What are the benefits of regenerative agriculture? We discuss them in three special episodes of our podcast, recorded at the Nuvola Lavazza.
To support life on Earth we need to take care of life in the earth. Does that sound like a play on words? It isn't. The soil, the layer of the Earth's crust beneath our feet, is a complex ecosystem, rich in organic matter, minerals, air and water. It is precisely the richness of these few centimetres of ground that makes it possible to nourish the plant and animal species living on our planet. Including our own. Today, however, this ecosystem is under threat due to climate change and decades of agricultural practices that have depleted the soil: the loss of nutrients and biodiversity negatively affects soil fertility — and, ultimately, the real possibility of feeding the entire world population. So what can be done?
One possible solution — which also contributes to the ecological transition — is called regenerative agriculture: a set of agricultural practices aimed at restoring and improving the health of the soil ecosystem. It is a complex topic, which we at LifeGate wanted to explore in depth through a dedicated mini-journey within the special episodes of News dal pianeta Terra, the daily podcast that keeps you in touch with the world. Guiding listeners, as always, was Giovanni Mori, the programme's host, who for the occasion was joined by a special co-host, Benedetta Gori, botanist and science communicator.
This journey of discovery into the benefits and opportunities offered by these agricultural practices was also made possible thanks to the support of Lavazza, which — through La Reserva de ¡Tierra! Selection certified by Rainforest Alliance for regenerative agriculture — promotes a way of growing coffee that respects soils, forests and producer communities. The three podcast episodes dedicated to the topic were in fact recorded in Turin, at the Nuvola Lavazza, the company's headquarters.
The agricultural supply chain uses around one third of the fertile soil on the planet, and at the same time, 40 per cent of that soil is at risk of desertification. During the first stop of the journey, the two co-hosts explored the urgent issues surrounding intensive agriculture, provided a definition of regenerative agriculture and discussed the topic of soil health with Giovanni Dinelli, professor at the University of Bologna in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies.
Does regenerative agriculture really work? How can growing multiple crops together save a plantation from drought? Can you really go from a parched field to a forest of plants and crops? In this second special episode of News dal pianeta Terra on regenerative agriculture, Giovanni Mori and Benedetta Gori speak with Silvia Lazzaris, science reporter, about the beneficial effects of an approach to farming that pays attention to the soil and makes the entire ecosystem healthier, more resilient and, at times, even more productive.
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