“Sustainability is a political choice, not a technical one. It’s not a question of whether we can be sustainable, but whether we choose to be.” – Gary Lawrence
Sustainable agriculture helps keep the world balanced, the way it was given to us, while still providing the necessary quantities of food for people to eat. Today’s practices of monocropping, excessive pesticide use, and land clearing for agriculture exacerbates habitat and biodiversity loss, which in turn causes as much upcoming instability as climate change.
Regenerative agriculture, intercropping, and polycultures are just a few of the ways we hope to combat instability and fight food insecurity. Here are ten sustainable farming products and practices to help fight soil erosion and climate change while maximizing economic and environmental stability for businesses and families.
1) Let the Sunshine In
Solar energy can provide farmers with an ongoing energy source, thus reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and providing a long-term reduction in cost to growers. Covered greenhouses and renewable energy are part of the winning formula for both farmers and the planet. They help lower carbon emissions and create more self-reliance, thereby cutting the ongoing costs of food production. Getting power through underground cables or overhead powerlines can be expensive. Solar power, on the other hand, can be easily accessible and installed close to crops, reducing the need for costly grid-connected setups.
2) Pest Your Prime
Integrated pest management is the usage of control techniques to identify and observe pests before they become a problem. Recognize that not all pests are harmful; it makes sense to leave them alone in many cases. Targeted spraying works best to remove specific pests and protects other wildlife from being affected. Targeted spray technology helps farmers reduce their non-residual herbicide use by more than two-thirds.
3) Irrigation Innovation
Certain pumps are designed for high-head, lower-volume applications. They may be able to be self-installed, but generally with deep wells it is recommended to use a local installer who has the equipment to lower the equipment safely. Farmers can also easily switch between solar and another 220V backup power source when the sun isn’t shining, like a generator or grid power.
4) Weeds Out, Crops In
Keeping the weeds out of crops has always been a pain for amateurs and commercial growers alike. That’s why a strong, permeable material is ideal for helping keep crops safe. A landscape cover is a great option for those looking to get the coverage they need in order to protect their land from weeds. The garden fabric allows the soil to breathe and retain humidity at the same time.
5) Microbes and Metabolites
For healthier and more productive soil, additives for farms and gardens are a must. They offer a big boost to soil and plant health with a patented blend of beneficial microbes as well as their bio-fermented metabolites. They also help build long-term soil quality and support larger, stronger roots.
6) Keep It Clean
A multi-purpose, organic cleaner that cuts through grease and stains without the need for harsh chemicals is the place to go for chemicals these days. It is a product that often needs to be diluted, but it is non-corrosive and non-volatile. For those looking for a safe alternative to traditional chemicals, organic cleaners are the solution.
7) Fertilizer Aux Naturel
Chemical fertilisers can lead to soil degradation. Guano is a natural phosphorus granule that contains a living microbial flora that enhances organic matter, encouraging microbial activity that improves nutrient uptake, plant health, and soil moisture levels. Guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients for plant growth. Fun fact: it is better known as bat excrement.
8) Crop Protection
Crop protection is at the top of farmers’ minds. To avoid problems such as root rot and stem rot, crops can be treated with endophytic Trichoderma. Trichoderma species are usually considered soil organisms that colonize plant roots, sometimes forming a symbiotic relationship. They help to avoid problems like clubroot, blackleg, and sclerotinia. This treatment has an average return on investment of 39:1. In short, farmers get their money’s worth while also being environmentally conscious.
9) Seed Strategies
Seed treatments are substances that include biological, physical, and chemical components. They are applied to seeds before they are planted and serve to protect and provide them with the best possible germination of the crop. It can help reduce abiotic and biotic stresses that will impact the plant as it grows. Using a seed treatment on planted crop means that yields are increased without spending more on expanding land or planting more seeds
10) Yield to Farmers
Certain companies are beginning to use advanced science techniques to disrupt the relationship among crops and find new interactions that benefit the plant and the grower. With more precise farming has come higher yields, better water quality, and higher soil health. This has led to more and more farmers utilizing advanced science to help maximize the potential of every plant. In a struggling economy where there is a consistent squeeze on the profit margins of farms, increasing yields to get closer to the genetic potential of the crop has become the end game.
With new technologies being created all the time, farming is becoming more of a technical skill. Along with these technicalities come the ability to combat climate change while halting the negative effect on soil erosion and environmental degradation. Solar energy, organic soil covers, and natural fertilizers are just some of the ways that today’s farmer can keep up with the demands of the job, while still being environmentally conscious. //
The Edge Team
