MISSION
The world is filled up with solutions!
And one of these is the concept of regenerative agriculture.
It regenerates soils by producing humus (which sequesters large amounts of CO2), promotes biodiversity, prevents erosion, regulates the water balance, avoids mineral fertilizers and pesticides, and produces healthy food in a sustainable way.
This is gradually even realized by political decision-makers.
WHAT WE DO
Agriculture, this time ready for the future!
Regenerative agriculture is the solution to several problems relating to nutrition, environmental protection and the climate crisis. Instead of monocultures on depleted soils, it operates as close as possible to natural cycles. In an economically relatively weak region in southern Senegal, we are creating jobs, providing training and managing the land sustainably.
With this project, we want to set an example, offer local people prospects and thus combat the causes of emigration.
FOOD FOREST
We have started to transform the first area in Senegal into a forest garden for our PermaFoodForest project in 2019. In the future, a variety of crop plants will grow there on several floors in mixed cultivation. Unlike conventional agriculture, no pesticides or mineral fertilizers are used. Instead of common slash-and-burn agriculture, organic material is used to build compost. Depleted soils are regenerated by the organic material that is brought in and sequester CO2.
Life is created again in the soil itself and above it: such a mixed forest garden provides food and living space for a large number of insects. A healthy, biodiverse ecosystem with its own microclimate is created, which is in every way more stable than conventional monocultures: the soil contains various deep root systems, water can penetrate, be absorbed and retained. Pests remain in balance with all other organisms and can never damage the entire cultivated area.
In a small factory, the agricultural products will be processed as far as possible to the finished product. This includes, for example, washing, drying, dehydrating, pressing and packaging. Our processing and packaging facility is also intended to enable other ecological projects in the region to upgrade their harvests and thus achieve higher market prices. The basic idea is to preserve the local value chain locally as much as possible and thereby create work, growth and perspectives for the local people, which combats the causes of emigration. The energy supply of the production facility will be decentralized via a large photovoltaic system on the roofs of the buildings, demonstrating that electricity can be produced in a sustainable, long-term and reliable manner even in one of the most remote area in order to operate energy-intensive production facilities.
PRODUCTION SITE
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.
FROM SENEGAL. TO THE WORLD.
EDUCATION
The third area is the integrated training center. Here, not only our employees will be trained and educated, but there will also be workshops on all topics related to organic farming, permaculture, circular economy, sustainability, renewable energies and empowerment. We want to train highly motivated people who transmit their new skills and knowledge.
In addition, everything should become a kind of forum and networking point to learn from each other: there will be workshops and training opportunities from and for farmers, similar projects, NGOs and all interested people of the region.