The healthiest food is food grown organically in your own garden. In South Africa (more so than in European nations, for example), many people have access to a garden. Yet, despite worldwide concerns over food safety and food security, not many people are growing their own food. If you are one of them, this blog series is for you! Why …
Around the world, conventional products and chemicals intended to guard crops against disease, weed pressure and pests are increasingly falling out of favour due to the negative impacts they have on the natural environment, and even human health. So, what’s the alternative? Along with a focus on soil health and regenerative farming tactics, manufacturers and research institutions are working on …
We are what we eat, but so is our planet! According to a study published in Nature Food, our food system accounts for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. But with every meal you eat, you have the opportunity to make a climate-friendly decision and reduce your carbon footprint. In this blog post, we highlight 6 simple ways that …
In this article: Why are bees under threat? Why should we care about bee populations? Reducing the risk to pollinators and South African honey What about ‘fake honey’ in South Africa? What is adulterated honey? What is irradiated honey? The trouble with honey testing The problem with honey adulteration How to spot fake honey How to avoid buying adulterated honey …
Corn is a highly productive and flexible staple crop. When grown sustainably, good-quality corn has the potential to help nourish a growing world population. Corn yields have increased significantly over the last few decades. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, yields of around 20-30 bushels of corn per acre remained fairly constant until the mid-1900s (one bushed = …
“I firmly believe that how we steward the whole ecosystem – the land and the crops and the animals – plays a bigger role than which crops you grow and the prices you get.” When Gabe Brown first started working alongside his father-in-law on the family farm in North Dakota, he didn’t set out to stand at the forefront of …
For many people, the term ‘regenerative farming’ conjures up thoughts of soil health practices and different ways of working the land for a better and more sustainable yield. However, regenerative agriculture for livestock may also provide opportunities for animals and livestock farmers to benefit from the same strategies that improve soil fertility and productivity. The benefits of regenerative farming for …
We all know that plants depend on the soil to grow and thrive, but did you know that they can modify the soil too? When you think about what a plant’s root structure looks like, you’ll get an idea why … The soil does not, in fact, provide everything a plant needs freely, and it isn’t necessarily a welcoming environment …
humus /ˈhjuːməs/ noun The dictionary definition of humus seems to be fairly straightforward. But, in an article in Eco Farming Daily, German-Norwegian explorer of soil life, Herwig Pommeresche, argues that there is more to humus than carbon counting. Carbon is the basic building block of organic material. Thus, total soil humus content is often expressed in terms of carbon content …
Is organic or conventional agriculture better for biodiversity? We know that biodiversity is a key component of a healthy soil, and thus of the overall ecology too. Although biodiversity is of vital importance to the health and resilience of ecosystems, it is declining globally. Intensive agriculture has been shown to be one of the main drivers of negative trends in …