kiss the ground fact checking kiss the ground fact checking

Its especially interesting to me as I am working towards a biology degree and hope to become a soil scientist. He also heard about the NRCS soil health effort and my role in encouraging the agency to bring more resources to support the regenerative ag movement. There is not enough money in the world to get me to move from Gods country, North Dakota! GHG Mitigation Potential of Different Grazing Strategies in the United States Southern Great Plains. The short clip featured Zelenskyy speaking and the audio was that of a translator. Sign up for the latest courses, learning resources, news and events. Unfortunately not as much as I had hoped. As a last comment, it was brought into the discussion that we shouldnt believe Savory because his decision led to the death of thousands of elephants. doi:10.1093/jas/skx060 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skx060, Stanley, P. L., Rowntree, J. E., Beede, D. K., DeLonge, M. S., & Hamm, M. W. (2018). To achieve this, we have to change the way that we do agriculture, with less synthetic chemicals and GMOs and use the most powerful carbon capture process ever invented photosynthesis. Many of them are based on anecdotal evidence and experience. Ray: I met the Kiss the Ground group in 2015. BookstoreBook submissionsNewsNewsletter signupRecipesGardening, Our storyGet involvedJobs/FellowshipPartnersContact usPrivacy Shipping & return policy. Where I think the documentary falls short is in three critical areas. Two-thirds of the worlds land is currently desertifying leading to millions of climate refugees and further environmental destruction. Tilling, the process of pulling up the soil to plant seeds, is destructive to the soil. Soil organic matter [SOM] is largely created through microbial necromass. Registration confirmation will be emailed to you. We are made of carbon (16%) and its the element that life is based upon! This idea reminded me of what I learned from Cradle to Cradle. (PLEASE VOTE November 3rd or earlier!! Did you have any reservations about appearing in it? Filmmakers Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell wound up spending seven years making their latest doc, "Kiss the Ground," and all along the way they worried that by the end of the process there . Despite the documentary not spelling it out, its very clear. These will be using less chemicals and therefore come from healthier soils than normal veg; hugely better for soil biodiversity, natural biodiversity and your health. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Farmers need to learn how to regenerate and take care of the soil. Specifically, regenerative agriculture is a holistic land management practice that . Less meat to go around and significantly higher prices per unit. Holistic management is a decision making framework which has been developed over the years to deal with complex situations. Hailing from Newcastle, Australia, she predominantly writes about climate and animal rights issues, alongside her work in psychology. Anyway, I can go on and on doing a review of the shortcoming of this review, but the author is obviously more interested in justifying the supposed superiority of his food religion than he is in actual peer reviewed range, soil or atmospheric science by people who actually understand agricultural systems. (Source: Maggie Eileen Lochtenberg, freelance artist and transformational witch. Kris: There has never been a time when the potential to fundamentally change global agriculture, food quality, and economic viability for small and large farmers by regenerating the soil to restore and revitalize ecosystem services is as great is it is now. Its avoidable if we take better care of our soils and pay more attention to where and how our foods are grown! They correctly state that Bison would pass through land and not be seen for around a year. Other soil-based carbon capture solutions like composting are crucial to regenerative agriculture. Or this breakdown of the many myths he perpetuates inThe International Journal ofBiodiversity. Your email address will not be published. Local water cycles produce 40% of our rainfall. Upcoming Kiss the Ground Movie Features Three Understanding Ag Experts, Questions and Answers with Our In-House Stars. One of the . Although, when I watched it for the third time, it became obvious that the biology 101 lessons from Ray were cleverly used to dance around the fact there is no solid science to back up Savory and Browns claims. The evidence for this claim is research-based, clearly communicated, and visually supported with animations that illustrate submicroscopic events like carbon cycling and expansive drone shots for grand reveals, like the actual desert plateau that is turned back into rolling green farmland. Before we get into a few major claims made inKiss the Groundthat are directly at odds with scientific knowledge, I want to preface this entry by saying that I wholeheartedly supportregenerative agricultureas a goal and think the documentary did a great job bringing light to the detrimental impact that intensive animal agriculture is having on our planet. Regardless of the labelthat we choose to adopt, eating this way will nourish the soil, reduce emissions from agriculture, and at the same timereduce the burden of chronic disease in our communities. One thing with ruminant livestock is that when they are use as solar powered mobile composters in brittle environments, their manure, urine and saliva act as inoculates that increase soil microbiology. Soil is the solution and we have numerous options and