Paul, I am a big almond consumer..al. butter, al. flour, nuts etc. My big concern are the bees in crisis here in CA. without the bees there will be no pollination. We need more gardens that are bee friendly. Any thoughts on this?
Love this - but it's not that easy! For consumers to trust regenerative brands and products have to get certified. Almonds and almond ingredients are aggregated in processing -- one of the reasons organic almonds are so expensive -- the industry must adopt a regenerative segregated supply chain for almond hulling, shelling, processing and manufacturing -- and it adds cost (which premium consumers will pay!) until there is scale. Consumers trust a product label with certifications, and regenerative certification requires measurement of outcomes, not just observance of a practice. Regenerative requires:
• improving soil health,
• sequestering carbon,
• increasing water tables,
• improving wildlife habitat
• fostering biodiversity
So the question is how to plant a pasture on the almond orchard because bare ground will not work for regenerative. Need to support wildlife. Need more diversity. That poses a food safety issue because you'll introduce pathogens. Also farmers worry about water competition. It could be that when you cover the soil it holds on to more water so net benefit is better, but all this is yet to be proven out.
that's Ruthann not James Grossman
Paul, I am a big almond consumer..al. butter, al. flour, nuts etc. My big concern are the bees in crisis here in CA. without the bees there will be no pollination. We need more gardens that are bee friendly. Any thoughts on this?
Love this - but it's not that easy! For consumers to trust regenerative brands and products have to get certified. Almonds and almond ingredients are aggregated in processing -- one of the reasons organic almonds are so expensive -- the industry must adopt a regenerative segregated supply chain for almond hulling, shelling, processing and manufacturing -- and it adds cost (which premium consumers will pay!) until there is scale. Consumers trust a product label with certifications, and regenerative certification requires measurement of outcomes, not just observance of a practice. Regenerative requires:
• improving soil health,
• sequestering carbon,
• increasing water tables,
• improving wildlife habitat
• fostering biodiversity
So the question is how to plant a pasture on the almond orchard because bare ground will not work for regenerative. Need to support wildlife. Need more diversity. That poses a food safety issue because you'll introduce pathogens. Also farmers worry about water competition. It could be that when you cover the soil it holds on to more water so net benefit is better, but all this is yet to be proven out.