Spudman November/December 2022 - 7

Overcoming crop challenges
through Regenerative farming
How McCain is creating better sustainability efforts for growers
Whether it's climate change,
regulatory uncertainty or rising input
costs, potato growers across the world
continue to face increasing challenges.
To combat some of these threats
to the potato industry, McCain is
partnering with growers to create
better sustainability efforts in growing
potatoes. By the end of 2030, McCain
plans to implement Regenerative
agricultural practices across 100% of
its potato acreage worldwide.
McCain defines Regenerative
agriculture as an " ecosystem-based
approach to farming that aims to
improve farmer resilience, yield and
quality by improving soil health,
enhancing biodiversity and reducing
the impact of synthetic inputs. "
Austin Poulson
McCain's six key principles to
Regenerative agriculture:
1. Ensure farm resilience
2. Armour soils, preferably with
living plants
3. Enhance crop and ecosystem
diversity
4. Minimize soil disturbance
5. Reduce agro-chemical impact &
optimize water use
6. Integrate organic and livestock
elements
Austin Poulson, fifth generation
farmer in Idaho, knows the responsibility
it takes to build healthy soils.
" My goals for (Regenerative
agriculture) have always been to
maximize the health of the soil in order
to maximize return on investment, "
Poulson said. " My grandpa would
say, 'If you take care of the dirt, then
the dirt can take care of you.' I believe
that. When I look at the farms that I
have responsibility for, I want to make
sure that I am building healthy soils
that can raise healthy crops. "
Through his use of Regenerative
agriculture techniques, Poulson has
already seen its benefits.
" Inputs are a huge portion of our
costs. Over the last few years, with all
that has been going on, costs have
gone through the roof. Finding
(Regenerative agriculture) projects
that can augment my ability to raise
a good crop have helped me reduce
my dependence on inputs. We have
also seen savings in water usage, less
erosion and overall better biological
activities, " Poulson said.
According to Poulson, since his use
of Regenerative agriculture techniques,
his farm's water usage is more efficient
after raising a cover crop. He also
notes that a potato crop with a cover
crop versus one without " will show
better resilience in the face of high heat
or low soil moisture - giving you a
better crop in spite of extreme weather
conditions, " Poulson said.
Regenerative agriculture has the
potential to impact generations of
farmers. According to Poulson, it
starts with improving soil health.
" We need to always be improving
and perfecting our craft, " Poulson
said. " I think building soil health and
continuing to improve our soils will
be a bright part of the future. The
impact (Regenerative farming) can
have on generations to come could
allow this finite resource to continue
to benefit the population for years
to come. Those in agriculture know
that if you mistreat your product
or commodity, eventually it stops
being financially viable - land is
no different. "
To learn more about McCain visit www.mccain.com/sustainability/smart-sustainable-farming/
ADVERTISEMENT | © 2022 McCain Foods Limited
http://www.mccain.com/sustainability/smart-sustainable-farming/
Spudman November/December 2022

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