Humans, We Must Choose Between “Sustainable Development” And “Regenerative Development” – Our Common Future Depends On That Single Choice!

Left: Represented in a single image comprising 5 Ps: “People, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership, Planet” signifying a unified movement called “Sustainable Development” – according to the International Youngnaturefriends (IYNF), a European organization.

The IYNF enumerates and explains the 5 Ps image (iynf.org):

People– End poverty and hunger in all forms and ensure dignity and equality;

Prosperity– Ensure prosperous and fulfilling lives in harmony with nature;

Peace– Foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies;

Partnership– Implement the agenda through a solid global partnership;

Planet – Protect our planet’s natural resources and climate for future generations.

In that powerful single image, I believe that the IYNF has captured the very essence of the term “Sustainable Development.”

Warning: The IYNF says those 5 Ps are “challenges in developing countries.” Developed countries exempted!?

My old problem with “Sustainable Development” (SusDev) is that it allows Chemical Agriculture (CA), that which everyone should know by now is a major cause of Climate Change! And that is why I say, “Sustainable Development is not sustainable!”

SusDev violates the Spirit of Sustainable Development as defined by the World Commission on Environment & Development (1987):

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

How can the future generations meet their own needs when under the SusDev philosophy, natural resources are being destroyed by Climate Change events?! And that is because Chemical Agriculture, which SusDev allows, produces greenhouse gases (GHGs) that generate Climate Change?!

Right: In contrast, consider the right image, from Pixabay (pixabay.com) – it tells us that “Regenerative Development” (RegDev) is the common and right thing to do worldwide, always and ever!

With RegDev, the world moves in a common direction while covering everything and enveloping everybody. RegDev includes the 5 Ps that SusDev includes, and more.

Because Agriculture is my field – BS Agriculture, major in Ag Edu, UP Los Baños 1965 – I will now discuss RegDev in terms of Regenerative Agriculture (RAg), which excludes chemical fertilizers – and includesorganic fertilizers.

Growers Trust lists “some of the most common benefits and advantages linked to organic fertilizers for healthy harvests” (growerstrust.com):

Offer the best nutrients for effective plant growth;
Much more gentle than chemical fertilizers;
Less likely to overfeed your plants;
Not immediately absorbed into the plants;
Can withstand heavy rainstorms and irrigation sessions that could wash away chemical fertilizer;
Soil structure is improved;
Helps for soil to retain nutrients and moisture;
Long-term environmental benefits as they are less likely to contaminate lands and waters;
Far safer to the overall crop for both grazers and farmers.

Don’t forget: With organic fertilizers, you spend less and earn more.

In fact, before the elections, I tried many times to convince the camp of now-President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr, to jump on the bandwagon of Regenerative Agriculture (RAg) – no luck! After the elections, I shifted my attention to Ma'am Leni and Angat Buhay girl friends – no luck either! People, whoever will join me, we can promise the farmers RAgs to Riches!@517