We’re living in the age of the conscious consumer. When people make spending decisions, they want to know their money supports products and brands that align with their values. One of the largest considerations is how our shopping habits impact the environment, so labels like “from regenerative farms” are growing increasingly popular. Here, we’ll answer some questions you might have about regenerative farming, such as: What is regenerative farming? Does it work? Can regenerative agriculture be profitable? Who’s participating? And more.
While there isn’t exactly a universally accepted definition of what it means to engage in regenerative farming, there are a few simple principles that you’ll typically find in practice. To learn more about how it works, check out our in-depth blog, So What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Taking care of the soil so intently might sound like it takes more work, diligence, and resources than conventional farming, so it’s important to understand if all that effort pays off for the farmer and the planet. If you want more information on the effectiveness of regenerative agriculture, read our blog, Is Regenerative Agriculture a Sustainable Practice?
So, what do farmers stand to gain by adhering to regenerative agriculture practices? Going the comparatively uncomplicated route of conventional farming must be much easier. Well, it turns out that there are plenty of good reasons for farmers to hop on board with the movement:
The food supply chain, from animal feed to CPG refrigeration, accounts for more than 30% of total carbon emissions. Is regenerative farming capable of reducing or even reversing the effects of climate change? The data we have so far looks promising:
Regenerative agriculture is not only a benefit to farmers and the planet; CPG brands can leverage the fact that their ingredients are sourced from a regenerative farm. More and more, consumers are telling companies that they want products that are good-for-you and good-for-the-planet—and they’re telling them with their wallets.
When shoppers are given a choice between conventional products and those with sustainable ingredients, they’re drawn to those items with words like “sustainably sourced” or “from regenerative farms” on the label. These are some of the CPGs that have made responsible farming a big part of their brand and are reaping the benefits:
1. Simply Sunflower - This sunflower oil company is one of the brands that Buffalo Market is most proud to distribute. As one of the leading food distributors of good-for-you and good-for-the-planet CPGs, we carefully select our partners to match our values. As part of its commitment to nurturing the farmland, Simply Sunflower's Nebraska farm rotates between corn, soybeans, wheat, and sunflowers. According to their CEO, “Farmer Al,” rotating crops comes with plenty of perks.
“Our crop rotation changes the insect cycle so we don’t use insecticides.” “Corn uses nitrogen and soybeans make nitrogen so our crops generate their own fertilizer.” Our crop rotation also helps soften the soil. Sunflowers have a six-foot tap root which naturally breaks up hard pans. This enables us to use a no-till farming technique and increase organic matter in the soil. “We’re able to diversify the land usage so natural microbes in the soil don’t die off.” “It also breaks down the weed cycle, offers protection from wind and water erosion, and provides grazing for cattle.”
The farm even goes so far as to make their own biodiesel from fryer oil collected from local restaurants. Their machinery runs on clean fuel that doesn’t introduce toxic petrol exhaust into the environment. We’re thrilled to be one of the food distributors for this fantastic brand and look forward to working together for years to come.
2. Simple Mills - Famous for its snacks and baking mixes, Simple Mills uses only natural ingredients that its customers already know by name. The company partners with regenerative farms and purposefully makes its products with diverse ingredients to contribute to crop diversity. From an e-pamphlet on their commitment to sustainable agriculture:
“Simple Mills is committed to revolutionary food design that advances regenerative agriculture principles, elevates farmers, empowers eaters, and inspires peers so our food system can nourish people and our planet now and for generations to come. Simply put, we bake positive impact into the food we make.”
Simple Mills also supports its farming regions by investing in the local community and trading directly with farmers. The Chicago-based company started with its products in just four stores. Now Simple Mills has distribution in over 27,000 locations.
3. Alpha Food Labs - Alpha Food Labs is known primarily for its range of ready-made plant-based frozen food items, but the company also acts as an incubator for new food and beverage brands. The first project under their umbrella is called Varietal. Varietal makes snacks called Crop Crackers with ingredients that are part of a crop rotation, so the ingredients for the cracker will change yearly. From the Alpha Food Labs website:
“Creating deliciousness actually doesn’t start in the kitchen, it starts on the farm, in the soil. Soil is where food, nutrition, and flavor come from, so the better you treat your soil, the better your food is going to be. There’s a ton of ways you can make soil healthier, but a crop rotation is one of the most tried and true ways to do it.“
By backing a project like Varietal, Alpha Food Labs broadcasts that they see a market for products with regeneratively-farmed ingredients. The company makes the case that by purchasing products like the Crop Cracker, consumers signal to farmers and CPGs that there’s a demand for responsibility-produced brands and goods.
4. Alec’s Ice Cream - This Northern Californian CPG is the first (and only) ice cream brand that’s Regenerative Farming certified. Alec’s partners with ecologically sustainable dairy and sugar cane farms to source the ingredients for all of their ice cream products. According to the regenerative farming section of their website:
“98% of our ice cream base ingredients are certified or verified regenerative, which means they are produced using holistic farming practices that actually reverse climate change. Through the use of cover crops and carefully managed grazing cows, regen farming is positively impacting the food we eat and the world we live in.
The company also points out that regenerative agriculture removes carbon from the air, where it’s harmful, and stores it in the ground, where it’s actually beneficial. The net gains from regenerative practices are formidable, which is why mass adoption of this agricultural methodology would positively impact the environment in such a big way.
5. White Leaf Provisions - We often say that a major reason we should care for the environment is for the sake of future generations. It’s no wonder, then, that parents would want the food they feed their babies to positively impact climate change. White Leaf Provisions is the first regeneratively farmed, organic, non-GMO, and biodynamic baby food brand to hit the market.
“We believe that being mindful towards the food we eat and the manner in which it is grown and produced allows us to be more in tune with ourselves and the world around us.”
-Meghan Rowe, Co-Founder & CEO, White Leaf provisions
When it comes to caring for their babies, we imagine many people would feel better at ease when they know the ingredients are farmed responsibly, reducing the amount of carbon in our atmosphere, and making the planet safer for younger generations.
Each of the above brands and countless others are changing the way we think about agriculture and our relationship to farmland. The principles of regenerative farming have proven to be good for the soil, good for farmers, good for consumers, and good for the planet.
As food distributors that specialize in working with mission-driven brands, Buffalo Market is the perfect choice to bring your regenerative farming CPG to stores. Brands choose Buffalo Market to help them identify their customers and keep their products consistently stocked and in front of the right audience.
To learn more about how Buffalo Market is one of the leading food distributors in the country and how we can help you with your CPG or retail business, give us a shout today!