REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Image is from Deep AI.org (https://deepai.org/gallery-item/569541f663dc43729a2ff4b1699a84ae/regenerative-farming-with-flowering-crop-plants-with-.jpg.html)

A quick perusal of the videos on regenerative agriculture on YouTube reveals a surprising representation of South African examples. It seems that the challenges faced by South African farmers: ancient soils, high soil erosion, arid climate, difficult growing conditions, and the rising cost of agriculture, means that Southern African farmers are constantly looking for ways of increasing profitability and to also meet their environmental goals. Farmers have always been great supporters of the environment – their livelihood depends on it.

Agricultural ignorance is however part of the problem – farmers have had blind spots in the past to best farming practice. Any good farmer will admit this. The use of insecticides and pesticides (like DDT) that did more harm than good, are well documented in South African farming annals. Of course, the blame cannot be put on farmers when these substances were pushed by chemical companies.

But as the regenerative mindset has developed in farming practices, SA farmers have seen the opportunities to improve their practice and seem to have identified that the future lies in this interesting farming practice. Regenerative farming has been based on ancient techniques that have developed for millennia and have always been associated with community farmers, with techniques like permaculture and holistic land management.

Regenerative agriculture focusses on the soil as the focal point. The soil is composed of mineral and organic matter, organisms that exist at the microscopic level and at the macroscopic level. Microorganisms like archaea, bacteria, and fungi form an interface between the mineral and the macroscopic level. Modern agriscience understands that soil nutrient in the minerals and organic material can be released by the microbes when signalled by the plant and animals needing them. Scientists have detected chemical “incentives” that are released by plants that encourage the microbiology in the soil to release acids, enzymes, and oxidising chemicals that break the soil and the organic material to relinquish nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients (Ca2+, Mg2+).

Other microscopic organisms like nematodes, small worm-like creatures that feed upon bacteria and fungi, encourage the cultivation of healthy soil microbiology. These parasitic organisms can even be used to control pests like slugs and snails in a very natural, pesticide-free manner.

No-till
Macroscopic organisms start at the smaller scale with the higher worms, annelids and arthropods, including the myriads of insects and soil mites that feed on other organisms and detritus. The high organic matter found in the soil is available to detritivores as dead and decaying matter. Many of the worms will find soil surface organic matter and will pull those sources into the soil to feed on in relative safety.

Tilling means to prepare the soil for the cultivation of crops, that is deep disturbance like ploughing, or superficial disturbance like raking, hoeing, or harrowing. Deep or surface tilling are often referred to as primary or secondary tillage, respectively. Studies suggest that primary tilling does disturb the soil microbiology and fauna significantly. An area of land that has never been primarily tilled, will always attract a flock of birds behind the farming equipment as they feast on the freshly unearthed edibles. Subsequent, primary tilling will see a wane in the predators that the activity attracts - indicating that the soil is degrading in fauna biodiversity.

Modern regenerative practices prioritise a no-till approach, except maybe a raking or clearing of detritus that may interfere with seed-planting - which is usually done with a seed drilling technique. The advantages of no-till is a significant reduction in fuel needed by secondary till operations compared to intensive primary tilling. Secondary tilling also means less soil compaction, lower soil erosion, soil structure is improved (due to residual dead plant roots).

The prevention of the soil being turned also results in rising carbon stock in the soil as decomposition of organic matter is slowed. Increased animal biodiversity and the conservation of soil predators will also result in a healthier soil ecosystem – including water retention.

Biodiversity strips
To help with further removal of pests, without the need for pesticides, many regenerative practices include biodiversity strips, or inter-cropping, where plant species attract predatory animal species that live in the designated biodiversity areas, but forage in the monocrop removing problem animals that are feeding on the target crop.

These strips could be surrounding the monocrop, but they are often weaved, between rows of the target crop. Inter-cropping is deliberately growing plants like pungent weeds, or specialised flowers that attract species like Robber flies. A push-pull system could also be used where a repelling species like a plant that is offensive to common pests that the target crop will suffer from, with other areas of attracting plant species that will attract butterflies like Cabbage Whites (Nasturtium sp. will attract these butterflies). Predatory species can then be homed near the attracting plants.

Soil conditioners
South African regenerative agriculture is one of the leaders (globally) in the use of soil conditioners (as opposed to soil fertilisers). Global fertiliser prices, fuelled by the war in Russia, have sky-rocketed – forcing SA farmers to become quite innovative. The use of animal manures, green composts (and their teas), and more recently activated/conditioned biochars have allowed great boosts in yield that have circumnavigated the need for inorganic fertilisers. The soil health, especially the microbiology, has benefitted.

Mutualistic practices using biodiversity enhancement (see above), or plants that can boost the growth of crops (like nitrogen fixing – intercropped, or used as cover crops) have greatly improved land crop yields. Coupled with the use of compost teas – extracts of composts made by passing water through compost (with, or without aeration), significantly boost plant growth – especially for pasture. Animal muck that often lies dormant on farms, quietly releasing methane, can be made to work by their inclusion into carbon feedstocks, generating a highly nutritious tea (especially if combined with vermiculture worm castings).

Finally, the most exciting area of South African agriculture is the use of biochar. Wood waste or agricultural residues, can be burnt (without combustion), to produce a carbon char. The carbon char whilst hot is doused in water, forcing the char to expand rapidly, making it porous (activated). If that porous char is then soaked in compost teas, then the compost bacteria and fungi will enter the pores and will find a home, offering protection and a natural source of moisture. Biochar is very absorbent and will naturally increase the water retention.

Leather producers and manufacturers will do well to associate their raw hides and skins with farms that are practicing regenerative farming. The advantages are of course the greater narrative that they link to, but also the increased carbon uptake by the practice (sequestration, which can be certified), the increased biodiversity credentials of that leather, and the fact that regenerative farming is the polar opposite of intensive farming.

In the next issue: The Nguni Shield, used by many of the Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, is a common example of African leather crafting. Together with sandals, headdresses, floor coverings, and cordages; the use of rudimentary leathers (mostly raw hides) was something ancient peoples in Africa spent a lot of time and effort perfecting. The shields were originally useful in hunting, especially the big cats, but the war-like nature of many of the tribes meant that these shields saw use on the battlefield. The next article will look at the technology behind these tools.