One of the most valuable aspects of the Minneapolis Climate Reality Training was the local focus. I understand now how the polar vortex that keeps ruining our tobogganing plans is caused by new, more erratic patterns in the Gulf Stream that can break across the top of the Arctic air mass, causing portions to move southward. It was equally valuable (and terrifying) to learn that the planet's temperatures are now rising at an accelerated rate as the sun's heat is more readily absorbed into the expanded the area of darker-colored land and ocean surfaces where glaciers used to be. 

But yet there are real solutions available to the human species today, allowing us to fix the problem of climate change if we so choose. The rate that renewable energy will be replacing fossil fuels is accelerating, with the costs of clean energy starting to plummet after years of heavy investment and new technology. Agriculture already has at its feet, pardon the pun, a very powerful source for good: nature-based cropping systems and living soils. 

Empowering the agriculture industry to grasp these exciting new opportunities is going to be challenging because the changes required will disrupt current business and, in all likelihood, cost jobs. It may require some degree of government intervention to facilitate the evolution, but some of the worst environmental culprits of industrial agriculture are already in the cross-hairs of public climate action efforts. For example, long-held farming traditions like diesel-burning large farm implements, anhydrous ammonia, neonics, glyphosate and the disturbance of natural habitats are encountering new costs and external threats. 

Rather than resisting change, agribusiness companies and farm agencies have a choice today, to start seeking ecological alternatives to current practices and in so doing, rise up as leaders in climate action job creation and innovation. 

Sustainable Grain is the product of almost five years of research and networking to find solutions for all stakeholders. Please join the conversation by registering for the Summit here to learn a lot more about the opportunities, and staking your claim as an industry leader by sponsoring the event.