021: Reclaiming our food with Good Agriculture CEO Alex Edquist

A better way to farm and eat

• Alex is the founder and CEO of Good Agriculture, a start-up that supports regerative farmers with business back-office services so they can do what they do best: produce nourishing food and steward the land.

  

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• In this episode, I sat down with Alex Edquist, Co-Founder and CEO of Good Agriculture, to explore the transformative world of regenerative agriculture.

• Alex shares her journey from management consulting to launching a tech-driven startup aimed at supporting farmers with sustainable practices.

• We delve into the principles of regenerative farming, its environmental benefits, and how she’s optimistic about the role of agriculture in shaping a better world.

• Alex's insights offer a compelling vision of how revitalizing our soil can lead to healthier ecosystems, a more sustainable food system, and a happier, healthier life for you and me.

• You can listen to or watch the episode here:

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A few notable insights:

• Defining ‘regenerative farming:’ Farming with a core set of principles enhance soil health, biodiversity, and water retention - ultimately leading to more nutrient-dense, tasty food.

  • Principles include maximizing the time that soil has some type of crop planted, crop rotation, no-till farming, and integrating livestock and other animals.

• Cows get an unfair bad wrap in the climate battles: Regenerative farming shows that cattle, when managed properly, actually benefit the environment by aiding in soil health and carbon sequestration. “It’s not the cow, but the how” as Alex says.

• Alex is optimistic, but we need economic alignment: She views regenerative agriculture as a true win-win, offering environmental benefits (transitioning to regenerative practices could be the single biggest lever to reverse CO2), economic opportunities for farmers, and increased health and taste satisfaction for consumers.

  • However, the government incentive structure and current insurance market heavily disincentivize regenerative practices (and the multiple years it can take to reach maturity) relative to monocropping.

• Start small, buy local: If you want to support regenerative agriculture, Alex recommends going to a local farmers market and transitioning 1-2 things you regularly buy, like eggs or your favorite vegetable. Meet the farmers. You can build from there.

• Reclaimed holiness: There’s potential for spiritual and practical redemption if more people become farmers. Alex believes there’s something special in people reconnecting with the land and understanding their source of sustenance and survival (even if she herself has a “black thumb”).

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Resources for folks wanting to learn more:

• The Biggest Little Farm (movie): A great watch about first-time farmers transitioning to a regenerative farm and the myriad of challenges & joys they face.

• Dirt to Soil (book): I haven’t read this one but plan to. Details a North Dakota farmer’s transition away from herbicides and synthetic fertilizers and a switch to no-till planting.

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Questions for reflection:

• How does building a closer relationship with the land and your food sources rank on relative priorities for personal well-being compared to other things you’re paying attention to?

• Have you switched any of your purchasing and consumption away from mass-market fruits, vegetables and meats to regenerative? If so, what have you noticed?

• Should we all chip in and buy a farm and then make a premium no-sugar-added brand of jerky and work and live happily ever after?
  
  Here’s the episode again, please give a watch/listen!

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