Healthy Soils
NOURISHING CROPS FROM THE GROUND UP
2
min
Maintaining healthy, balanced soil is essential to keeping coffee farms in good condition. By employing various regenerative agriculture practices, farmers are finding new ways to nurture and care for their soil, strengthening their farms’ ecosystems.
All about balance
Brazilian coffee farmer Eduardo Bortolini understands the importance of healthy soil. “It’s vital for coffee cultivation,” he says. “Soil must be balanced.” This equilibrium has far-reaching effects. It consumes less water, contributes to the health of his crops and strengthens the surrounding ecosystem. Farms are the starting point for our coffee production process, so it’s essential that their soil is carefully nourished. “This improves all conditions on the farm,” says Eduardo.
“Today, when we see that the soil is not healthy, we have some tools, such as biological composting, to reverse this problem in the ground.”
Quality compost
Eduardo keeps his soil healthy by employing some of the regenerative agriculture practices that we’ve shared with him. “If I need to improve my soil I now use biological composting,” he says. He makes compost from waste materials like coffee husks, produced on the farm. “I’ve noticed big changes since using this method,” he says. “Quality soil can lead to improved crop quality.” Other methods include keeping soil covered to retain moisture, and planting Brachiaria grass to capture nitrogen.
Planning ahead
Eduardo acknowledges that this focus on soil required a new mindset. “We’ve undergone a cultural and structural change,” he says. “And through this we’ve all come to the understanding that soil is a priority.” He believes these new developments bode well for his farm’s future. “My son, Rafael, started working here recently,” he says. “He is already aware of how important soil is. Soil is heritage, and he will have to pass this on to future generations.”
See how we’re growing coffee with nature
Discover how NESCAFÉ® supports coffee farmers in leveraging regenerative agriculture practices to work in harmony with nature.
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