driving change and whether they understand the long-term consequences for farmers, food systems, and communities. You can learn more about this matter here. 

The Numbers Behind Agricultural Emissions

Kerry states that agriculture produces about 33 percent of global emissions. However, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), agriculture generates closer to 10 to 12 percent of greenhouse gases. Packaging, transportation, and waste management make up the rest.

"We can’t get to net-zero; we don’t get this job done unless agriculture is front and centre as part of the solution... I refuse to call it climate change anymore. It’s not change. It’s a crisis." – John Kerry

Kerry speaks passionately about the human impact of a changing climate. It is moving, but I can’t help wondering if the same concern applies to the military, one of the world’s largest sources of emissions.

Why Technology Alone Will Not Save Farming

I am not against technology or innovation in agriculture. Progress can be good if it is used wisely. Technology can help us produce food more efficiently and with less harm, but it cannot replace good stewardship.

When I talk about progress, I am not just thinking about reducing carbon. I am thinking about soil health, fewer chemicals, and food that nourishes people, not just fills bellies.

Without a balanced approach that values more than just emissions and yield, our food system could go the way of many other industries, dominated by regulations, large corporations, and fewer opportunities for small farmers and consumers alike.

The Problem With Tech-Based “Solutions”

Most proposed solutions in the food innovation sector focus on technology. These require massive investments, which means fewer independent farmers and more control for those with deep pockets.

And one of the biggest flaws in this argument is how cows have become the target. Because cows produce methane, the answer seems to be reducing their numbers. But that is an oversimplification.

The methane produced by cows is part of a natural cycle that has been in balance for thousands of years. Ruminants play a vital role in ecosystems and soil health. If you want to learn more, the film Sacred Cow offers excellent insight into how grazing animals can actually help store carbon in the soil.

Why Real Food Cannot Be Manufactured

While lab-grown and plant-based meats can be scaled up, real beef does not work that way. Even feedlot cattle begin life on small farms, born in fields, nursing on their mothers, and grazing on grass before ever seeing a feedlot.

That natural beginning cannot be replicated in a lab. Some parts of nature are not meant to be mechanized, and that is a good thing.

Regenerative Farming: A Real Climate Solution

If the goal is to remove carbon from the atmosphere and create a sustainable food system, the best path forward is through regenerative agriculture.

By working with regenerative farmers, agroforestry experts, and ecologists, we can:

  • Sequester carbon in soil and trees
  • Produce nutrient-dense food
  • Create meaningful jobs in rural communities
  • Restore ecosystems and biodiversity

This approach improves the environment, strengthens local economies, and produces healthier food for everyone. It is a real solution that builds resilience instead of trying to control nature with more technology and regulation.

The Real Solution Is Closer to Home

Unfortunately, the people shaping policy often look for answers in the same place they found the problem: more technology, more control, and less room for honest discussion.

The real solution is not found in boardrooms or government programs. It is found in our backyards, our neighbourhoods, and our communities. When people choose local food, support small farms, and value stewardship, that is where real change begins.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive... Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
– C.S. Lewis

Wild Meadows Farm

Regenerative Farm in Ontario

Grey County

Durham, Ontario

Blog: On The Farm

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Wild Meadows Farm Ltd.

394265 Concession 2 Durham (West Grey), ON N0G 1R0

mike@wildmeadowsfarm.ca      (519) 710 5702 

Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm, Sunday by appointment only

Please get in touch with us before visiting the farm for an order pick-up, as GPS directions can sometimes be inaccurate. We’ll be happy to provide clear directions!