Regenerative Economies

12 MAY 2020

 

A few years ago, environment conversations started to introduce the topic of regeneration. That meant moving the focus from sustainability, which has traditionally focused on minimising negative impacts, to actively repairing the damage that has been done to the planet and restoring critical ecosystems.

Explore through these clips where we talk to some of the leading experts on climate change and how, through fashion, we can create a market economy that drives demand for nature-based solutions to climate change.

 
 

Place-Based Agriculture is the Future

Our panelists discuss what place-based agriculture is and how it is revolutionising the farming industry.

 
 

Rebecca Burgess shares what regenerative means to her.

Our favourite quote:

The ability for a system to self-renew without having to add inputs that have a heavy footprint, or another set of industrial chemical processes, that they are reliant on to make the yield work on a piece of land.

Elizabeth Whitlow shares what regenerative means to her.

Our favourite quote:

For agriculture to be regenerative, you need to have organic certification, not use harmful chemicals with an emphasis soil health and ensure animal and worker welfare.

 
 

How powerful is regenerative agriculture? Rebecca Burgess reveals all.

Our favourite tip:

How do we harmonise with nature that is already removing carbon from the atmosphere? Agriculture is so important because we can harness the soil carbon pool. Agriculture is anthropogenically managed so we can make these systems profitable and net-sinks.

Rebecca Burgess explores how the urban space is perfect for regenerative culture.

Our favourite tip:

The mending culture is the best way to explore regenerative systems within the city. The urban space is rich with people who can use food waste, collect waste and utilise products for other means such as dyes.

 
 

Elizabeth Whitlow explains what the key barriers are in preventing us from returning to traditional practices.

Our main conclusion:

Our policies. We need to find ways to diversify our crops, shorten our supply chains and regionalizing food. This is why we need brands that are willing to pay the premium.

Can the fashion industry engage with regenerative culture? Rebecca Burgess discusses.

Our favourite takeaway:

For those brands looking for an approach to thinking about supply chain, think about integrated systems within landscapes. This integration will help stop the fashion industry taking up more virgin land.

 
 

Rebecca Burgess and Elizabeth Whitlow discuss the diverse uses of flax.

Our favourite quote:

Flax is by far the most amenable fibre to work with; it is much less lignin and pectin rich in comparison to hemp.

Rebecca Burgess explains what soil health is.

Our main conclusion:

Our resources are air-born and we want to move them into the soil. Plants do this naturally, they make mass out of gas - this means we must keep as much of the ground covered with plants as they move CO2 out of the atmosphere and into our soils.

 

Connect with our panellists

 

Rebecca Burgess

Rebecca, M.ed, is the executive director of Fibershed, chair of the board for Carbon Cycle Institute and the author of Harvesting Colour. Through Fibershed, Rebecca has built an extensive network of farmers and artisans that drive economic development for decentralised fibre and natural dye systems.

Visit Fibershed's Website | Follow Fibershed

Elizabeth Whitlow

Elizabeth is the Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), the nonprofit leading the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). The ROC is a holistic, high-bar certification that encompasses soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.

Vist the ROA's Website | Follow Regenerative Organic Alliance