opportunities to actualize this solution as consumers, farmers, ranchers, and environmentalists by focusing on the integration of biological processes. That sounds catastrophic. This is why science is so important. Her main aim is to help people to start making some small (but significant) changes to the way they eat so they can enjoy all the benefits, like more energy, less sickness, reduced risks of future disease and less guilt - because we all need less stress and guilt in our lives! Kiss the Ground members are the grassroots stakeholders that stand with us in the regenerative movement. Kiss the Ground features successful composting programs in San Francisco, Detroit, and Haiti. Copyright 2021 Understanding Ag, LLC | Website by RVT Solutions. The film begins by examining . The filmmakers were able to discuss organic and regenerative agriculture, livestock production and veganism, and climate change in a manner that made no individuals or groups either heroes or villains but rather made the soil the hero which is the appropriate focus in my opinion. If not, heres what you can do to join the regenerative farming movement, or at least help make things better . It was very much positioned as absolutely crucial to confronting this climate emergency we find ourselves in. He's a lover of people and of life. This review revealed some all to common perceptions about holistic management, a decision making framework, which can be applied to grazing as well as other management situations. Monocropping further exacerbates the issue, as the same crop is grown year on year, for miles in the case of US farms, microbial diversity cannot increase. Plus FCRNs paper simply ignored the existing peer reviewed science with its claim that no such science exists. Which would net off the existing emissions we make, at least stabilising things. Farmers, scientists, cows, and celebrities work together in this documentary to spread the good word about regenerative agriculture and its potential to mitigate climate change. But I also experienced the same misleadingparadigms from the conservative groups like Farm Bureau and other commodities groups. Put simply, there are no healthy humans without a healthy planet. are needed to help heal the earth. Stardom is a complicated thing, but at least all that money and power are being put to good use. If we pull the pin on that, it means one thing and one thing only. The problem is, the lay viewer who is not across the science, and blinded by the message of hope, is likely to confuse the role of cows in holistic grazing with instruction that we should continue eating meat at current rates (as long as its grass-fed) and perhaps even double down on our meat consumption. Forages and Pastures Symposium: Cover Crops in Livestock Production: Whole-System Approach: Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health And farm livelihoods. Commercial meat farming has one of the highest negative impacts. Gabe: I agreed to become involved because when Josh explained to me that the purpose of the documentary was to highlight how farming organically could improve our planet, I knew I needed to help bring his understanding of soil health and ecosystem function to a higher level. Share this article or talk about the importance of soils to your friends. Gabe: That each and every person needs to step up and make a differencethat they can make a difference by purchasing from farmers and ranchers who practice regenerative ag. In many ways, this stands to do more harm than good. If we can only get everyone on board! They love their land and lifestyle, they are just trying to survive, while being poisoned themselves by the chemicals they must use to keep their fields producing. Tying the message of Kiss the Ground to voting for policymakers who will systemically change the way the country incentivizes regenerative agriculture and reversing climate change would have been an obvious and easy leap to make. Did you know that we can save the world with soil? 1 Claims that holistic grazing can reverse climate change. Factory farms are good at one thing producing a lot of meat in a short period of time to feed a growing appetite for meat. Over the years, tilling causes the soil to dirt, leaving it vulnerable to erosion and desertification. That was good enough for me. Its sad, really, seeing gray, dead soil devoid of life. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 141(34), 310-322. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2011.03.009, Plus a recent LCA funded by General Mills: All natural systems exist in balance, with a diversity of plants and animals. Watch the film trailer here and the full movie on Netflix. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Kiss the Ground is a full-length documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson that sheds light on an, Awakening people to the possibilities of regeneration. We are healthier, as is the earth. Im Sarah, a Sustainable Nutrition and Behaviour Change Coach, and Im here to help if youre done with feeling guilty about doing too little to reduce your environmental impact and feed yourself healthy foods. Modern agriculture was not designed for the betterment of the soil, instead for the short term maximisation of yield. Why not let the viewer know what theworlds leading climate scientists have to say about diet? It is a strategic use of fame and visibility, and the filmmakers and stars are clearly aware of the cultural impact of their appearances in the film. However, I was slightly apprehensive that the documentary may be too focused on California and Hollywood and not be relevant to farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and the globe. If we look at where many of the 20 or so great civilisations have been, many are now desert Could this be our future if we carry on down this path? Nature Communications, 6, 6995. doi:10.1038/ncomms7995 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7995, Wang, T., Teague, W., Park, S., & Bevers, S. (2015). Directors Joshua Tickell Rebecca Harrell Tickell Writers Johnny O'Hara Joshua Tickell Rebecca Harrell Tickell Stars Kiss the Ground has been active in this space for a while and is a California-based 501(c)(3) environmental non-profit telling a new story about our ability to regenerate land and reverse climate change by building back healthy soil. Livestock and Land Use: How Are We Feeding The Planet? Gabe: I was assured by Josh that the information I presented would not be taken out of context and he agreed to run edits by me first. It would be great to see what was meant to be there! can scoop up and heroically rescue. With no plants to transpire and create the water vapour which condenses to rain, local rainfall also fails, turning the area to desert. The NFL quarterback goes to bed earlier than any college student has ever dreamed of, and his diet is impeccably healthy. The documentary carefully positions holistic grazing as the answer to intensive animal agriculture (including the mono-cropping that occurs to feed factory-farmed animals). Instagram @maggie.eileen.art). Our modern farming methods are not concerned with soil longevity or quality and are significantly to blame for the destruction of the soils. Thanks for a well-referenced and easily readable article this seems like a great resource to send to people. Harvard research has shown that these chemicals can build up in breast fed babies this use of chemicals has to stop! Since chemical agriculture ramped up in the 70s, we have lost 1/3 of the worlds topsoil. Nicholas Carter and Simon Hill (MSc Nutr). Science experts and celebrity activists unpack the ways in which the earth's soil may be the key to combating climate change and preserving the planet. Check out their simple yet profound Soil Story: Its filled with intelligent people who refuse to shy away from the impending climate cataclysm and have instead dedicated themselves to the daily work of facing itas farmers, educators, scientists, and yes, even as politicians. In fact, the documentary claims that greenhouse gases are sequestered (stored/drawn down) in grazing herds, due to the generation of healthy soils, but released in feed lots where the animals are not a part of the natural cycle. There was a huge opportunity for the filmmakers to ask open-ended questions and seek new avenues of thought and action, but they went the safe route of trying to be inspiring. Francis Ge is News Fellow at Stone Pier Press and an aspiring first-generation regenerative farmer. Kiss the Groundgave the microphone to Ranchers Alan Savory and Gabe Brown, but we didnt hear about any legitimate science testing out whether the claims they were making truly hold up? Ray: That a large audience will come away with a basic awareness about the transformative power of our living and life-giving soil. Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter. The worlds top soils grow over 95% of the foods that feed the world. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in Political Science, Economics and Spanish, and I currently study law in Texas. Ill start with the hardest and get easier. Its not just about more trees, the carbon that can be stored in healthy, organic material rich soils is much greater. It carries pleasant stuff. Great news! The first point that I think deserves our attention, before getting into the science on the reversal claim, is the way the producers wanted you to see holistic grazing. 3 Unclear about how the proposed solutions would affect our diets. The bonus being that plant-rich dietary patterns just so happen to also be whatmajor health institutionsand progressive Government departments likeHealth Canadaare advocating for to tackle rising rates of obesity and chronic disease, and improve quality of life. Rumi. We already use 3-4 times more fertiliser for each bushel of grain than in the 60s. Ive listed these below in short, and then we will go through each together looking at the claims made and where the science lies: (These have also been covered in detail with Environmental Researcher Nicholas Carter (co-author of this article) in episode 104 and 111 on thePlant Proof podcast). He did several versions of this movie. This will not only better their own wellbeing because they will be consuming foods higher in nutrient density, but they will also support those who are making a positive impact on the environment. This is actually seen using satellites which monitor the CO2 levels. Eco-friendly eating - better for your health and the planet :). A Feb. 27, 2023, video of U.S. President Joe Biden purportedly shows him announcing a new national draft, in which 20-year-olds would be conscripted into military service on account of a growing . Focussing on this review was a clever move by Kiss the Ground Paul Hawken and the Project Drawdown are incredibly well respected. I am very optimistic. Thank you for this article! But here too Garnett doesnt understand the science. This is where a report written by Dr. Tara Garnett for the University of Oxford becomes very interesting a report titleGrazed and Confusedthat I have written about beforehere. It is possible that this is coincidence, but the correlation is striking! The movie didn't even include an indictment of current US