In a world where opinions about climate change can sometimes be polarizing, the Arizona State University professor of practice has produced a film that features farmers with different viewpoints discussing the carbon footprint of both conventional and regenerative cattle grazing.
(Spoiler alert: Studies show that regenerative grazing pulls down up to four times more carbon from the atmosphere than conventional grazing.)
The Arizona premiere of “Roots So Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There)” took place Thursday at Marston Exploration Theater in ASU’s Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV to a full audience and included a Q&A with Byck after the screening.
ASU President Michael Crow introduced the film, commending Byck for “helping us to better understand the relationship between agricultural production and climate change.”
At the heart of it is the question, “How do we actually get people to understand that if we just think a bit more comprehensively about the carbon equation, we could much better manage our relationship with the planet?” Crow said.
Digging for solutions
“Roots So Deep” was born out of Byck’s desire to find solutions to problems created by climate change.
The filmmaker heard about an underutilized system of farming known as Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing — a process of feeding cattle in small paddocks and moving frequently to fresh ones.
This livestock management practice allows for healthy, restorative rest periods for the land. Traditional grazing on large pastures for extended periods results in overgrazing and the depletion of nutrients from the soil.
“AMP grazing is based on the oldest ways of grazing invented by the best land managers ever — bison,” explained Byck, a professor of practice at ASU’s School of Sustainability and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
According to Byck’s team of scientists, AMP grazing is being used by only 3% of the country’s farmers, but has the potential to safeguard natural ecosystems and solve many environmental problems plaguing the planet.
Despite its benefits, Byck soon learned that a lack of scientific research about the method made it risky for traditional farms to consider.
That’s when he embarked on what was to be a 10-year, $10 million research project.
Source: asu.edu
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sizsus
Categories: Kentucky, Livestock, Sustainable Agriculture