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January 24th, 2025

Nourishing Prairie: A Pillar of Regenerative Agriculture


In our quest for sustainable farming, 20% of our land is dedicated to fallow periods to promote soil regeneration between cropping cycles. However, our flowering prairies are far more than mere fallow fields. Unlike resting land, our soils are continuously nurtured by cover crops that maintain living roots. Over the next 5 to 7 years, and potentially even longer, these prairies will enrich the soil while providing a vital habitat for pollinators.

 

Illustration : Bilden Studio

Ecological Impacts of Flowering Prairies

  1. Climate Regulation: Flowering prairies contribute to atmospheric carbon sequestration in the soil through photosynthesis. Enriching soils with carbon and organic matter supports the sustainability of our farm and its surrounding environment.
  2. Soil Quality Improvement: The deep roots of prairie plants help break up compacted soil, improve its structure, and increase organic matter levels. This enhances water infiltration, reduces erosion, and improves nutrient cycling.
  3. Optimal Water Management: Prairies act like sponges during heavy rainfall, reducing flooding and supplying water to plants during droughts. They also filter pollutants and replenish surface water and groundwater with purified water.
  4. Biodiversity and Natural Habitats: Diverse prairies provide shelter, food, and breeding grounds for many species, including pollinators and beneficial organisms that protect crops from pests, thereby reducing pesticide use.

 

Soil Carbonization Goal

Our aim is to increase the organic matter content of our soils by 2%, raising it from 1% to 3%. This would represent 165 tons of carbon stored per hectare, equivalent to 1,155 tons of CO2 for a 7-hectare plot—comparable to more than 260 round trips between Paris and New York in terms of emissions.

French Environmental Initiative: “4 per 1000”

France has emphasized the importance of increasing soil organic matter through the “4 per 1000” initiative. This program calls on all nations to raise soil carbon by 0.4% annually, with the potential to sequester up to 75% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Chemin des Canaux
  • 30132 Caissargues
  • France
  • Tel: +33 4 66 38 44 30
  • Email:

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