challenges of agro-ecological soil management capitalizing on soil life and compost - tobias bandel

Challenges of Agro-Ecological Soil Management

Capitalizing on Soil Life and Compost

Tobias Bandel

Global Soil Partnership, Rome, December 5th 2012

Business as usual is no option!

Why?

There is less and less resources…

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CIAT 2010

...growing pressure on the system

Fertilizer

10%

Fertilizer

40%

Nutrient Nutrient

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Wheat Production Cost blue = conventional; red = organic

Potato Production Cost blue = conventional; red = organic

…everything else is too expensive

Sustainable Food Lab/Cool Farm Institute

Ingredients are there

Small-Scale Controlled Microbial Composting

Closed & Controlled Carbon/Nutrient Cycle Stabilized Humues aber 10-12 weeks

Straw

Crop Residues

Manures

Why compost?

(but it’s not the only solution)

Less Loss Soil Structure

Fertilizer

10%

Fertilizer

40%

Nutrient Nutrient

Soil Life through Compost Tea

11

Compost Tea Trials

Trials in Egypt, India and Kenya showed : a nutrient availability

increase of 5-6 times within 15 days e.g. a decrease of

harmful Nematodes populations of 90% within 15 days

Soil & More’s Vision and Activities

• Compost/Extract • Footprinting

– Soil – CO2

– Water – Sustainability – IT-Solutions

• Carbon Credits through sustainable farming

Large Scale

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...small scale

On-site awareness raising on climate change and implementation CO2-footprinting in cooperation with Fairtrade, Marks & Spencer, Rainforest Alliance

Compost Footprinting Carbon Credits

Thank You

info@soilandmore.com

www.soilandmore.com