History

In 1750 the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain quickly spreading across Europe and to the United States. This brought about a large increase in agribusiness as new technologies, equipment, and techniques made production easier and faster. Since then agribusiness has continued to flourish however it is one of the most devastating industries to the environment.

Agriculture and other companies operating in the food production industry have changed dramatically since the end of World War II. The Green Revolution created technological advancements aka vast mechanization and specialization, wider use of chemicals with the advent of the Haber-Bosch process, and government policies supporting surplus have all been key factors in mass food production. The benefits of this mass production include food prices being cheaper (for both the consumer and producer) and less risk associated with farming, agribusiness, and other food production companies. Food is now a multi-trillion dollar industry.

However, food production is responsible for eutrophication of waterways (influx of nutrients washed into waterways killing off the aquatic life), transporting chemicals through the hydrologic cycle, herbicide usage, disruption to ecosystems, pollution and toxic emissions, waste, and much more. These environmental burdens are typically borne by poor communities who have little power to prevent corporations from pushing their wastes into their air, land, water, and food supply. The communities that require environmental cleanliness and benefit most heavily from ecosystem services are typically those who are also food insecure--producing food that they are unable to afford themselves. History lessons on the policies laid down during Westward Expansion and Reconstruction (Homestead Act of 1862, Indian Removal Act of 1830, and the Dawes Act of 1887 among others) it is easy to follow the timeline of events that have led to the current state of our food system and significant wealth and capital gaps.

The idea of regenerative farming:

Improving the land used for agricultural purposes by revitalizing the soil used for crop growth. It takes a combined effort of traditional farming techniques seen used by Native Americans, modern technology, crop rotation, and free grazing of animals such as chickens, goats, or cows.

The agriculture industry as a whole accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency. With the support of sustainable practices from Dairy farming assisting with the sustainability practices of agribusiness the carbon footprint left by the food production industry can decrease.