28: Policy Special Focus - Regenerative Agriculture Policy with NRDC Deputy Director Lara Bryant

SustainNOW Podcast - Exploring Climate Solutions with Innovators and Entrepreneurs

Today I am talking with Lara Bryant, Deputy Director of NRDC (The Nature Resource Defence Council) in USA. Lara has a background in chemistry and studied plant and Soil Science and has a master’s degree in public administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. NRDC is a Non-Profit organization with more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis.

Lara promotes soil health practices to address climate change through regenerative farming. At NRDC, she drives policies to protect water quality, improve water efficiency, and make farms resilient to climate change. The NRDC, a global environmental non-profit, leverages science, law, and grassroots power to tackle critical environmental issues and protect the planet's resources.

In this episode, Lara explores regenerative agriculture's role in the U.S. agricultural system, the potential for large-scale adoption, and the necessary policy changes to support it. She also discusses financing shifts to regenerative practices, carbon credits, and how farmers can implement sustainable strategies for long-term soil health and climate mitigation.

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1. 28: Policy Special Focus - Regenerative Agriculture Policy with NRDC Deputy Director Lara Bryant (00:00:00)

2. What is the mission of the NRDC? (00:02:15)

3. What is your role and what does your day to day look like? (00:02:50)

4. Can you elaborate more on the federal insurance program? (00:03:28)

5. How does that system work? (00:04:45)

6. Can you explain the agriculture structure in the US? (00:05:48)

7. What is your goal for the crop insurance program? (00:06:30)

8. What is regenerative agriculture to you? (00:07:50)

9. What are some regenerative strategies that farmers can implement? (00:08:50)

10. What needs to change? (00:09:45)

11. How do you see community and empowerment for the next generation of regenerative farming? (00:10:40)

12. Is it possible to do regenerative agriculture on the large scale ranches? (00:12:30)

13. How do you make sure that soil health can be individualized to the specifics of that field? (00:13:50)

14. How do farmers finance the shift to regenerative agriculture? (00:14:20)

15. Who is working on this funding? (00:15:45)

16. What would be your three tips to non-farmers to help contribute to regenerative agriculture? (00:16:15)

17. Is there a difference between regenerative agriculture and organic? (00:17:50)

18. Is there a label for regenerative agriculture products? (00:19:00)

19. How many American farmers are already practicing regenerative agriculture? (00:20:00)

20. What needs to change for regenerative agriculture? (00:21:00)

21. What is soil health? (00:21:15)

22. What is your opinion on using carbon credits for financing this? (00:22:15)

23. How has your time in regenerative agriculture changes your opinions? (00:23:30)

24. How did you end up working in this field? (00:25:00)

25. Are there any books, podcasts, or documentaries that shaped your journey? (00:26:15)

26. How can people contact you? (00:28:00)