Show Notes
The questions keep coming! In Part 2 of our farming Q&A, we continue answering your comments, challenging conventional thinking and digging deeper into some of the biggest conversations around modern agriculture.
In this episode: In this episode of EcoFarm Aotearoa, the discussion turns to synthetic nitrogen, soil carbon, fungi, soil biology and the importance of questioning the systems we've come to rely on. We explore the argument that soil has its own natural nitrogen system, and ask what happens when we replace those natural processes with synthetic inputs.
We also revisit the story behind the fungal "Control Alt Delete" experiment, including the use of different fungal species and the surprising changes observed in the soil and livestock. The conversation explores the different roles fungi can play in soil biology and their relationship with other microorganisms such as cyanobacteria.
But ultimately, this episode comes back to a bigger question: how do we make better decisions on farm?
Rather than simply accepting what we're told, Ewan and the team discuss the importance of asking questions, running trials, observing the results and staying open to new ideas. From unexpected solutions to long-term consequences of farming practices, this is another wide-ranging Q&A exploring how we can think differently about agriculture.
Synthetic nitrogen and nature's nitrogen system The relationship between nitrogen and soil carbon The hidden costs of synthetic nitrogen The fungal "Control Alt Delete" experiment Cordyceps and different fungal species Fungi, soil biology and cyanobacteria Why independent trials and observation matter Making farming decisions based on reality The importance of questioning conventional practices Innovation and finding unexpected solutions More questions from the EcoFarm community If you enjoyed Part 1, there's plenty more to dig into here. And as always, the goal isn't to tell you what to think, it's to encourage better questions, better observations and better conversations around farming.
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What are farmers actually asking about soil, carbon, regenerative farming and the future of agriculture?