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Regenerative Farming Practices as Nature-Based Solutions: Potential Actions for Municipalities in Massachusetts

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Abstract
This paper explores potential opportunities for municipalities to engage with farmers to promote and support the adoption of regenerative farming practices. With agriculture, ecosystems, and communities confronting climate change and other environmental crises, this paper proposes that regenerative farming practices can serve as nature-based solutions that improve the resiliency of farms and communities alike. To investigate this thesis, the following research was conducted: case studies of three western Massachusetts organic farms, including semi-structured interviews with key personnel; reviews of municipal plans in their respective communities; a case study of a California county’s plans for sustainable agriculture and carbon farming; semi-structured interviews with seven food system planners working in western Massachusetts; and a literature review including selected Massachusetts and New England plans relating to food systems, climate change, and ecosystem health. The study found that the most salient barriers to adopting regenerative farming practices in the study region were lack of long-term access to land, the financial risks associated with changing farming practices, and lack of skills and knowledge. The most important potential actions for municipalities were promoting communities of practice in regenerative farming by supporting community farms and peer learning groups; promoting regenerative farming on agricultural land under municipal control and through key partnerships; including regenerative farming practices as nature-based solutions in municipal plans and regulations; and promoting these practices on farms to improve the resilience of riparian buffers and flood plains and as urban green infrastructure.
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Thesis (Open Access)
Date
2024-05
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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