Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture encompasses a range of farming principles and practices aimed at revitalizing soils and ecosystem functions. It is not confined to a single definition but, according to Regenerative International, involves restoring the carbon cycle, water cycle, and nutrient cycle in order to produce nutrient-dense foods and revive vital soil services. By aligning farming with nature rather than opposing it, regenerative agriculture seeks to enhance agricultural ecosystems, foster resilience in the face of climate variability, and rebuild and restore ecosystem function.
The underlying premise is that healthy soils yield healthy crops. Through an ecosystem-based approach, regenerative farming methods strive to improve the resilience, productivity, and quality of farms. This is achieved by prioritizing soil health, fostering biodiversity, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs, and revitalizing various ecosystem services. By implementing these regenerative practices, agricultural systems become more sustainable and better equipped to withstand challenges.
The difference between Organic and Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative farming goes beyond organic farming by embracing the goal of mimicking and collaborating with nature, rather than solely focusing on replacing chemical inputs and enhancing microbiological diversity. While both approaches share similar aims, regenerative farming emphasizes a holistic approach that aligns with nature's principles.
About the Gran Chaco
Very few people talk about this large central part of South Amerika.
Where can we find it?
Between the Paraguay River to the east and the Andes to the west lies the Gran Chaco. The planes span over approximately 647,500 km² and is shared among Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.
What is it like?
First of all it is one of the hottest regions on the continent, with extreme temperatures of +50°C. Nevertheless, it still manages to encompasses over 50 distinct ecosystems, that share similar, but slightly different vegetation and climate patterns. Within each ecosystems live a remarkable great variety of species that create a unique local biodiversity.
What is happening there currently?
The Gran Chaco faces alarming rates of deforestation. Each month, an area larger than 350 km² or 21.000 football fields are lost. This ranks the Gran Chaco among the highest deforested regions in the world. Although there is an effort by authorities to reduce deforestation most indicators point towards the loss of millions more hectares of native vegetation by 2030.
What does Orbolo do?
Our vision is to create a productive space that re-awakens the connection between people and nature on an increasingly large scale.
How?
We build a regenerative ecosystem that binds carbon in the soil & promotes biodiversity while being economically viable at the same time.
Where?
We will start in the above mentioned Gran Chaco. To be more specific on the Paraguayan part.
Why start there?
Orbolo has a local trusted network with the skillset and decades of experience to manage a larger operation. As well as the availability of scale. Various properties will be bought together to reach the target size of a 100,000ha farm.
What will we change?
Yes, it is cattle farm. But the cattle farm of the future! We will enable, increase and integrate biodiversity on as many levels as possible. Listen to what nature shows and tells us. Share our findings, to nourish the network of sustainable food producers. And last but not least we will produce our beef carbon neutral, by ensuring that the animals support the ecosystem as nature and evolution intended.