politics or President Trump, which is notable by its absence considering the film was released so close to election time. . Impacts of soil carbon sequestration on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Midwestern USA beef finishing systems. Whats glaringly clear from Hawkens report is that when it comes to our food and greenhouse gas emissions, thetwo areas we can make the biggest impactare reducing food waste (number one solution)and moving to a plant-rich diet (number three solution). Those sharing the video said that Zelenskyy sought young Americans to help fight on the ground war. Due to its immense scale, and ability to sequester (store) greenhouse gases, it could be the one thing that can balance our climate, clean our water and feed the world! The natural carbon cycle involves carbon release by animals consuming plant and other organic materials and releasing the carbon as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I was interested in clicking through at there are many types of regenerative agriculture that do not involve animals for more information, but that currently just links back to this article. In other words, his claims cannot be supported by data, replicated by others and he doesnt believe in science. This is a great way to help poor communities to reduce their disease from poor sanitation AND grow their own foods to lift them out of starvation and malnutrition! Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture & Society, 4(3), 8. Humans have created such a massive disturbance in our topsoil and atmosphere that the only way out is forward. So ifKiss the Groundhad taken a more evidence-based approach and included dietary recommendations what would it have looked like? Thank you for the review. No topsoils; no food! Just consider the thousands of peer reviewed papers advocating this diet or that diet and the people in the US are still among the most malnourished in the developed world. Having dedicated many years to researching and communicating the science behind an optimal diet for humans, I understand first hand how our health isinextricably tied to the planets(as detailed inmy upcoming book). I do feel bad for the farmers trapped in the cycle though. One can only presume that the slaughtering of the animal is not about soil quality, but about profits. Its clear to see that levels of CO2 in the atmosphere above the main agricultural areas increase significantly in the main tilling/ploughing months, and then as plant cover increases in the fields, it drops! The documentary is well-produced and in the eyes of a layperson an extremely compelling case for changing the way we grow food. Despite all of this, my fear is that many will be left with a complete misunderstanding of where environmental science truly lies. The solution is right under our feet THE SOIL. Clearly this is something that needs our urgent attention and resolution! Required fields are marked *. Compost your food scraps. Rising animal production and consumption, whatever the farming system and animal type, is causing damaging greenhouse gas release and contributing to changes in land use. Science can provide us with some valid assumptions, but it does not provide recipes. The solution is right under our feet - THE SOIL. Healthy soils can store more carbon than all the trees combined! Kris:The time and effort that the team put into the interviews and edits as well as probably debating and refining the perspective the film takes should be commended. Desertification is the process of land turning to desert. Heres my critique of that paper: https://lachefnet.wordpress.com/2018/03/25/its-the-soil-biology-stupid/ This paper includes a number of these soil science papers. What do you hope viewers will take away from the movie? I thought it was odd that this was left out. Ground News is unable to assign a bias rating and does not have ratings available from Ad Fontes Media, All Sides, and Media Bias/Fact Check. (Though theyre still good ideas.). Kiss the Ground was created in 2013 from a meeting in Venice Beach. Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world's soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth's climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Given soil grows 95 per cent of our food, and sustains human life, this is a huge problem. Its a system of thinking and working that takes knowledge, skill, experience, endurance, affinity, if you've got it, and a lot of hard work, just like any other difficult undertaking. Ray: Initially, when I first met the Kiss the Ground group, I told them that I was really concerned about how they should approach the landowners. berger 215 hybrid 300 win mag. But its the reality we face. They are both such impactful leaders in this movement because they are called to bring these concepts to farmers and ranchers everywhere. While the efforts of Archuleta and others are slowly gaining traction, crop subsidies fuel a system that depletes the soil and leaves farmers dependent on the government for aid. This carbon is then absorbed by plants, which use it in their cells and leak into the soils in the form of sugars. by Sarah Read | May 18, 2022 | Eat, Eco-friendly eating, Sustainable living tips and advice, Think, Kiss the Ground is another in the line of eco-documentaries that Netflix is putting out there (albeit one of the first and most famous). 114k square miles regenerated! The film uses creative graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, and illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon many of humankinds most pressing climate and environmental problems can be solved.