The Accrued Benefits of Adaptive Grazing
By Allen Williams, Ph.D. The problems of many current conventional grazing systems can be avoided by ecologically sensitive management of ruminants across the landscape. Wild ruminants, by the hundreds of millions, have existed for millennia on the North American landscape and are responsible for the tremendous fertility and soil carbon that amazed our ancestors as […]
Artificial Animals – Part 3: Rancid Fats, Harmful Additives, & the Controversial Plant Blood
Sara Keough MS, CNS, LDN – Integrative Eco-NutritionistUnderstanding Ag, LLC Technical Advisor “I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef. You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time.”-Bill Gates, 2021 Six years prior to the quote above, […]
Adaptive Stewardship – What Does it Really Mean?
Within Understanding Ag, we teach what we term Adaptive Stewardship. We believe this to be an integral part of regenerative agriculture because without a good understanding of stewardship, we cannot be good practitioners of regenerative principles. The dictionary defines stewardship as “the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving” or […]
The 2021 Food Scene
In my last article, I wrapped up 2020 with a synopsis of major events that affected both farmers and consumers. This month, I want to focus on what the 2021 food scene will look like and how it may impact pastured protein producers and regenerative farmers. 2021 Food TrendsIn December 2020, Food & Wine magazine […]
Replacing ‘Prescriptions’ with ‘Observing and absorbing’ Key to Couple’s Regenerative Success
August Horstmann began his farming career following the scholarly prescriptions he was taught by his animal science professors at the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Following those prescriptions nearly ended his full-time farming dream. On his family’s 1,000-acre farm in Owensville, Missouri, the then 19-year-old Horstmann used registered bulls for breeding, fed his herd grain, included […]
Artificial Animals – Part 2
The Hidden Dangers of Processed Plant Proteins Sara Keough MS, CNS, LDN- Integrative Eco-Nutritionist Understanding Ag, LLC Technical Advisor While animal products have been routinely vilified and branded as promoting heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases, it turns out there is no solid evidence to support these claims. Yet, mainstream restaurants and supermarkets continue […]
Soil Health Principles with CONTEXT
What would a world without context be like? Navigating a world without context is like trying to find your way out of a dark room. It’s disorienting, confusing and problematic. Information is important, but knowledge is “information in context,” giving us a way to accurately and effectively “connect all of the dots” in any given […]
Artificial Animals – Part 1
Plant-based meats
It’s a phrase likely to evoke controversy and contention among a wide array of consumers depending on their dietary preferences, environmental concerns, ethical issues with meat consumption and knowledge of the food industry. Enthusiastic proponents of plant-based meats insist that they’re a more nutritious option than meat and reduce the environmental impacts driven by animal agriculture. Some consumers are on the fence, feeling conflicted about the ostensible health benefits of meat substitutes, yet accepting them as an eco-friendlier alternative.
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