5th International Conference of Agroecology and Cooperatives, November 22-27, 2015, Centro Nacional de Capacitación Niceto Pérez, in Güira de Melena, Cuba.

Creating Food SecurityAgroforestry withSoil Remineralization

What is remineralization?The process of recycling the minerals and trace elements of finely ground rock dust and sea minerals back into our soils.

Basalt from Brazil

Soil Remineralization

Not only do we need to recycle and return the organic matter to the soil, it is equally vital to return all of the mineral nutrients, which create fertile soils and healthy crops and forests.

Remineralization is essential to restore ecological balance and stabilize the climate.

Soil remineralization and the Climate

Volcanic eruptions such asMount St. Helens fertilize soils

Remineralization of the world's soils and forests will dramatically increase carbon sequestration and is crucial to stabilizing the climate.

Soil Remineralization (SR) creates fertile soils by returning the minerals to the soil much the same way the Earth does:• Glaciation

• Volcanoes

• Alluvial Deposits

What do we mean by finely ground rock dust?

There are millions of tons of by-product from the aggregate and stone industries, which come from hard silicate rocks of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary origins, containing a full spectrum of minerals and trace elements.

Other sources

• Sea solids• Diluted sea water• Limestone• Rock phosphate• Paramagnetic rocks• Humates• Numerous other natural mineral

amendments.

Integrated Farm, Food, Feed, Fertilizers, Fuel and Power SystemRemineralization can be integrated into all kinds of systems that utilize: • biochar • microrganisms• compost & compost teas• worm castings and vermiculture• permaculture, etc.

Integrating innovative cutting edge technologies.

Why Remineralize?• Provides slow, natural release of elements and trace minerals• Increases yields as much as 2-4 times• Increases nutrient intake of plants• More nutritious crops• Rebalances soil pH• Increases microorganisms and earthworm activity• Builds humus complex• Prevents soil erosion• Increases the storage capacity of the soil• Enhances flavor in crops• Decreases dependence on fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides• Increases resistance to insects, disease, frost, and drought

With rock dust Without rock dust

• Increases composting rate

• Increases heat generated during composting

• Reduces odors generated by composting

• Binds up ammonia into the soil

• Improves compost fertility

Composting with Rock Dust

MissionRemineralize the Earth (RTE) promotes the use of natural land and sea based minerals to restore soils and forests, produce more nutritious food, and remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere.

VisionGiven the immediate and growing threats of climate change, desertification, and increased food insecurity, RTE, through soil remineralization, is helping to create better soils, better food and a better planet.

Through our research, education, advocacy, partnerships, and implementation we are:

• Regenerating soils and forests around the world

• Increasing the nutritional quality and yield of food production

• Stabilizing the climate

Geotherapy is a guide to policy-making and practical steps to restore severely damaged ecosystems.

It contains new research studies with comprehensive data showing the benefits of rock dust and biochar.

RTE assists in connecting the growing industry of commercial rock dust and sea minerals to the grassroots and agricultural sector.

Gaia Green Glacial Rock Dust

Commercial Engagement

As the grassroots movement increased so did the demand for remineralization products.

ThenOnly a handful of US companies in the 1980s marketing rock dust

Now• US• Europe• South America• Asia: China, Indonesia,

Vietnam

Rocks are the most abundant resource on earth. We can move from an economics based on scarcity using fossil fuels to an economics of abundance through remineralization.

Waste to Valuable Product

Brazil Enacts Groundbreaking Legislationfor Sustainable Agriculture

Brazil is the emerging leader for remineralization in the public policy arena pertaining to agriculture.

Suzi Huff Theodoro, PhD Congresso Rochagem 2013

Embrapa research team and speakers visiting Brazil quarry

Brazil

AS-PTA(Assessoria e Serviços a Projetos em Agricultura Alternativa)

Edinei Almeida, Brazilian Agroecologist

Edinei works with 500 family farms in Southern Brazil to show the benefits of adding rock dust to soil, known locally as “independence fertilizer.”

LEISA Magazine (now Farming Matters)

Brazil

Remineralization of 22,000 hectares with government subsidies (2008-2009)After a huge decline in bean production from 2002-2007 rock dust replaced Urea and increased production 300%.

Increase production of corn, grape, peach, nopal and several varieties of chili pepper.

Zacatecas, Mexico

Farmers were trained to use rock dust in 28 towns. The government initiative included public parks, gardens, and a forest area.

500 children attended a workshop to learn how to remineralize trees with rock dust.

Zapopan, Jalisco

Increasing Crop Yields in Mexico

Agro Insumos Nova Terra SA

Mexico

ECOAGRO Farmer’s Collaborative in Sinaloa

A farmers collaborative is at the forefront of campaigns promoting the use of rock dust.

Costa Rica

Bioremediation

Stabilizing the Climate

Pest Control

Farming, Dairy & Livestock

Carbon Sequestration

Sustainable Biofuels

Trees grown in highly infertile soils were compared to those grown in basalt rock dust. No chemical fertilizer or compost was added. The results of a 5 year study were:

• an 8-fold increase in biomass• 2.17 increase in the height of the trees• 4 times the survivability from the trees

on basalt• the trees on the local soil did not survive

Panama

Basalt Powder Restores Soil Fertility And Greatly Accelerates Tree Growth On

Impoverished Tropical Soils In Panama

H (basalt quarry rock powder), M (transition zone), L (local soil)

Thomas J. Goreau, Marina Goreau, Felix Lufkin, Carlos A. Arango, Gabriel Despaigne-Matchett, Gabriel Despaigne-Ceballos,

Roque Solis, & Joanna Campe

PanamaH (basalt quarry rock powder), M (transition zone), L (local soil)

This agroforestry model in Brazil uses only one initial application of rock dust to establish a self-sustaining system of food forests. We can greatly enhance food security in Cuba and worldwide producing higher yields and more nutrient dense food. Remineralization can be integrated into most existing agriculture, forestry, and pasture systems.

Ernst Gotsch

Dayana Andrade

Felipe Pasini

From Brazil to Cuba — Enhancing Food Security

Restoring degraded land with agroforestry

Creatively attuning to the Earth’s cycles and dynamics

Banana trees and eucalyptus fertilize vegetable beds

Vegetable -> Fruit trees -> Cacao, coffee & papaya

Less work, higher production

From food forest to market

http://www.sitiosemente.com

Using Local Sources of Rock Dust in Cuba

Basalts, Granites, Sedimentary rocks are locally available. A small portable rock crusher is currently being developed that is ideal for community stakeholder projects.

Small portable biodiesel rock grinder ideal for community stakeholder projects

Thank You!

“What will fertilizing with stone dust accomplish? It will turn stone into bread…. make barren regions fruitful and feed the hungry”

-Julius Hensel, Bread from Stones (1984)