28: Policy Special Focus - Regenerative Agriculture Policy with NRDC Deputy Director Lara Bryant

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Today I am talking with Lara Bryant, Deputy Director of NRDC (The Nature Resource Defence Council) in USA. Lara has a background in chemistry and studied plant and Soil Science and has a master’s degree in public administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University.

NRDC is a Non-Profit organization with more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet's wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.

In this podcast we talk about regenerative agriculture and how policy and subsidies are driving the transition to regenerative agriculture. In this short episode, we take a look at USA farmers and what needs to change to drive the industry to be more sustainable.

The following description was created automatically by AI :)

Do you want to get a fresh perspective on regenerative agriculture? Then you don't want to miss my conversation with Lara Bryant, the Deputy Director of the Nature Resource Defense Council (NRDC). Lara brings to light the fascinating world of regenerative agriculture and the NRDC's mission. We explore the significance of soil health, and how the U.S. federal crop insurance program could be revamped to reward farmers who prioritize it.
Imagine an agricultural world where the transition to regenerative practices is supported by policy and resources. We discuss this and more as Lara shares findings from her study with 115 U.S. farmers. We lay out the groundwork for cultivating the next generation of farmers, focusing on providing them with essential resources such as loans, health insurance, and retirement savings. We dive into the complexities of regenerative agriculture, comparing it to organic farming and discussing the regenerative organic certification.
Finally, we explore the challenges of regenerative agriculture, the potential of carbon credits, and the exciting prospect of policy changes to support more farmers in this transition. Lara reflects on how her theories on agriculture have transformed over the years and gives her insights on the percentage of American farmers already practicing bio or regenerative farming. So, put on your headphones and tune in to this compelling conversation about the future of agriculture, soil health, and how you can get involved with the NRDC. You're sure to learn something new!

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Chapter

1. 28: Policy Special Focus - Regenerative Agriculture Policy with NRDC Deputy Director Lara Bryant (00:00:00)

2. What is the mission of the NRDC? (00:02:15)

3. What is your role and what does your day to day look like? (00:02:50)

4. Can you elaborate more on the federal insurance program? (00:03:28)

5. How does that system work? (00:04:45)

6. Can you explain the agriculture structure in the US? (00:05:48)

7. What is your goal for the crop insurance program? (00:06:30)

8. What is regenerative agriculture to you? (00:07:50)

9. What are some regenerative strategies that farmers can implement? (00:08:50)

10. What needs to change? (00:09:45)

11. How do you see community and empowerment for the next generation of regenerative farming? (00:10:40)

12. Is it possible to do regenerative agriculture on the large scale ranches? (00:12:30)

13. How do you make sure that soil health can be individualized to the specifics of that field? (00:13:50)

14. How do farmers finance the shift to regenerative agriculture? (00:14:20)

15. Who is working on this funding? (00:15:45)

16. What would be your three tips to non-farmers to help contribute to regenerative agriculture? (00:16:15)

17. Is there a difference between regenerative agriculture and organic? (00:17:50)

18. Is there a label for regenerative agriculture products? (00:19:00)

19. How many American farmers are already practicing regenerative agriculture? (00:20:00)

20. What needs to change for regenerative agriculture? (00:21:00)

21. What is soil health? (00:21:15)

22. What is your opinion on using carbon credits for financing this? (00:22:15)

23. How has your time in regenerative agriculture changes your opinions? (00:23:30)

24. How did you end up working in this field? (00:25:00)

25. Are there any books, podcasts, or documentaries that shaped your journey? (00:26:15)

26. How can people contact you? (00:28:00)