BusinessHABCatalyst for Agricultural Innovation: Agriculture forms the basis for food supply.
One of the fundamental needs of humankind.
Nevertheless, modern agriculture is facing more diverse and complex challenges than ever before.
Around the world, farmers are expected to produce enough food.
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Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
For a rapidly growing population while finding smarter ways to cultivate the land in balance with nature.
And as we saw especially during the last months – even in times of crisis and uncertainty.
This complexity in agriculture is the “new normal” .
And brings in multiple opportunities such as the co-existence of cultivation systems.
Different societal accepted yield protection approaches or regional and dietary differences.
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1. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
Another catalyst for innovation in the agricultural industry is climate change.
Which is why science-based solutions aim to use resources more efficiently.
And optimize processes through technology.
As a result, they are making agriculture more sustainable whilst constantly optimizing yields.
Farmers and landholders continuously work on this ‘front line’.
With nature and the environment and are more than aware that the protection of ecosystems will benefit them.
And others in the long-term. In this regard, halting the loss of biodiversity is one of the most important tasks.
This is evident when we consider for example the contribution of soil organisms.
Insects, bacteria, plants and fungi to agriculture.
Together they provide for instance soil fertility and the breakdown of organic waste.
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2. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
In addition, strong vegetation not only protects against erosion.
But also provides a home for predatory insects that help control pests such as aphids, and for bees that pollinate crops.
But it’s not only farmers and landowners.
But everyone involved in the value chain who is responsible for driving agriculture in a sustainable way.
So are we at BASF and so am I as Senior Vice President.
This website aims to keep you updated on our approaches of finding the right balance.
Between modern agriculture and sustainability.
If you want to farm sustainably, there are certain measures you need to undertake.
In order to move toward that goal.
And if you’re looking for a farm that practices sustainable methods.
Then you can use these steps as your criteria.
3. Don’t confuse “sustainable” with “organic”.
An organic label means that the food was grown or raised without the use of synthetic chemicals (but there are exceptions).
- Lots of people confuse sustainable agriculture with organic farming.
- Both are aimed at using more ecologically sensible practices, but they are judged by a distinct set of standards.
- Organic farming, especially when carried out on a large, industrial scale, can still damage the environment and threaten public health in a variety of ways: Ecosystems can still be ruined by widespread monoculture; pesticides can still be applied; soils can still be depleted of nutrients and organic matter; pollution can still be created; and exorbitant amounts of fossil fuels can still be spent (and wasted), all under an organic label.
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Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
4. Know what sustainability means:
Farming a single area so that it produces food indefinitely.
In order to move in this direction, a farm has to:
- avoid irreversible changes to the land (for example, erosion)
- withdraw no resources from the environment that cannot be replenished (for example, not using more water than can be replaced regularly by rainfall)
- produce enough income to remain on a farm in face of worldwide farm consolidation and infrastructure development
5. Consider the source.
Determine where your resources come from and whether you’re taking more than can be replaced, either through natural processes or your own practices.
- Where are your resources and inputs coming from? Think specifically about water, energy, soil amendments, and feed (if you have livestock). Also think about long-term, capital investments, such as structural building materials, tools, etc.
- Keep in mind that no farm is an island: complete self-sufficiency is not a requirement of sustainable agriculture. Long-term stability and productivity is. The more renewable and varied your resources are, the longer your farm will last.
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6. Eliminate waste.
There is no “away” to “throw” to. Everything is connected.
The three “R”s apply here more than ever: reduce, reuse, recycle.
It’ll not only be more sustainable, but it’s cheaper, too.
- Examine every bit of garbage and waste that your operation produces and ask “What else can I do with this?”
- If you can’t do anything to do with it, try to think of ways someone else in the community can use it. Be creative.
Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
7. Encourage diversity within the farm.
Choosing “poly culture” over “monoculture” results in less waste and often, reduced fossil fuel consumption.
Use varieties and breeds that are well-adapted to the conditions in your locale.
Rather than bred for maximum productivity and storage (with a sacrifice in hardiness and flavor).
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8. Rotate crops and pasture.
Use companion planting and green manures to keep the land perpetually fertile and to prevent topsoil loss.
Don’t let any one piece of land lose an irreplaceable amount of nutrients.
Keep plants and animals around that indirectly benefit the farm’s stability and productivity.
