The future of farming does not lie in depending on synthetic chemicals.

Industrial agriculture took off about 75 years ago, soon after World War II. It involves widespread mechanised farming, use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) such as hybrid seeds, and extensive use of synthetic fertilisers and monoculture.

Termed the 'Green Revolution', it was a scientific and industrial response to feed a growing population in a world where a lot of farmland had been devastated by war. To that end, it has been a remarkable success.

At first, the improvements came rapidly, and the results were spectacular. Over the past 2 decades, we have discovered that yields are declining and economic costs have become unaffordable. This is a classical example of the law of diminishing returns.

The cost of seeds is prohibitive. The demand for chemical pesticides and herbicides has surged, and the effects on the land and the food produced are frightening. The requirement for chemical fertilisers has gone through the roof, and now we face pollution of the soil and water bodies.

It is estimated that, in most cases that it takes 10 units of energy to produce and deliver one unit of food to consumers. This is why governments nearly everywhere across the world have to provide massive subsidies for agriculture. This is the direct financial cost.

What about indirect costs?

The price humanity has paid and will continue to pay by way of vital things like adverse climate change, food security, and health caused by this approach threatens our very existence. Urgent action is needed. But what action?

The answer lies beneath our feet,m in the soil.

Just like atoms are the basic building blocks of matter, microbes are the life-giving building blocks of life. A single gram of soil contains billions of microbes comprising bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, etc.

By killing the microbes in the soil, we threaten our survival. Yet modern agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry do exactly that.

Humans are clever, in fact, a bit too clever. Rather than returning to basics, we plough ahead using more and more chemicals, which makes matters worse.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 does not lie in using 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 chemicals, rather it is facilitating 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐥 activity.

For decades, agriculture has leaned heavily on chemical fertilisers, seeking quick fixes to soil and crop issues. However, the price we've paid is steep: soil degradation, carbon loss, dwindling microbial populations and contamination of our food chain.

But what if we could reverse this damage and restore soil health naturally? Enter soil conditioners, which are living microorganisms and nutrients that revitalise the soil.

If nutrients are to be supplied, then how do organic soil conditioners function d𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 from Chemical fertilisers?

Chemical fertilisers remain chemically and physically in the soil and are prone to being washed away, causing toxicity in the soil and water bodies. However, organic soil conditioners retain the nutrients and carbon in living organisms. These microbes release nutrients on demand to the plant rather than pushing them to the plant.

𝐅𝐢𝐱 𝐍𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

Certain microbes, like Rhizobium and Azotobacter, are capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can absorb.

𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐬 and 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Biofertilizers, such as Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), break down complex soil compounds to release essential nutrients, improving soil fertility and ensuring better nutrient uptake by plants.

𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 and 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜y

This leads to better drought resistance, improved soil structure and more resilient crops.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 and 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

A healthy soil ecosystem, enriched by biofertilizers, strengthens crop immunity against pathogens, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

Studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and FAO have demonstrated the profound impact biofertilizers have on soil and crop health:

𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐬𝐞

20–30% reduction in chemical fertiliser use and also reduces harmful environmental effects.

𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲

SOC levels start recovering within just 1–2 cropping cycles. This is crucial in mitigating climate change and enhancing soil fertility long-term.

𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 and 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡

Farmers report stronger drought resistance and improved overall crop health.

𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 and 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

By reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers and chemicals, biofertilizers promote healthier, pesticide-free crops and cleaner groundwater, which is vital for both human and ecosystem health.

𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬

They are not just an alternative to chemical inputs; they represent a return to agricultural wisdom, now enhanced with modern scientific research.

*Our mission is to restore soil fertility, reduce dependence on harmful chemicals and build climate-resilient farms by promoting the use of the right inputs at the right time, guided by scientifically backed soil testing.*

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Interesting Links:

• Understanding Our Soil: The Nitrogen Cycle, Fixers, and Fertiliser ~ Jimi Sol

• A short history of agricultural chemical usage and development ~ CSIRO

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