The reality is that the world has failed to fulfill even one of the multiple a single objective proposed to end the destruction of the environment. Therefore it is necessary to rethink agricultural systems to improve diversity and store carbon in biomass and soil. AND That can only be done through a collective commitment to regenerative agriculture.
The regenerative and sustainable agriculture is a different approach that seeks to reduce the damages that the soil has suffered due to old practices. It is a first crucial step on the road to the creation of a holistic system that really increases the richness of nature.
And Farmer can begin by reducing external inputs, such as pesticides, for example, and eventually improve health Dand its lands to the point where you no longer need pesticides at all. When measures are applied to enrich the earth (such as planting shadow trees to protect and nourish the ground) on all fronts, a system of regenerative agriculture.
Navarra and regenerative agriculture
The aRegenerative Gulture is a phenomenon that is growing in Europe for the individual commitment of producers for these sustainable practices. But to extend on a large scale require new ideas. And one of the most prominent at European level is the 360º Navarra Pilot Project, where the entire value chain is sought: from producers to cooperatives, distributors, financial entities and both public and private organizations.
After a year working, this project already begins to take the first steps. A total of 15 farmers, who have been developing sustainable techniques for some time, have joined the project with more than 1,500 hectares of extensive crops. And soon it is expected to add others 19.
In May, The project led by the EIT Food European Consortium has organized, in collaboration with the Union of Agrifood Cooperatives of Navarra (UCAN)three theoretical and practical sessions to train farmers in Navarra, with the idea that they transit to these practices. The first session will be held on May 9 in Evena (Olite), where there will be an introduction to what the regenerative agriculture And it will be explained how soil health, biodiversity, carbon footprint or water use.
After a theoretical session, a calicata will be visited on the experimental plot of Evena, where you can see, in addition to the different strata of the soil, examples of regenerative practices such as vegetable covers or perimeters with hedges. Specialists from the Subraiak Design cooperative will participate in the training.
The second session, in charge of the Neiker Technology Center, will be held at the Litxarra cooperative, in Oteiza de la Solana, on the 16th day, the importance of soil health will be emphasized, in addition to explaining a tool that allows to easily monitor different parameters: soil health cards. Subsequently, in the practical part, measurement tests will be tested at various points: a forest floor, another extendive cultivation with regenerative practices and an extensive culture soil with conventional agriculture practices.
The third session will be held on May 23, by the hand of Rubén Flamarique, an expert in soil regeneration and FAO advisor, who will explain the importance of soil health from the perspective of microbiology and biodiversity. In the practical part, Through the microscope, regular bacteria and fungi will be seen on the ground, which give clues of the state in which it is located. In September, other training sessions will have again, planned in Garinoain and Sario-Upna, in Pamplona.
Navarra 360º: Objectives
With these formations, local producers are accompanied in the project, which have already adhered great brands such as Danone, Intermalta, Alpro and Cargill, interested in supporting the transition to regenerative agriculture in their supply chains. The objective of the project is to be able to accompany the transition towards the agriculture Regenerative to 80 farmers, and have an impact on 3,200 hectares.
To this Pioneer initiative In Europe, banking entities, technology centers and institutions have also been incorporated. And the involvement of ENHE and UAGN agricultural unions is being key, as well as the Union of Agrifood Cooperatives of Navarra (UCAN).
This project is aligned with the commitment of the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Navarra, “for these Models of regenerative agriculture to work in a more sustainable and resilient primary sectorbut also more productive and competitive. ”
During the projectthe impact on soil health, biodiversity, sustainable water management, fixation and carbon emissions, and on social and economic factors of crops in the scope will be measured. Data of approximately 60 indicators will be analyzed, throughout the three campaigns in which the project takes place.
In the background, it is about extending these practices to the entire value chain. “Regenerative agriculture not only implies economic benefits. By improving soil qualityagrarian exploitation is much more productive than before, when working with conventional methods, ”explains Begoña Pérez Villarreal, general director of EIT Food in southern Europe.
Amparo San José, regional senior Business Creation Manager in Eit Food, adds: “Farmers advice allows to generate knowledge, disseminate and spread it to different actors such as industries, other professionals, cooperatives and even consumers.” The key is to “demonstrate that the business model that It is proposed is viable from an environmental, social and economic point of seen both for the farm and for the entire agri -food ecosystem”.
Farmers from southern Europe
EIT Food has been working on this program since 2020 to involve the entire sector. At this time, almost 2,000 farmers have approached any of the training sessions to date that not only develop in SpainA, but also cover other Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Greece or Portugal, and other countries in Eastern Europe such as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, among others.
This three -year project will have an initial investment of 2.5 million euros. Among the expected quantitative results, a 20% reduction in the use of phytosanitary, 40% in mineral fertilization and 30% of CO2 emissions.
But non -quantitative results will also be obtained in terms of barriers, resistance, key factors or opportunities in The transition to regenerative agriculture, working on the Cotes analysis, and exploring new financing mechanisms. Once it ends, in 2027, it is hoped to replicate the model in other places in Europe.