Regenerative agriculture is a practice and philosophy of sustainable production, with four guiding principles. In agricultural work around the world, not everything is devastation or destruction of the environment. To combat the effects of an agricultural production that wears and abuses the properties of productive soils, regenerative agriculture has emerged. If you want to know What is regenerative agriculture, its principles, examples and advantagescontinue reading this Ecology Verde.
What is regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is an agricultural practice, but it is also a philosophy, a tool for sustainable production and a commitment to improve our future. Let’s go in parts.
- It is one Agricultural organic practice Because it aims to improve the form of traditional agriculture in which soils are wearing and exhausted without stopping. This proposal tries to regenerate and build healthy soils.
- Is A philosophybecause it includes an ideology that has been formed from various thinkers that promote respect for our environment, to the soil that food gives us, and agricultural producers that deserve to learn new production techniques respectful of the environment.
- It is one Tool for sustainable productionsince it cannot be generated with old production tools that did not take into account the recovery of the soil, nor the nutritional renewal of the same.
- Is A commitmentbecause producers who are generating sustainable crops participate in an exchange of responsibilities with new generations.
Principles of regenerative agriculture
The principles of regenerative agriculture are four:
- Regenerate the ground: Practices are adopted that increase soil fertility, that avoid erosion, and focus on local crops.
- Regenerate ecosystems and biodiversity: The contamination generated by the use of synthetic biochemists, which also undermines the environment is reduced. The rational use of water, of agroforestry and silvopastoral resources is also taken care of. The Silvopastoral System is a combination made by agricultural workers, of various trees, cattle and forage plants, on the same surface, always taking care of economic, social and environmental stability.
- Regenerate the relationship between living beings: The way in which man is related to living beings and to nature that surrounds him is rethink, paying attention above all, in the dignity of those involved, in the protection of their rights, and in productive practices that are ethical and transparent.
- Regenerate knowledge: It encourages the right of agricultural workers to have new knowledge, more oriented to the common good, respect for natural resources, and labor efficiency based on sustainable practices.
Techniques and examples of regenerative agriculture
Among the techniques we can point:
- Crop rotation: Always sowing the same product, the soil wears out and loses its nutritional properties. By changing the crop between planting and planting with plants that enrich the ground, the balance is recovered. Here you will find more information about what crop rotation is: types and benefits.
- Reduced soil work: Chemical agents limit fertility. You have to avoid a deep plow, excessive use of agrochemicals, heavy machinery and the elimination of wild plants.
- Vegetable coverage: The soil should never be left without plants, so it is important to use green fertilizer and respect the growth of wild plants in the field to be cultivated.
- Waste reduction: The circular economy allows no waste in the indiscriminate use of water. Also in the use of the natural fertilizer that comes from the waste of livestock production, as well as in the use of the excess production for livestock food.
- Regenerative grazing: Farmers can improve the health of an organic soil strategically using the grazing of their cattle.
- Farmers Cooperatives: They allow producers to exchange their products or buy and sell at fair prices.
- Financing: Ties are created with national and local governments, in order to provide support to producers who are changing their regular, regenerative practices.
- Education: Information forums are created so that producers know the advantages of practicing healthy agriculture for the environment.
Here are some examples of what we can do to start practicing regenerative agriculture:
- Use of mobile pens to organize rabbits and chickens.
- Use of microorganisms for microfertilizantes.
- Intensive cows grazing, with programming, agenda and rotation of headquarters.
- Use of wood of shipyard branches instead of traditional humus.
- Use of biocarbon, which allows the soil to retain microorganisms, water and nutrients in general.
Advantages of regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture has various advantages:
- It is sustainable.
- Is Environmental respect.
- It is ethical in treatment of animals and the environment.
- It is educational By integrating producers into new knowledge.
- It reduces the physical, chemical and biological damage of the soil.
- Promotes the Production of local crops.
- Protect the microorganisms that live on earth.
- They do not use tillage instruments that alter the biodiversity of the soil.
- Improve the soil structure.
- Increase water infiltration.
- Reduces erosion.
- Decreases water evaporation.
- It promotes the biological activity of the soil.
- It is not polluting.
- Consume Less energy of conventional agriculture.
- It produces savings by not consuming chemicals.
Now that you know what regenerative agriculture is and what its techniques are, you may be interested in reading this post about the agricultural sector: what is, activities and importance.
If you want to read more articles similar to Regenerative Agriculture: What is, principles, examples and advantageswe recommend that you enter our category of other ecology.
- Font Rovira, F., Madeo Salvá, N. (2013). Regenerative agriculture. Spain: Editions Mundi-Prensa.
- Font Rovira, F. (2021). Entrenched on earth: proposals for regenerative agriculture. Spain: Editorial tooth of León.