Agriculture, the Anthropocene and human health

Abstract

AimTo examine the interconnection between the rise of modern industrial agriculture, the Anthropocene epoch, and impacts on human health.To examine the impact of the emerging field of regenerative agriculture in addressing the mounting negative planetary and human health challenges.MethodsStructured interviews in social research for a PhD with over 80 regenerative farmers and industrial farmers in the field; and subsequent interviews with 40 other farmers.Literature search into the rise of modern human and animal diseases, the Anthropocene, and cognitive and paradigm change.ResultsAs Earth slips further into the human‐caused Anthropocene epoch due to The Great Acceleration post‐1950, there is a directly connected exponential rise in modern human diseases. Despite the emergence of Western agriculture and modern industrial society, our bodies are still adapted to the environment of our Palaeolithic past. Industrial agriculture and harmful agricultural practices are stripping essential nutrients from our foods while also lacing them with novel chemicals we are not adapted for. Consequently, the functioning of our gut microbiome has become destabilised. Evidence continues to mount that this is a key reason behind the exponential rise of many modern diseases.ConclusionTo address what constitute evolutionary mismatch diseases due to cultural Dysevolution, a return to healthy regenerative agriculture, with foods rich in diverse nutrients and free of novel chemicals, provides a clear pathway to begin healing both the planetary systems and humans.

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