Library
Soil & Nutrition
Conference Archives
The annual Soil & Nutrition Conference is the premier conference in the Northeast connecting the dots between healthy soils, healthy people, and a healthy planet and serving as the nexus of information and networking for all those interested in coming together around soil and nutrition. Freely available below are selected recordings of the presenters, as well as other presentation materials where available.
Learn more about the Soil & Nutrition Conference.
SNC9
Catalyzing a regenerative future
November 2019
SNC8
Regenerating Vitality: Realizing nature’s potential
December 2018
SNC7
Growing the food movement around quality
November 2017
SNC6
Nature as Solution: Cultivating synergy to put nutrition & flavor back on the table
December 2016
SNC5
Nurturing nature for food quality
February 2016Below are links to various podcasts and other interviews with Dan Kittredge. Check back regularly as we add to this archive.
Using Technology to Measure Nutrient Density
The Soil Health Podcast from Menoken Farm / DEC 2019 What if we could change agriculture measuring the nutrient density of food on the spot? In this interview, Dan talks about the Bionutrient Food Association and how they are working to demonstrate the connections between plant health soil, carbon sequestration, crop nutritional value, flavor and human health. He introduces the Real Food Campaign and it’s centerpiece, the Bionutrient Meter, and the astounding results from their lab demonstrating the dramatic variation of nutrient quality that exists in foods.
Measuring Nutrient Density with Dan Kittredge
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast with John Kempf / NOV 2019In this interview, John and Dan delve into the science of growing crops as it relates to human nutrition, describing how agricultural production practices can produce a better nutrient profile in our foods and the potential this holds for human health. He explains why a balanced, as well as a higher nutrient density in crops, is desirable. He discusses the complex relationships between the sun, soil, and plants that lead to these higher and balanced levels of nutrition. Dan explains that across the same food types, i.e., all carrots, wheat, milk, etc., there can be discrepancies in the reported nutritional values and how nutritional data on food packages can be wildly incorrect.
Over the past few years, Dan has been working on the development of a BioNutrient Meter, a handheld spectrometer which tests mineral levels in fruits and vegetables. Dan describes the science of spectroscopy, which is based on the frequencies emitted by each chemical element –this same technology helps scientists and astrophysicists determine the composition of stars six light-years away in our solar system. By measuring the frequencies and light particular elements emit, they can measure the percentage of hydrogen, helium and other gases. With the science of spectroscopy, and other new technology, Dan and his team at the BioNutrient Food Association have built a first-generation model of a miniaturized consumer-priced spectrometer for testing the nutrient levels in crops. Listen to this provocative conversation between two pioneers who are truly passionate about growing food as medicine.
Living Up to Our Potential With Nutrient Dense Foods
Soul Soil: Where Agriculture and Spirit Intersect / SEP 2019
What happens when you choose quantity over quality, short-term over long-term, uniform and shelf-stable over regional and flavorful, over and over for decades? Many things…including loss of genetic diversity, loss of soil fertility and soil life, and loss of nutrients in food. Known as one of the leading proponents of “nutrient density” globally, Dan Kittredge has worked to make the connections between plant health, soil health, carbon sequestration, crop nutritional value, flavor and human health. The Bionutrient Food Association has engineered the Bionutrient Meter, a hand held consumer spectrometer that is designed to test crop nutrient density at point of purchase. The strategy is to connect the economic incentives from consumer to grower to drive full system regeneration. The answer is so simple…just eating food that tastes good can actually solve many of the world’s problems!
Food as Medicine: Focus on Nutrient Dense Food
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture / MAY 2019What if we could change agriculture measuring the nutrient density of food on the spot? In this interview, Dan talks about the Bionutrient Food Association and how they are working to demonstrate the connections between plant health soil, carbon sequestration, crop nutritional value, flavor and human health. He introduces the Real Food Campaign and it’s centerpiece, the Bionutrient Meter, and the astounding results from their lab demonstrating the dramatic variation of nutrient quality that exists in foods.
The Bionutrient Food Association and Dan Kittredge
The No-Till Market Garden Podcast / MAR 2019Farmer Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association joins the podcast for a mind-bending conversation about soil mineralization, nutrient density, and water (yes, just water).
Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association
The Thriving Farmer Podcast / MAR 2019Dan Kittredge presents a paradigm shift in thinking about managing soil and growing crops: how nutrient density of our food supply has decreased over time; how human health is related to soil health; and why microbes and remineralization are key to having healthy soil. He shares how he is working to develop a consumer device to test nutrient density at point of purchase.
Reading Nutrient Density to Improve the Quality of Our Food
Reversing Climate Change Podcast with NORI / MAR 2019Our current agricultural systems produce food with little nutritional value. And even the products labeled organic are not necessarily more nutrient dense. We assume that every carrot is as healthy as the next, but in truth, there is enormous variation and our existing standards assess process—not quality. So, is there a reliable way to determine the nutritional value of a particular food? To compare one carrot with another and make an informed decision on what to buy?
