AGROECOLOGY

by David Nuttle

Many years of research by Rodale's Agriculture Research Institute has confirmed that regenerative organic agriculture is sustainable and produces more healthful foods that our current means of industrial farming. The later farming system utilizes monocropping, use of assorted chemicals killing soil microbes providing natural soil fertility, degrading soils, and producing many foods contaminated with the toxic chemical glyphosate from the herbicide Roundup. The safe food formula of "healthy soils, healthy crops, and healthy people" has been violated by industrial farming. The purchase and addition of very expensive chemical fertilizers is required, and animals are abused in confinement systems.

Regenerative organic farming uses biological controls for pests and plant diseases while

building soil health and fertility by addition of biochar, inoculated with cultured soil microbes, to produce needed plant nutrients. For very sandy soils, small amount of clay particles may be added. Low-till of no-till practices are followed along with use of green manures, addition of organic compost, and intercropping with legumes. All animals are reared on pastures under humane conditions. Food crops produced have no chemical residues. Food crops thus produced by organic means have been scientifically documented as having a higher level of quality nutrients. If fertilizers should be needed, for any reason, a biofertilizer such as mycorrhizal fungi may be used.

For regenerative organic farming on desert land, the practices used are those detailed in my blog on Counter-desertification. Minimal additions are: 1) Clearing, leveling, & terracing of land; 2) Water for subsurface micro-drip irrigation of crops; 3) Trees for shelter belts to provide favorable micro-climates; 4) Natural & artificial ground covers and windbreaks to deter blowing of sands.; 5) Addition of biochar to sands to provide needed plant nutrients, 6) Planting of symbiotic mix of arid region crops; and 7) Creation of forage improvement areas, with stock water tanks, for the intensive, rotational grazing of livestock & wildlife displaced from crop production areas. Livestock reared should be well adapted to desert areas. e. g. Nguni cattle and Dorper hair sheep.

I was reared on a 1,200-acre diversified organic farm, Char-Mell Farm in Kansas, where we long farmed with horse and mule operated farm equipment. My personal testimony of regenerative organic farming is strong. During many years of assisting farmers in several developing nations, I know that organic farming is the only means of sustainable agriculture for these farmers who are mostly poor smallholder farmers.