Regenerative agriculture is one of the most effective methods for producing food in a sustainable manner while also contributing to the mitigation of climate change. To better understand its importance, here are some of the best regenerative agriculture films to watch.
Background Information: What Is Regenerative Agriculture?
Kiss the Ground
Director: Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell
Year: 2020
Funded By: Kiss the Ground, an LA-based 510(c)3 nonprofit established in 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
Overview:
Kiss the Ground is a 2020 environmental documentary film narrated by well-known American actor Woody Harrelson. Kiss the Ground emphasizes the importance of restoring soil health and argues that healthy soil’s ability to sequester carbon might be the key to effectively addressing climate change. The documentary also emphasizes regenerative agriculture as a solution to fight land degradation and desertification. Kiss the Ground shows how regenerative farms thrive in comparison with farms that use conventional agricultural techniques. While the film mainly features experts in the agricultural world, several celebrities are also featured in the documentary, including American actor Ian Somerhalder, professional American football player Tom Brady, Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen, and the singer and songwriter Jason Mraz.
Kiss the Ground is available for streaming worldwide on Netflix.
2040: Join the Regeneration
Director: Damon Gameau
Year: 2019
Funded By: Documentary Australia Foundation, Shark Island Institute, Good Pitch Australia, Screen Australia, Film Victoria, and individual donors
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
Overview:
2040 is a 2019 documentary that focuses on action we can take now to improve the climate by 2040. The story is driven by Gameau’s concern about the kind of environment his four-year-old daughter will inhabit by the year 2040. In the documentary, Gameau travels around the world, searching for innovative solutions to reverse climate change. In his journey, he seeks help from specialists in several fields, including economics, technology, civil society, agriculture, education, and sustainability, in order to determine the best possible solutions in the ongoing climate crisis. One such solution is regenerative agriculture. The story offers an optimistic outlook for mankind, as the main message of the film is that creating a better future is possible and can be achieved through concrete actions.
The film also resulted in the creation of “The Regeneration,” a movement focused on creating and supporting “regenerative solutions” to climate change. The movement seeks to encourage people to take individual action to mitigate climate change, as well as to connect individuals to larger organizations taking part in regenerative solutions.
You can watch 2040 online at Documentary Mania.
Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective
Director: Costa Boutsikaris
Year: 2015
Funded By: Kickstarter donations
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not reviewed
Overview:
Inhabit is a 2015 documentary that focuses on environmental and agricultural issues. The film’s main focus is on permaculture, a style of agriculture focused on recreating and maintaining the systems at work in natural ecosystems. Permaculture overlaps largely with regenerative practices, and can include many different forms of farming. The film features examples of permaculture in urban and rural areas across the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, and focuses on how permaculture can contribute to fighting the climate crisis.
Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective is available for streaming on Vimeo.
The Need To Grow
Director: Rob Herring and Ryan Wirick
Year: 2018
Funded By: The Creative Visions Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that funds “creative activists”
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not reviewed
Overview:
The Need To Grow is a 2018 documentary produced by Rosario Dawson that focuses on the issues of agriculture and food security. The film highlights the growing issue of land degradation, which reduces the availability of arable land, and emphasizes the importance of soil health for maintaining a healthy environment and reducing food insecurity. The Need To Grow tells the stories of three people: Alicia Serratos, an 8-year-old girl-scout, Erik Cutter, a regenerative farmer, and Michael Smith, an inventor; all are excellent examples of people living in a sustainable manner. The film demonstrates regenerative agriculture’s potential to increase food availability, even in urban areas.
The Need To Grow is available for free streaming at grow.foodrevolution.org.
The Biggest Little Farm
Director: John Chester
Year: 2018
Funded By: Anonymous investor
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Overview:
The Biggest Little Farm is a 2018 film that shares John and Molly Chester’s journey to building a sustainable farm. In the documentary, John and Molly seek help from sustainable farming consultant Alan York, who teaches them how to build a biodiversity-rich farm and practice a regenerative manner of agriculture. With the help of their students and migrant workers, the couple demonstrates the effectiveness of sustainable farming through regenerating soil health and transforming degraded land into rich soil. The farm was featured in a National Geographic follow-up, The Biggest Little Farm: The Return, in 2022.
The Biggest Little Farm is available for streaming on Hulu and Youtube.