#1893 - Will Harris

Will Harris, a fourth-generation farmer at White Oak Pastures, discusses regenerative agriculture and its stark contrast to industrial farming. He details his transition from conventional, technology-heavy methods to biomimicry, emphasizing animal welfare and restoring natural cycles. Harris argues that while industrial farming maximizes output, it destroys topsoil, pollutes water, and harms local economies, as illustrated by the clear water runoff from his farm compared to the polluted runoff from his neighbor's. He advocates for distributed, replicable regenerative farms over scalable, centralized systems, noting his farm's positive impact on his local community, and criticizes greenwashing in the food industry, particularly Whole Foods' Global Animal Partnership. Ultimately, Harris expresses hope that consumer demand will drive change, promoting a more sustainable and ethical approach to agriculture.