Understanding Hemp for Regenerative Agriculture
Did you know that hemp is one of the most environmentally friendly crops on the planet? Hemp, also known as industrial hemp, is widely known for its sustainability and has been hailed as a wonder crop for its many uses and applications for thousands of years.
As a tribute to this year's Hemp Week, let's discuss one of the biggest contributions hemp farming has on the environment and climate change: regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture offers many benefits to our planet, which you can find below.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that works on increasing topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, and ultimately strengthening the health of the soil and land. Moreover, regenerative agriculture also works to reverse the effects of climate change.
Regenerative farming has gained a lot of support as more and more people understand the value of protecting the soil and the environment. What makes hemp well-suited for regenerative agriculture is its ability to improve the health of the soil and also combat climate change.
Hemp for Regenerative Agriculture: Phytoremediation
Hemp is an excellent crop and plant for regenerative farming for many reasons. One reason is because of its phytoremediation properties. Phytoremediation is the natural ability to clean up soil by removing toxins like heavy metals.
Phytoremediation is possible within the hemp plant because of its high biomass content, strong deep roots, and quick growing cycle. Hemp can clean up and improve contaminated or poor soils fairly quickly and certainly efficiently.
More than a mere alternative strategy, regenerative agriculture represents a fundamental shift in our culture's relationship to nature.-Charles Eisenstein
Hemp for Regenerative Agriculture:
Soil Erosion Prevention
Another strength of the hemp plant is its ability to prevent soil erosion. Despite being an annual crop, hemp is extraordinarily unique for its strong, deep roots and durability even in harsh conditions. The rooted strength of the hemp plant is what prevents soil from eroding.
Since the top layer of soil is incredibly important to preserve, the strength of the hemp plant and its roots are key essentials to successful agricultural production. As Americans, we were reminded of the value of preserving the top soil when the destructive unsustainable farming practices destroyed during the Dust Bowl.
Hemp for Regenerative Agriculture:
Less Pesticides
Additionally, hemp is also less reliant on pesticides and herbicides. Crops like cotton require a massive amount of pesticides in production, and hemp requires very little in comparison. Pesticides can be harmful in many ways. They can leach into soil and waterways. Some pesticides also are hazardous to bee populations that are ever important for pollination of crops, plants, and flowers.
Hemp for Regenerative Agriculture: C02 Sequestration
Moreover, hemp is also great at sequestering carbon dioxide and binding it permanently into the fiber and biomass so it can be used for industrial applications. Hemp’s ability to pull C02 out of the atmosphere makes it an excellent crop for combating climate change. Carbon Dioxide is one of the gasses that contribute to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming.
Hemp has been scientifically proven to pull more C02 out of the atmosphere per acre than most other crops. Other crops like corn are also great at pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere, but the high biomass properties of the hemp plant make it one of the most effective plants at pulling C02 out of the atmosphere.
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In conclusion, hemp is a great choice for regenerative farming and sustainable agriculture. Hemp has the ability to improve the soil and combat climate change. This makes hemp the answer to many environmentalists’ dreams and plays a huge motivator in why we celebrate Hemp Week.
We hope to see more and more hemp acreage with the legalization of hemp in the U.S. with the 2018 Farm Bill. Please contact us at (502) 209-8808 or at wellness@anaviimarket.com if you have any questions about this blog or are interested in shopping one of our many hemp products on Anavii's website.
