Bhopal, 10 Dec 2024, ANN

An international conference on “Regenerative Agriculture for Improving Soil Health, Enhancing Carbon Sequestration, and Building Climate Resilience” was held on World Soil Day last week. The event, jointly organized by ICAR-IISS and Solidaridad, took place at the grand auditorium of ICAR in Bhopal. It attracted agricultural scientists, soil experts, advisors, students, and farmers, with a special focus on promoting chemical-free farming practices.

Regenerative agriculture, a holistic approach to food and farming systems, focuses on restoring topsoil, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting carbon sequestration, building climate resilience, and boosting soil health and vitality. It is not a single practice but a combination of various sustainable farming techniques.

Padma Shri Prof. Rattan Lal, a renowned professor at The Ohio State University and World Food Prize Laureate, addressed the pressing agricultural challenges of the 21st century and called for sustainable resource management through conservation agriculture, balanced nutrient use, and the integration of crops, trees, and livestock.

He emphasized the urgent need to transform Indian agriculture by improving water efficiency, conserving soil, recycling crop residues, and reducing livestock emissions.

He also stated, “Healthy soil fosters a healthy diet, which in turn ensures healthy people, ecosystems, and planetary processes.”

Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhyay, Managing Director of Solidaridad Asia and Dr. S.P. Datta, Director of ICAR-IISS also addressed at the event.
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