Essence of Africa’s Post

Our planet's health and agricultural practices are interconnected. How can we unlock the potential of knowledge and technological innovation for more sustainable farming? Read my thoughts published in Euractiv today on the solutions within our grasp, and how we can accelerate innovation in sustainable agriculture with the Agcelerators movement #ClimateSolutions #SustainableAgriculure https://lnkd.in/dMkWAczu

Intercropping Safflower and Chickpea Boosts Yields and Sustainability In the quest for sustainable agriculture, farmers are increasingly turning to intercropping as a way to boost productivity while minimizing environmental impact. A recent study led by Amin Yari from the Department of Plant Production and Genetics at https://lnkd.in/e4wYiaTD

Intercropping Safflower and Chickpea Boosts Yields and Sustainability In the quest for sustainable agriculture, farmers are increasingly turning to intercropping as a way to boost productivity while minimizing environmental impact. A recent study led by Amin Yari from the Department of Plant Production and Genetics at https://lnkd.in/e4wYiaTD

🚜🌿 NEW: How Biochar Enables Sustainable Agriculture - Initial Results From the Field 🌿🚜 We're excited to share the promising first-year results from our biochar field trials, which were independently conducted by SRUC's Dairy Research and Innovation Centre and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). These trials mark a critical step forwards in measuring the impacts of biochar at a farm-scale in the UK. Key Findings: 🌱 16% boost in first-year grassland yield. ⬆️ 51% increase in total soil carbon. ⬆️ 22% increase in total soil nitrogen. Our flagship product, PinChar, was co-applied with slurry at a low dose rate of just 0.5 t/ha, demonstrating significant improvements in soil health and crop productivity. Crucially, the improvements in crop yield and soil nitrogen mean that by using biochar to enhance organic fertiliser, farmers can reduce their reliance on mineral fertilisers to keep crops productive. Why does it matter? 🔍 Quantifying Benefits: Through these independent trials, we are able to quantify and validate the agricultural co-benefits of biochar. This critical in the creation of high-quality carbon removal credits. 🚜 Catalysing Adoption: Designing use systems that are both practical and effective, along with communicating the impacts of these to farmers, are key to enabling the widespread adoption of biochar in agriculture. 🌾 Innovating in Agriculture: Despite being a centuries-old substance, biochar is new within the UK agricultural landscape. Sustainable agriculture practices can only be sustainable if they work for farmers, and demonstrating the on-farm impacts of new solutions is vital when working with farmers to realise this transition. Learn more about the trial and the work done by SRUC and UKCEH in our case study on the trials here: https://lnkd.in/eC4ZPkYx And see the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/exYP3ZuH Stay tuned for the full results, including arable plots, to be published in Spring 2025. We will also be at Groundswell Agriculture, the UK’s largest regenerative agriculture festival, later this week – hope to see many of you there! 😊 #SustainableAgriculture #CarbonRemoval #Biochar

Exciting Biochar Results in Sustainable Agriculture! Amazing first-year Biochar field trial results from our customer Black Bull Biochar. Even with a low-dose application, Biochar enhances soil health and crop productivity, reducing reliance on mineral fertilizers. These findings are important for continued biochar adoption in agriculture. Looking forward to more results in Spring 2025! Black Bull Biochar #SustainableAgriculture #CarbonRemoval #Biochar #InnovativeFarming Learn more below!

Innovative Farming Practices: Enhancing Sustainability in New Zealand Agriculture A Look into the Productive Ventures and Collaborations Driving Agricultural Innovation in New Zealand Over the past 24 hours, New Zealand has been abuzz with agricultural innovation and collaboration, showcasing the ingenuity and dedication of farmers and industry stakeholders alike. From harnessing the power of biochar as a natural fertilizer to implementing strategies for biodiversity […] https://lnkd.in/eUPNEQPD

What progress has China made in agriculture green development over the past five years？

Agricultural sustainability depends on the adaptation of crops to their local environment. Smallholder farmers who save seed provide an essential “evosystem” service by growing locally adapted seed varieties that can recruit biodiversity to enhance their growth and defense. While professional plant breeding has diverted evolutionary processes away from local adaptation, smallholder farmers, particularly those in centers of origin for crops, benefit society by selecting and propagating diverse crop varieties that allow local adaptation processes to perpetuate. Given that smallholders support society through the generation of evosystem services, changes in policy and practice are needed to support the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in ways that mitigate risk and recognize their important contributions to agricultural sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eA4F-iwv

What is "Sustainable Agriculture"? I have had a few conversations after posting the sustainable ag corn field information. Sustainable Agriculture , as some may not know, is defined in US Code. It is as follows The term ''sustainable agriculture'' (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term: Satisfy human food and fiber needs. Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends. Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. I have spent 30 plus years learning agronomy. University, seminars, corporate training, and lots of hands on experience. Most of this education was learning "how to" utilize fertilizer, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other products manufactured for sale to farmers. A few years ago it hit me that without knowing how everything is supposed to be, it's tough to know how to treat it. So I went back to the basics. Everything I do now starts with Genesis 2:15 "God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend it and take care of it." and ends with the US definition of Sustainable Agriculture. We started with a perfect creation, and changed it with our own imperfect ideas. When you dig down into what actually is soil and how everything is supposed to interact in perfect symbiosis, it becomes fairly easy to see the direction to head. Believe it or not, it is cheaper to put things back where they belong! #sustainableag

Across the world (including in NZ), researchers are working on a series of connected projects to try to make farming more sustainable, with a focus on greenhouse gas mitigation and circularity in mixed (crop and livestock) farms. The network of projects is being run out of Europe, but there is recognition that some of the keys to unlocking circularity in European farming systems may be found outside of Europe. That's where New Zealand comes in. AgResearch scientists will be looking at circularity opportunities across adjacent dairy and mixed cropping farms in North Otago that have always been run separately. Opportunities relate to integated grazing and cropping, and wintering of cows and targeted manure inputs for crop production. "Our project is all about trying to find ways to improve circularity in farming," says AgResearch senior scientist Tony van der Weerden. "We have yet to select circularity indicators but are likely to focus on a couple: GHG emissions and the ratio of external inputs to production outputs. One big goal for circularity in farming is to reduce artificial fertilizers in crop farming". Senior scientist Robyn Dynes adds: "We know integration reduces the use of herbicides and fungicides, and we have theoretical cases of integration reducing the usage of synthetic fertilizers. What we lack is the quantification of these benefits. Getting data on integration farming is now more important than ever". Find out more about this NZ project, and others happening around the world, at: https://lnkd.in/gCdZHi9G #circularity #agriculture #farming #nzfarming #sustainablefarming #sustainableagriculture #newzealand #agresearch #cropping #arablefarming #dairyfarming #integratedfarming