REACTION PAPER

Submitted by: BENJAMINE A. RODRIGO Subject: SOIL SCIENCE

Submitted to: MS. ROSSAN PIAMONTE Date Submitted: FEB. 24,2023

“THE NEED TO GROW”

SUMMARY
With only sixty years of farmable soil left on Earth,
and the increased threats of climate change, the need
to rethink how we use earth’s natural resources has
never been more important. The Need to Grow takes
an intimate look into the hearts of activists and
innovators in the food movement who are
redesigning our future; an eight-year-old girl who
challenges the ethics of a beloved organization, a
renegade farmer struggling to keep his land as he
revolutionizes resource-efficient agriculture, and an
accomplished visionary inventor facing catastrophe in
the midst of developing a game changing technology.
“The Need To GROW is an underdog story that the world needs desperately right now,” said
Herring. “The way the environmental heroes in this story overcome challenges is an
important metaphor for how so many of us are feeling regarding ecological issues. It’s a
chance for viewers to not only learn about urgent problems in our food system – but more
so to embrace the astonishing potential of healthy soil as a climate solution. This is why we
decided to give the film away as a gift to the world. The conversation needs to change.”
The “Need to GROW" delivers alarming evidence on the importance of healthy soil —
revealing not only the potential of localized food production working with nature, but our
opportunity as individuals to help regenerate our planet’s dying soils and participate in the
restoration of the Earth.
The Need to Grow follows pioneers of cutting edge technology as they fight to localize
sustainable food systems and regenerate Earth's dying soils. This is the interconnected
stories of three unique individuals and the documentary aims to explore some of the
deeply-rooted issues in agriculture. Director Ryan Wirick works at understanding the nature
of problems and finding solutions that may help future generations. This is a collaboration
with activist and Director Rob Herring, accompanied by Executive Producer and Narrator
Rosario Dawson.

PERSONAL REACTION
My Personal Reaction about the Film is that, The Film “The Need to Grow” tackles the issue
of depleted soils. Specifically, the planet is running out of arable land. Within 60 years,
farmers will struggle to grow food if land management practices do not change.
 REACTION PAPER

Submitted by: BENJAMINE A. RODRIGO Subject: SOIL SCIENCE

Submitted to: MS. ROSSAN PIAMONTE Date Submitted: FEB. 24,2023
The Need to Grow tackles this issue. It explains why today’s agricultural practices are a
problem – and the people fighting to make it better. The goal of the documentary is to
inspire people with hope for the future – while also highlighting issues with today’s food
production.
Some of the things covered during The Need to Grow documentary include:
Why the planet is on the brink of ecological disaster, How today’s farming and food
production practices are leading to skyrocketing rates of chronic diseases, The real-world
solutions some are implementing today to fix the problem, Why we could have fewer than
60 years of soil left on Earth, according to the estimates of some soil scientists, How leaders
are taking action, including an 8-year old girl challenging the ethics of a beloved
organization, a renegade farmer struggling to keep his land while revolutionizing resource-
efficient agriculture, and an accomplished investor facing a catastrophe while developing a
game-changing technology.
Figuratively speaking, this feature length documentary goes to the very root of more than
one serious environmental issue, we as a species are both inflicting and suffering upon
ourselves and the planet. And there’s great growth in awareness on these issues and
everything relating to it, such as veganism and green energy, this truly and literally delves
into the core matter at hand and makes perfect sense. Soil.
People should aware about this environmental issues in order to have a better
environmental future.