Farming Food for Life

This episode features Dr. Stephen Sherwood, a regenerative farmer, food activist, and researcher based in Ecuador. Stephen shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Pennsylvania to becoming a leader in regenerative agriculture in the Andes. He describes how he and his network of smallholder farmers have transformed degraded land into productive, carbon-sequestering farms by focusing on soil health, microbial activity, and community-supported agriculture. Stephen emphasizes the importance of working with, rather than against, natural processes-using live roots, diverse plantings, and minimal tillage to restore ecosystems and increase soil carbon.

This video was recorded on April 23rd, 2025, and published on May 11th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Throughout the discussion, Stephen highlights the global significance of smallholder farmers, who manage billions of hectares of land and have the potential to play a major role in climate change mitigation. He argues that the key barriers are not financial, but rather the need for knowledge-sharing, scientific support, and market development to connect regenerative farmers with consumers. The conversation also explores the challenges of adapting to changing weather patterns at the equator, the importance of indigenous knowledge, and the need to inspire urban eaters to support regenerative food systems.

The dialogue concludes with reflections on the interconnectedness of food, climate, and culture. Stephen and the hosts discuss the value of blending traditional wisdom with scientific literacy, the urgency of scaling up regenerative practices, and the transformative potential of reconnecting people to the land and their food. The video encourages viewers to support sustainable agriculture, become conscious consumers, and recognize the pivotal role that both farmers and eaters play in addressing the climate emergency.

Links:

• Support Our Mission

• Stephen Sherwood’s Linkedin Profile

• EkoRural

• Regenerative Agriculture

• Microbes - Climate’s Tiny Titans (CEF Video)

• Soil Health Institute

• Eco Restorance Alliance

• Humboldt Current

• Sumak kawsay

Special Guest

• Dr. Stephen Sherwood - is an organic and regenerative farmer, food activist, and researcher based in Ecuador, where he and his wife, Myriam Paredes, run Granja Urkuwayku, a pioneering family farm supplying hundreds of local families. With over 30 years of experience in Latin America, Stephen is also a lecturer and researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a co-founder of grassroots organizations such as Ecuador’s Colectivo Agroecológico and Groundswell International. His work focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, advancing agroecology, and restoring ecosystems through science, community action, and indigenous knowledge.

Regular Panelists:

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions