19cannabisbusinessinsights.comNOVEMBER 2024CXO INSIGHTSTHE CASE FOR MORE VARIETY IN AGRICULTURE AND DIETSLuke Peterson's fields at A-Frame Farm in Madison, Minnesota, stand in striking contrast to his neighbors'. Surrounding Luke's vibrant and diversified plots of sunflowers, buckwheat, flax, perennial wheat, and several other crops that make up his 15+ species rotation are miles of corn and soy. There's good reason for the steady dominance of corn and soy across the Midwest: robust market demand, strong insurance protections in case of crop failure and weather disasters, and a historical focus on specialization to maximize output, for starters. This reliance on a small handful of crops is characteristic of our global food system, where just four crops account for more than 50 percent of agricultural production, and just three crops account for 50 percent of our calories. These dominant crops can and do play important roles in our ecosystems and diets, but our overreliance on a narrow set of ingredients is threatening planetary and human health. Biodiversity--the intricate web of life in a given geography--is a cornerstone of ecosystem health. Fostering a wide variety of plants and By Christina Skonberg, Sr. Director of Sustainability & Mission, Simple MillsChristina Skonberg
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