Biowatch and the Seed & Knowledge Initiative (SKI) invite participants in South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho to a free introductory webinar and online training course on Regenerating Agricultural Systems through Bio-Inputs.
Trainer Juanfran Lopez will lead an introductory webinar followed by a 5-module online course on the vision and practice for regenerating agricultural systems through the production and use of biofertilisers and biopesticides using locally available and low-cost materials. These techniques have developed in close collaboration with farmers in many places and help farmers to disengage from a dependence on external inputs.
Due to the community of practice and mentoring aspect of this AUGUST-SEPTEMBER programme aimed at smallholder farmers and facilitators, the training is only open to participants in South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho who are interested in deepening their knowledge and practice. Should you wish to be notified of when other trainings take place, please email zama@biowatch.org.za
The introductory webinar introduced the how and why of regenerating the biological and mineral fertility of agricultural soils, and how this enables the viable production of healthy food that is affordable to consumers and profitable for farmers.
The webinar, aimed at smallholder farmers and facilitators in South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho, touched on:
To sign up, click the SIGN UP button above, or email zama@biowatch.org.za
CLOSING DATE for applications is 12 AUGUST
The online course is for participants from South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho, and is aimed at smallholder farmers and facilitators. The course is made up of 5 weekly modules, each with a theory webinar followed by an online community of practice to share experiences and challenges in making that week’s bio-input.
You’ll learn how to make and use biofertilisers and biopesticides, including:
In addition to the introductory webinar, participants can choose which modules to attend (for example, if they already are familiar with one component) but must implement the practical component (themselves or together with farmers they facilitate) to participate in the community of practice.
Overall approach to be presented in the online course:
For more information, to sign up, or to be notified about other trainings, please send an email to zama@biowatch.org.za
Juanfran Lopez is passionate about working with different regenerative techniques and tools, using locally available resources to create low cost sustainable solutions for farmers on any scale. He is a university-trained agronomist from Spain who has gone on to study various land management approaches through experiential learning internationally. This has included mentoring with Permaculturist Patrick Whitefield and becoming a trainer and researcher on several projects at Ragman’s Lane farm in the UK. He also studied with Jairo Restrepo, an agricultural engineer from the Brazilian Federal University of Pelotas, who is an expert in the field of microbiology and crop nutrition.
Over the past few years Juanfran Lopez has been working with smallholder farmers, but also more commercial farmers in different cultures, climates and soils. He has travelled through Africa, South America, Europe and parts of Asia teaching and learning from practitioners on the ground. He has combined this with seven years of research into the biological health of ecosystems. Collaborating with academics from several universities, Juanfran has developed a unique perspective on building soil health and plant vitality, that places the farmer and grower at the heart of his enquiry.