In this episode, Dan Kittredge discusses the assumption that all food has the same nutritional value, explaining why the organic label can be misleading and how his organization is working to help consumers choose the most nutrient-dense food. We speak to the many benefits of producing food with high nutritional value (including carbon sequestration) and Dan describes how the conventional ag mindset impacts our health. Listen in for Dan’s insight around the open-source ethos of the Bionutrient Food Association and learn how you can get involved as a citizen scientist.
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch with Dan Kittredge
Bullettproof Radio with Dave Asprey / MAY 2016Dan Kittredge is a life-long organic farmer as well as founder and executive director of the Bionutrient Food Association. The BFA advocates for the shift from the century-long paradigm of factory farming to one in which quality food is profitable, ecologically sustainable, tastier and equally available to all. On today’s episode of Bulletproof Radio, Dave and Dan talk about organic farming, finding quality vegetables, supplementing your diet, nutrient-rich foods and a simple diet. Enjoy the show!
Growing Nutrient Dense Food with Dan Kittredge
Permaculture Realized Podcast / APR 2016A wide-ranging and inspiring discussion about the mission and goals of the BFA, touching on numerous topics such as: secondary metabolites in food correlating with flavor and nutritive value, problems with & bridges between agricultural methods and movements, the importance of microbial activity and fungi to access nutrients, healthy plants and inherent pest and disease resistance, biochemical effects of bionutrient rich food on our bodies, food as medicine, potential impacts of healthy soil on healthcare and economy, and nutrition & consciousness. To name a few.
Below is a selection of talks Dan has given in recent years.
Principles of Biological Systems
Soil Health Summit: Edible Landscapes / 2019Speaking at the two-day Soil Health Summit featuring national speakers presenting information ranging from soil biological systems to regenerative ag through crop diversity.
Understanding the Connection Between Regenerative Farming, Grazing Practices, and Nutrient Dense Food
Grazing for Change / 2018
Dan explains the connection between soil health, plant health and human health. He shares his own experiences with switching to Regenerative Farming and how it helps him grow more flavorful and significantly more nutritious foods with no pests, no diseases, with an improved shelf life at a lower cost and with less work. He advocates for low cost technology to help consumers make informed choices to help drive the industry through economic incentives. He also discusses the importance of a global open source data platform for farmers and others to share research from many different regions with different climates and growing conditions as well as the need for epidemiological studies.
Overarching Principles of Biological Systems
Groundswell Conference / 2018
Speaking at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Show, the UK’s leading no-till and regenerative agriculture event, featuring speakers and exhibitors leading in environmentally conscious farming techniques across the farming spectrum.
(Sound quality improves after a minute or so.)
Regenerating Soils to Improve Nutrient Density of Foods
Living Soils Symposium with Regeneration Canada / 2017Dan discusses the relationship between soil health and human health, including the increased nutrient density of foods grown in healthy soils and the relationship between soil health and the human microbiome.
An Intro to Principles of Biological Systems and Implications for Human Health
New Hampshire Permaculture Day / 2016
Dan presents an overview of the connections between healthy agriculture, food & people.
Nutrition and Health from the Ground Up
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate Conference at Tufts University / 2014Everything we eat depends on the health of the soil. When essential minerals are missing from the soil, they’re missing from the plants and animals that feed us. Our health suffers and disease can run rampant, common consequences of industrial agricultural practices. Dan explains how it works and how we can bring new life to our soils, to biodiversity on planet earth, and to ourselves.
A Basic Look at Principles and Practices
A series of video shorts covering the basics, like the title says, of the principles and practices foundational to biological farming. From soil and seed health to mineral and biological systems to brix and electroconductivity, Dan walks through the foundations of growing healthy, vibrant food.
Workshop Recordings
For more information on upcoming workshops, click here.
High Bionutrient Crop Production
Workshop at Living Web Farms / 2017Dan Kittredge and the Bionutrient Food Association are on a mission to increase quality in the food supply through educating growers, raising awareness among consumers and conducting research on the nature of crop quality and the correlation between soil health, plant health and human health. Join us for this 2 day journey of discovery, rethinking how we do things and embracing the possibilities of new horizons in higher quality food.
Principles and Practices of Biological Systems
Workshop in Richmond, VA / 2016This two-day workshop (in nine parts) is designed to teach the basic principles & practices of biological farming for higher quality crops — for better taste, pest & disease resilience, and shelf life, plus higher levels of nutrients beneficial to human health.
Workshop in Shrewsbury, VT / 2015
Prefer to listen instead?
Below is an audio version kindly recorded and sent to us by a workshop attendee. It is broken up into sections, most about half an hour long.
Recommended Reading
Below is a list of books that are on our bookshelf, and we highly recommend.
