AS farming around the world are continually threatened by heatwaves and the absence of rainfall, causing dried out soils and threatening to spoil crops, agroecology, organic farming and biodynamics have been recommended as remedy to mitigate the effects of extreme weather.

A research associate in the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum, Switzerland, Martin Quantin, who gave the recommendation quotes the diversification of agricultural systems as fundamental, referring in particular to the combination of, for example, field crops, livestock, arboriculture, vegetable farming and fruit growing, as well as semi-natural areas such as hedgerows, meadows, ponds and copses.

Quantin uses the example of trees to illustrate this: “Trees provide shade for sensitive crops and livestock, whilst limiting the drying effects of the wind. Root systems explore different depths of the soil, improving its water retention and stability.”

According to experts, while biodynamic farming cannot change the broader conditions in the short term, it does have experience with shading and with building up humus to store water and increase plant and animal resilience.

According to the agricultural engineer, “we know from experience and scientific research that agroecology, organic farming and biodynamics can help mitigate the effects of extreme weather.”

He mentioned the soil as a second key to resilience. “Promoting the forming of humus supports the formation of erosion-resistant aggregates whilst creating a porous network capable of efficiently storing and redistributing water throughout the soil. Additionally, fertile, active humus develops most effectively in living soils that are rich in microorganisms.”

Based on reports, scientific studies have shown that biodynamic farming enhances soil resilience and vitality, particularly during difficult years, and therefore creates the foundation for resilient crops.

A biodynamic farm in the Swiss Canton of Lucerne – Katzhof, was cited as a good example because their approach is to store water, promote diversity and living soils and channel rain water into a storage reservoir, using it for irrigating vegetable crops during dry periods.

The Farm Manager, Markus Schwegler, has had good results with the approach, but he also points out that “even the best water management system is of no use if there is no water. We urgently need rain.”

It was learnt that the Section for Agriculture at the Goetheanum is currently preparing a project called ‘Biodynamics meets Agroforestry’ which, by 2030, will assess how biodynamic arboriculture contributes to climate resilience, soil fertility, biodiversity, food security, income and quality of life in subsistence smallholdings.

The project will start with partner institutions in Egypt and Kenya and is co-led by PhD student FatmaAbosamra (supervisor for Egypt) and Gaudenz Hurter (supervisor for Kenya and other partners in Africa and Europe).

Quantin noted that out the responsibility for this transition cannot be left to farmers alone: “Researchers, educators, consumers, politicians, businesses and society as a whole have a role to play in contributing to the development of a resilient agroecology that will allow us to eat healthily even under uncertain conditions.”