Regenerative Agriculture at PACHA

What's regenerative agriculture, and why is it so important?

Regenerative agriculture or regenerative farming refers to “farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle” (Regeneration International, 2022).

Essentially, regenerative agriculture presents a potential solution to global warming and public health crises that we simply cannot afford to ignore. 

Here at PACHA, we believe in the importance of individual and corporate responsibility in prioritizing environmental conservation. So we choose to harness the power of regenerative agriculture and other sustainable practices in order to lessen our carbon footprint, and leave any parts of the planet we touch better than we found it.

Underneath the umbrella term regenerative agriculture, there are many different agrarian techniques that can be implemented, with the goals of:

  • Nurturing biodiversity
  • Restoring habitats
  • Improving soil conditions
  • Increasing crop yields
  • Reversing global effects of climate change

Above all, PACHA consciously chooses to use cover crops as main ingredients in our products. Essentially, cover crops can be defined as plants used to slow erosion, optimize soil health, attract pollinators, and improve biodiversity on farms (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, 2015).

One of our primary ingredients, buckwheat, is known for its deliciously hearty flavor and numerous health benefits; most importantly, it is recognized for its utility in regenerative farming. As a cover crop, buckwheat helps to prevent erosion, and is tilled back into the earth to become fertile soil. Furthermore, its numerous flowers promote biodiversity and allow farmers to cut out pesticides in the growing process. 

Another key ingredient in PACHA bread is sunflower, which also has numerous advantages in regard to regenerative agriculture. Just like buckwheat, sunflower is a cover crop, meaning that it holds soil in place throughout more frigid fall and winter seasons. Additionally, sunflower floriculture increases organic matter content within soil, leading to more ideal growth conditions and increased crop yield. 

PACHA’S choice to use cover crops as main ingredients in our tasty products helps improve soil fertility throughout our growing facilities. Improved soil health leads to ample growing conditions, and eventually improved harvests. Ultimately, improved crop yield is necessary to attain an adequate food supply for our ever growing global population. Regenerative agriculture techniques— such as large scale implementation of cover crops— helps to maintain healthy growing habitats for agricultural practices across Earth.

To further integrate regenerative agriculture processes within our business model, PACHA chooses our growing partners carefully. Currently, PACHA procures a majority of our organic seeds from farms as close to us geographically as possible, mostly from mills located domestically in the Midwestern United States. In the near future, we aim to use our purchasing power to influence our grain mills to make contracts with farms that are certified regenerative, further maximizing the reach of our PACHA values.

At the end of the day, we believe actions speak louder than words in regards to regenerative agriculture promotion and environmental protection initiatives. Therefore, PACHA pledges 1% for the Planet, meaning that 1% of all of our sales are donated to support regenerative farms and sustainable agriculture education programs. Currently, we are proud to support The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, and hope to team up with them on special regenerative agriculture projects in the future!

Check out the video below for more info about regenerative agriculture from PACHA's co-founder, Adam Hiner!


 

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