The current agriculture infrastructure releases high levels of greenhouse gas emissions through transportation, planting, harvesting, processing and the production of livestock, in addition, pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers contribute significantly towards water pollution.
Implementing sustainable agriculture has several enablers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and controlling climate change as well as has a critical role in ensuring sufficient food supply to the worlds growing population.
The change of climate can be controlled in the agricultural sector by:
We move away from high-loss irrigation methods like flood irrigation. Instead, we use precision drip irrigation and hydroponics. Our team implements closed-loop water systems. We filter and reuse wastewater from livestock for soil irrigation. This minimizes our footprint on local water tables and conserves water.
We replace synthetic pesticides and fertilizers with organic bio-stimulants. These water-based solutions reduce soil and water pollution. We prioritize responsible nutrient sourcing for all crops. Our farmers use composted agricultural waste to keep the soil a living resource. We also use non-GMO and heirloom seeds to protect biodiversity.
We replace synthetic pesticides and fertilizers with organic bio-stimulants. These water-based solutions reduce soil and water pollution. We prioritize responsible nutrient sourcing for all crops. Our farmers use composted agricultural waste to keep the soil a living resource. We also use non-GMO and heirloom seeds to protect biodiversity.
We address transportation and harvesting emissions through localized production. Lima Mzansi integrates solar-powered cold storage into our operations. We use electric or bio-fueled machinery to decouple production from fossil fuels. These steps achieve major reductions in CO2 emissions. Our soil carbon sequestration efforts build resilience against climate shocks.
Mixed farming serves as the core of our circular model. We ensure the waste of one process becomes the input for another. Livestock manure provides the clean chemistry needed for soil health. We use non-edible plant parts as feed for livestock. Crop residue also serves as mulch for moisture retention. This approach creates a zero-waste agricultural model.
Efficiently managing the resource of water is fundamental in agriculture, it is critical that farmers preserve water, reduce consumption and limit water waste where possible. There are several ways in which this can be achieved
To read more and understand how visit: https://www.forigo.it/en/news/water-saving-in-agriculture-heres-how-to-limit-water-waste
The state of current soil health is in serious jeopardy, however this can be easily rectified, having health soil can provide farmers with the below benefits:
To read more visit:
https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-iscw/News%20Articles%20Library/The%20benefits%20of%20healthy%20soil.pdf
Climate change is affecting agricultural production on a global scale, as a result food security is in jeopardy due to environmental impacts such as droughts, rising temperatures and flooding. To combat the impact of climate change, localised farming is encouraged. South Africa is warming at twice the global rate, therefore a desperate need to increase localised farming is imperative to reduce the threat of food security.
Mixed farming is a system of farming where the farmer grows crops and also rear livestock. The benefits of mixed farming is as follows:
To read more visit: https://bscholarly.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-mixed-farming/
| Sustainable Practice | Lima Mzansi Strategy | Sustainability Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Water-free Production | Precision Drip / Hydroponics | Massive water conservation |
| Cleaner Chemistry | Organic Bio-fertilizers | Reduced water/soil pollution |
| Responsible Sourcing | Non-GMO / Heirloom Seeds | Biodiversity & food security |
| Recyclable/Circular | Mixed Farming (Waste-to-Feed) | Zero-waste agricultural model |
| Durable Design | Soil Carbon Sequestration | Resilience against climate shocks |
