Regenerative agriculture is, in other words, regenerative agriculture, where farmers rely on natural soil fertility to produce food, a return to traditional practices that include farming practices used several generations ago but armed with high-tech innovative solutions that combine natural soil productivity based on the study of the microbiome and the ability to influence fertility, soil health, arable and cover technologies of crops, afforestation.
The main task of restorative agriculture is to obtain healthy plant products due to the natural fertility of the soil, thereby reducing the carbon footprint that affects climate change by applying natural fertilizers that can be applied on site or other material that can decompose on site, or , when this plant material is digested and remains after grazing animals.
Regenerative agriculture helps fight climate change, because when carbon is grown or returned to the soil through crop rotation, cover crops, zero tillage practices, it increases the organic matter content of the soil, plants grow with a stronger root system, become stronger and healthier , having the ability to resist diseases and pests.
By cultivating the soil, we destroy the existing microclimate of the soil, which reduces its natural fertility, as well as accelerates the evaporation of moisture, which leads to erosion. Complete abandonment of treatment or its reduction retains moisture and organic matter in the soil, thus saving on irrigation and fertilizers.
By returning trees and shrubs to crop systems, where natural windbreaks reduce soil erosion, provide shade, reduce evaporation, accumulate nutrients, and create their own ecosystem. Yields in such places are sure to increase.
Trees and shrubs are natural absorbers of carbon, and if grazing can be done on the pasture where they grow, it may reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will affect climate change. Cover crops add organic matter and increase the productivity of biological, chemical and physical components of the soil. This has been proven by studies of German and American scientists and with their recommendations has long been used in the practice of renewable agriculture in these countries. This is a very voluminous topic and we will definitely return to it in more detail. But the benefits of cover crops in general would like to be mentioned here. The most important thing, in my opinion, is the preservation and protection of human health and care for the environment: protection of water quality, prevention of soil erosion, preservation of soil moisture. One of the important advantages is to reduce the cost of fertilizers, reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides, reduce the cost of them, as well as increase yields by improving soil health. for fodder and / or use for grazing.
Studies in the world show that in traditional agriculture with traditional food production technologies, yields are higher than in restorative agriculture. Traditionally, it uses seed hybrids, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. But let’s not forget that the trace left in the production of these substances causes irreparable damage to our planet.
And yet, scientists from the American Center for Biotechnology Information in 2018 proved that regenerative farms are more profitable due to low production costs than in traditional agriculture. And this profit can be crucial for small farms that pay for seeds, fertilizers, remedies, using the services of banks. The transition to regenerative agriculture will not be easy, but it will help preserve family farms and make their lives more attractive to future generations of farmers.
Everyone wants to be healthy. Climate change concerns everyone. And we are able to understand and accept that food, healthy food grown on healthy soil, its use – this is also a way to heal our planet.