From the origins of agriculture on our planet almost 10,000 years ago to the present day, plowing, planting and harvesting practices and techniques have undergone major innovations, including animal-drawn plows, irrigation, the introduction of machinery and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

This evolution of agricultural techniques has come about as a result of the great demand for food due to the growing need to sustain an increasingly populated planet.

However, these unsustainable agricultural techniques have damaged, eroded and crusted the land, reducing soil quality and nutrients.

In the 1930s, a phenomenon called the "Dust Bowl" emerged in the south-central United States.

Large sandstorms up to 1.5 kilometers high covered the plains, spending entire days without being able to see a single ray of sunlight.

To date, this phenomenon is considered the greatest ecological disaster in the history of the United States, caused mainly by poor agricultural practices, overexploitation of the soil, excessive demand for cereals, high temperatures and extended periods of drought.

As a result of this serious crisis, interest arose in researching and promoting conservation methods to prevent erosion and soil erosion, thus giving rise to the first sustainable agricultural practices.

The term conservation agriculture formally emerged around 1990 and during these more than 30 years there have been much more relevant advances in soil care than in the entire history of agriculture.

And what is Conservation Agriculture?

It is a sustainable farming system based on three interrelated principles:

Minimal soil movement or zero tillage
Crop diversification
Permanent soil cover

This system of sustainable agriculture brings multiple benefits to the ecosystem such as:

Increased biodiversity and natural biological processes in the soil
Increased water use and savings
Increased nutrient use efficiency
Increased crop yields
Reduced generation of greenhouse gases
Reduced costs

Although some of these benefits can be seen in the medium term, there are others that are obtained immediately, such as the reduction of costs due to the minimum use of fuels or the shorter time between crops by not tilling the land.

Recently (2020) there have already been some sandstorms in northern Mexico, which highlights the need to accelerate the pace with the adoption of these agricultural practices, which are the basis for sustainable intensification.

Conservation agriculture can be the difference between having or not having water in the next 30 years.

Currently, Grupo Modelo and the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development (GIZ) are joining forces to promote initiatives such as the Aguas Firmes program, which, with the support of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), puts science at the service of improving the countryside.

We invite you to subscribe to our blog to learn more about Conservation Agriculture and the Aguas Firmes program. Join us, let's build a community.

Let's build a strong future for all!

Sources:

What is conservation agriculture? – CIMMYT (https://www.cimmyt.org/es/noticias/que-es-la-agricultura-de-conservacion/)
What the dust storm left behind – CIMMYT (https://idp.cimmyt.org/lo-que-dejo-la-tormenta-de-polvo/)

What is conservation agriculture and how can it save the planet?