Lin Merage spends a great deal of her time advocating for sustainable practices. Lin Merage's extensive experience and learning opportunities has translated into valuable connections to industry organizations, including the Organic Trade Association, which promotes organic farming initiatives to, among other things, improve soil sustainability.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in 2014, roughly one-third of the Earth’s soil was degraded due to poor farming practices such as chemical-heavy farming and deforestation. The organization states it takes close to 1,000 years to replace three centimeters of topsoil. To maintain soil health, FAO says organic farmers use practices such as crop rotation, symbiotic associations, inter-cropping, organic fertilizers, cover crops, and minimal tillage. These promote water and nutrient retention. Because synthetic (chemical) fertilizers are prohibited in organic farming, ground water pollution is reduced. According to the FAO, using natural fertilizers such as compost and green manure increases the amount of nutrients retained by the soil. The organization also states that organic farming has been credited with maintaining biodiversity at the gene and species level, which promotes overall soil health. It also promotes carbon retention in soil, which reduces global warming.
0 Comments
|
AuthorA longtime advocate for sustainable living, Lin Merage currently serves as the CEO of Nature-In-Sync Real Estate, a company that retrofits buildings and homes using a variety of green and non-toxic materials. Archives
November 2022
|