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🌱🚜 Empowering Farmers & Protecting Health: A Call to Action for Regenerative Agriculture 🌍💡 Recent protests by European and Indian farmers highlight the urgent need for sustainable agriculture. Meet Climate Farmers co-founder Philippe Birker, revolutionizing farming with regenerative agriculture. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen withdrew the Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR), regarding a new law that sought to halve pesticide use by 2030, raising major concerns about pesticide regulation. Monoculture farming's reliance on pesticides causes soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. These harmful effects not only jeopardize environmental sustainability but also pose a direct threat to public health. 👩🌾👨👩👧👦 It's clear: we need a paradigm shift. Philippe Birker & Climate Farmers are committed to addressing both the pesticide crisis and the challenges faced by farmers worldwide. Regenerative agriculture reduces chemical reliance, revitalizes ecosystems, and promotes soil health. Birker notes that unfortunately farming is often seen as an unsexy, unglamorous profession, which means that few young people are choosing to pursue careers in agriculture. The aging demographic and the lack of interest among younger generations makes it difficult to introduce new, more sustainable practices. Climate Farmers' multifaceted approach includes: 🌱 Storytelling & Education: Climate Farmers shares the inspiring stories of regenerative farmers, portraying them as the heroes of our time. Recognizing the scarcity of resources for learning regenerative agriculture, they launched the Climate Farmers Academy. This nonprofit brings together farmers across Europe, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and community building. 📚 Access to Knowledge: Filling the gap in regenerative agriculture education, Climate Farmers facilitates learning and mentorship programs. They empower farmers to adopt sustainable practices. 💰 Payment for Ecosystem Services: Transitioning from conventional to regenerative agriculture can be financially challenging. Climate Farmers introduces a for-profit arm aimed at bridging this gap. By generating carbon credits, they reward farmers for ecosystem services like biodiversity enhancement and soil health improvement. This incentivizes sustainable practices and supports farmers during the transition period. 🌿 We need to scale structures that unlock capital flows toward financing the transition from industrial to regenerative practices while supporting farmers. From Europe to India, farmers are demanding recognition, support, and reforms that address their concerns and safeguard their livelihoods. 🌍🌾 👉Join us in building a pesticide-free, nutrient-rich future with a triple bottom line: social, environmental, and market risk-adjusted returns, that benefits farmers, consumers, and the planet. #RegenerativeAgriculture #ImpactInvesting #HealthFirst Animation by Febe Lien Demey