The Quest For Healthy Farming Systems

Changing to a healthier production system may pose new challenges, but is worthwhile in the long run. Glenneis Kriel spoke to a number of influencers and pioneers about making the switch.

- Glenneis Kriel

ZZ2 and Natuurboerdery

Two decades ago, ZZ2 embarked on a journey that steered away from conventional agriculture towards a system more in tune with nature. They called this farming approach Natuurboerdery.

It is based on a set of principles aimed at economic, social and environmental sustainable agriculture, inspired by insights gained from living ecosystems.

The approach is much broader and encompassing than ‘conservation farming’, which makes use of minimum- to no-till, stubble retention and crop rotation to conserve soil health, and includes most of the components of regenerative agriculture, such as the use of mulching, compost teas and compost to build soil health.

Natuurboerdery seeks not only to regenerate, but to improve and actively build productive and functional novel ecosystems.

Retief du Toit, a member of ZZ2 who has been using Natuurboerdery since 2001, talks about his experiences with this farming approach on the farms Lorraine in the Warm Bokkeveld and Bokveldskloof in the Koue Bokkeveld.

What were some of your fears when you switched to Natuurboerdery in 2001?

We were afraid the switch might negatively affect fruit yields and quality, but our yield curve has been consistently upward and the overall quality of our product has remained excellent.

The switch resulted in higher potassium levels in the soil, which we feared might exacerbate problems with bitter pit, a common apple disorder that causes dark spots. But it didn’t, revealing once again nature’s incredible ability to balance and maintain itself.

What were some of your observations during those first few years?