Tackling Climate Change through Regenerative Agriculture

Previously Recorded | November 18, 2021

Heifer USA's Heifer Ranch Manager and Land Steward, Donna Kilpatrick, and the Savory Institute’s Global Network Coordinator, Abbey Smith, discuss the potential for scaling up regenerative agriculture to reverse climate change.

Abbey Smith headshot

Abbey Smith

Savory Global Network Coordinator

Donna Kilpatrick.

Donna Kilpatrick

Regenerative Agriculture Specialist

Conventional, large-scale agriculture has contributed to global land degradation and the devastating impacts of climate change. Regenerative agriculture has the potential to help reverse this, creating productive, profitable small-scale farms, promoting soil, ecosystem and human health.

Earlier this month, Heifer USA, the U.S. program of Heifer International, announced its new status as a Savory Global Network Hub. The certification qualifies Heifer USA’s Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas to serve as a training, learning and demonstration site for the Savory Institute’s Holistic Management model. As a Savory Hub, Heifer USA will bring science-backed methods to improve regenerative, small-scale farms, training farmers across the country, transforming rural Arkansas and America’s heartland into thriving, self-sustaining communities.

The announcement follows President Joe Biden’s speech at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, which emphasized the vitality of “farmers who will not only help fight global hunger but will also use the soil to fight climate change.” Transitioning the agriculture sector to more regenerative methods will support the U.S.’s commitment to reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030 and help create more economically viable farm businesses that connect farmers with new markets.

Join Heifer USA’s Heifer Ranch Manager and Land Steward, Donna Kilpatrick, and the Savory Institute’s Global Network Coordinator, Abbey Smith, for a discussion about the potential for scaling up regenerative agriculture to reverse climate change and how a growing network of regional regenerative farm hubs can spark change for small-scale farmers and their communities from the ground up.