A Just Transition in agriculture

The information covered on sustainable agriculture in this class alone demonstrates that we are not lacking in knowledge on how to regenerative farm, on how to work with the environment rather than against it. Our agricultural systems are, however, lacking in incentives and motivation to switch over to these new ways of farming. Similar to the Just Transitions proposed for the fossil fuel industries, which operates with a framework that secures workers rights and livelihoods when transitioning to more sustainable industries, we need more policies and funding in place for a Just Transition in agriculture. Instead of nonsensical and short-sighted farming subsidies, such as those which subsidize growing the crops used to feed animals in feedlots, there needs to be more funding for farming practices that will work to solve, rather than exacerbate, the climate crisis, and the introduction of these new subsidies must serve to support rather than to villanize those farmers who have been monoculture farming for generations. The knowledge and experience of monoculture farmers can be very valuable; the issue is that it, for the most part, won't be applied to more sustainable practices unless governments step up to support these farmers in transitioning their livelihoods.