Our Experience
Over the past six years, our circular farming project has implemented various experiences and practices aimed at promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and improving the efficiency of the farming system. By now a lot of things are clear in our mind.
Animal Trials
One of our key initiatives
was to conduct animal trials to determine which animals are best suited for circular farming. . This involved testing various local and foreign breeds and animal husbandry practices to identify those that were most compatible with our closed-loop system. Through this process, we found that certain breeds, particularly well-suited for our circular farming model.
Agroforestry cropping systems
Another important practice we implemented was crop mixing by planting a diverse range of crops, we were able to improve soil health, reduce the risk of pests and diseases, and increase biodiversity on the farm. We also experimented a lot with worm casting, using local earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments,
Local feeding
To feed our animals we tried to use many locally available resources as alternative to cereals and conventional food, to reduce our reliance on commercial feed. This helped us to reduce costs and improve the sustainability of our farming practices however and particularly in this part we are seeking the assistance of scientific experts to model the best cropping systems and crop mixes.
Pest Control
In terms of pest control we explored traditional methods such as crop rotation and companion planting to reduce the need for synthetic pesticides, we tried also utilizing Urtica (nettle) as a local traditional bio pest control system. However we are not satisfied of the result and this topic is a big challenge for us, we need experts to in biochemistry and ecology behind this traditional practices, to develop more effective bio pest control systems.
Ecosystem
To test the market for products produced from our circular farming model we developed relationships with local farmers. Even if in our country it is not a trend however the price increase of conventional food and the quality of our tested products made that there was a strong demand for it, and we were able to establish a profitable business model based on our circular farming practices. Other markets was tested and there is a big potential and different business models that can be explored. To be continued.
While our Vision for circular farming and our experiences in the field have laid a strong foundation for sustainable agriculture, we understand that innovation and progress require the rigor of scientific research. We recognize that we cannot achieve our goals on our own and need the support and expertise of researchers to advance our circular farming model.
By combining our practical experiences with scientific methods and research, we can enhance our understanding of the complex interactions between the elements of the farm cycle and develop innovative solutions to increase the efficiency and sustainability of our system. We invite researchers to join us on this journey towards a more resilient and sustainable food system, where the circular farming model plays a pivotal role in creating a brighter future for all.