For example, yarrow and nettles add to the nutritional value of plants grown near them.
As well as increase the volatile oil content of plants grown for oils.
Plant extra basil to serve as an insecticide, and keep guinea fowl around to keep ticks at bay.
As they roam your farm (and the surrounding countryside).
Guineas eat the ticks left by browsing deer off tall grasses.
They are traditionally reputed to kill or keep rattlesnakes away as well.
9. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
If guinea fowls are not common to your area, try growing ducks (if you have a fish pond) and/or chickens.
Chickens can eat crop trimmings and vegetable waste. If they can’t eat them all, they claw and step on it.
Enough to make it into organic fertilizers rich in nitrogen (especially when added to their poop).
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10. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
Raise both livestock and crops, and set up a mutually beneficial relationship between them.
The simplest way to do this is to use manure from your livestock to fertilize crops.
And use some of your crops to feed the livestock.
If you are unable to raise both, find a neighbor who’s specializing in the opposite and set up an exchange.
11. Encourage the diversity surrounding the farm.
The ecology of your farm does not end at the property lines.
- Plant trees around the farm that act as windbreaks and also provide habitat for local birds (which can prey on insects that prey on crops).
- Tolerate natural predators that keep pests at bay (for example, snakes that feed on gophers, ladybugs that feed on aphids, spiders that feed on insects which spread diseases to crops).
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12. Diversify financially.
An ecologically sustainable farming operation won’t do anybody much good.
If it can’t generate a profit and keep itself running.
Unless you or someone else is willing and able to sponsor the farm with an off-farm day job or another external source of income, you’re going to have to crunch the numbers until you’re in the black.
- Take advantage of the options available to you as far as direct marketing is concerned.
- That includes: CSA/subscriptions, farmers markets, roadside stands, and even the Internet.
- Adding value to products is a smart way to differentiate this farm’s lettuce from that farm’s lettuce.
- When you take your lettuce and make it part of delicious burger made from healthy meat that was pasture-raised in your own fields and top it with a slice of tasty, red tomato that grew in your own soil, you stand to appeal to a wider audience and rake in more profits.
- In other words, don’t just grow a wider variety of stuff––do a wider variety of things with the stuff you grow, and consider selling it from an on-farm store or restaurant (as well as on the Internet).
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13. Cater to every economic level and ethnic group in the community.
People of varying wealth seek different things from a farm.
Certain ethnic groups value farm products that the mainstream community has no interest in (for example, many Caribbean immigrants seek male, uncastrated goats for meat as well as amaranth, a widespread weed, which they use to make a dish called Callaloo).
Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
14. Publicize.
Talk to everyone about what you’re doing at the farm.
Provide educational tours and workshops.
Keep your farm looking nice, because if it ever comes down to it.
The local community may fight development proposals.
Because they perceive your farm to be a haven of agricultural heritage.
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Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
15. Find good, reliable labour.
Find people who are committed to sustainable agriculture (not just dabbling in it).
And who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they apply their minds.
- A reduced dependence on fossil fuels means an increased dependence on human labour.
- And not just physical, manual labor––you’re going to need knowledgeable workers who understand the complexity of the system you’re running and can enhance it with every decision they make.
16. Enjoy your life.
Farming is hard work, but the most successful farmers know when to call it a day and circumvent burnout.
Remember why you’re farming and why, in particular, you’re aiming for a sustainable operation.
For most people, it’s because they like knowing they’re leaving land in better shape than they found it.
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17. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
The farmers who are most successful at applying the ideas discussed are those who can incrementally observe, experiment, observe, adapt, and repeat.
In addition to this, keep detailed notes about what works best where, temperatures, rainfall and supplemental water used, and any other notes which may help you in future years.
It’s these farms which overcome various challenges and, slowly but steadily, continue to grow in both complexity and stability.
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18. Catalyst for Agricultural Innovation
Practicing sustainable agriculture on a large scale calls for a very different approach than on a smaller scale.
Tailor your sustainability practices accordingly.
Don’t try to produce 20 kinds of vegetables and raise seven kinds of livestock over a plot of 30 acres unless you have the labor, knowledge and experience to manage it sustainably.
Many farmers and ranchers who operate more than 50 acres mimic natural grazing systems that build soil and animal health through carefully thought-out rotational systems.
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