Reaping the benefits of regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is more than just a farming approach. It is a commitment to soil health and the well-being of future generations, and involves techniques that rebuild soil organic matter and biodiversity, thereby countering the impacts of climate change.

This was presented during the Regional Forum on Regenerative Agriculture, held recently in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, where the various advantages of this practice and details of some projects that have incorporated it were discussed.

RESPONSIBILITY

Among the various speakers, David Cano, CEO of Grupo Munsa, explained that sustainable agriculture is urgently needed, and that the company's regenerative agriculture model covers more than 3,000 hectares, with the goal of reaching 5,000 hectares by 2026.

Likewise, the executive of one of Mexico's most important corn and wheat agroindustrial groups noted that to advance in the industry, it is necessary to work responsibly to achieve profitability and expansion into other markets.

Similarly, he asserted that the concept of regenerative agriculture has been developing and evolving for several decades as an alternative to a large-scale agricultural model that has negatively affected the environment. He also asserted that thinking about regenerative agriculture means thinking about sustainability and the tools that can be used to reverse the damage that has been done.

He recalled that "for years, clubs of agricultural producers have been formed that are committed to establishing sustainable agriculture."

Therefore, he stated that "a joint work model was developed between the company and farmers, which contributes to the crop purchase contract and provides security for people."

David Cano also announced that the company, in conjunction with Pasta Yemina, has a program that offers consulting and sponsorship of regenerative agriculture techniques to preserve productive soil.

YEMINA PASTE

In this regard, Juan Rodríguez Tafoya, head of the Food Safety and Sustainability department at Grupo Herdez, said that Pasta Yemina aims to ensure that 40 percent of the grains it purchases for its products come from sustainable practices by 2030.

He reported that he has been consolidating the regenerative agriculture work carried out with producers in the state of Sonora, thereby expanding its positive impact on water and fertilizer savings, "and on regenerating and keeping the soil alive." With this, he asserted, wheat production per ton has been increasing.

More than 50 farmers with over 2,800 hectares practiced regenerative agriculture in the 2024-2025 cycle.

The executive stated that Pasta Yemina is redefining pasta production to transform it into a symbol of sustainability and care for the planet "through concrete actions in its sustainability strategy," which represents a paradigm shift in food production, particularly compared to the old initiatives of conventional agriculture.

Juan Rodríguez Tafoya also explained that regenerative agriculture in Pasta Yemina's wheat crops focuses on key points: good agricultural practices, use of organic waste in crops with permanent soil cover, organic soil improvers, drip irrigation, 4Rs Fertilization, and Agroecological Pest Management (MAP), as well as the implementation of digital and satellite agriculture.

The 4Rs of these management practices stand for “right form,” “right rate,” “right application,” and “right timing,” and are intended to increase fertilization efficiency.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Among the achievements of adopting this sustainable agriculture model has allowed a reduction of up to 6.5 percent of CO2 in crops with regenerative agriculture, going from a Carbon Footprint of: 3.1 to 2.9 tons CO2e/ha by 4R's fertilization, a reduction in water consumption of up to 43 percent in their crops, as well as an improvement in soil quality of 86 percent.

On the economic front, each farmer has seen savings of over $1,300 per hectare from 4R fertilization projects, organic improvers, and drip irrigation. These savings are derived from water savings, fertilizers, and increased production or yield.

In addition, there is a 43 percent reduction in water use, an 86 percent improvement in soil quality, and a 6.5 percent reduction in carbon emissions. All of this results in an optimization of resources for farmers. (Repeat with previous data; delete.)

It's worth mentioning that Sonora is the national leader in wheat production, with 2,018,450 tons; followed by Guanajuato with 387,805 tons, and Sinaloa with 287,715 tons annually.

RESOURCES AT THE LIMIT

At the regional forum, speakers and attendees agreed that conventional industrial agricultural practices have stretched resources to the limit, with one-third of agricultural land degraded.

Specifically, among the data presented, it was stated that 75 percent of crop genetic diversity has been lost, and agriculture consumes 70 percent of the world's water, according to data from the United Nations and the World Bank.

Finally, other interesting information shared at the event included:

· Up to 75% of crop genetic diversity has been lost.

· Agriculture and the use of farmland are responsible for 70% of the world's water consumption.

· Two-thirds of the planet is in a state of desertification.

· Agriculture, forestry, and other land uses account for approximately 22% of global GE emissions.

· Regenerative agriculture absorbs up to 30 times more CO2 per year than conventional agriculture.

· In three years, the organic matter in the soil can double.

Among other sustainability initiatives, Pasta Yemina has initiatives to recycle 100 percent of its packaging.

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Herdez, as such, does not sow; it does so through third parties, contracts. In this case, its semolina supplier is Munsa, which has agreements or conventions with Barilla. Yemina is a brand associated with Barilla. Herdez does not have direct suppliers, but there are about 2,800 hectares in the area, and about 50 suppliers in Mexico.

Water scarcity is an issue in certain sectors; the central part of the country is fine, but water is one of the issues that most concerns Herdez, hence the sustainable agriculture strategy for better conservation of the liquid.

Herdez trains, has an audit team in the field, the training topic is linked and is part of our work to be in the field with the producers for practices related to environmental and water conservation.

standards to follow, pesticides and heavy metals, as many of our products are linked to export, we have to comply with American and European legislation, existing and future standards, especially regarding pesticides and heavy metals.

We strongly encourage as a group... that before using chemicals, you use the biological or organic part, then, if the pest or disease overwhelms you, then use the chemical to reduce it, but continue with an integrated management of beneficial microorganisms. We promote the increase of microorganisms that help you reduce chemical applications in a cycle, which is already a win, a positive impact on the economy, soil, water; a pesticide affects many things.

Generally speaking, with rolling irrigation, most wheat crops are irrigated through canals or dam water. It is with rolling irrigation, opening the furrow and letting the water run. When you change the system, the savings are almost 60%... investment in field technology.

All the producers within the program, we in the agricultural area, have a registry of about 100 producers, plus the wheat producers with about 50... and it's not just them that we train, but everything they bring with them.

Support is sought, an alliance so that the government supports agriculture, so that it becomes more profitable, more productive... the cost of the investment is sought as to how to pay it,

Of the suppliers, how many are in the program? There are approximately 50 suppliers in the region that are joining the program. The idea is to integrate more so that by 2030, 100% of the producers and suppliers are participating.

+++ munsa, general manager

Being sustainable means doing everything necessary to be sustainable over time and not consuming the elements of that process so that future generations can continue to have the possibility of continuing to maintain production, in this case agriculture, doing all the actions, taking care of the water, the environment, the practices of everything we do, reaching that goal of having quality, production and sustainability for the parties involved in the process, especially the producers.

The agro-industry that is transformed is one and the industry that carries these proven materials so that they are consumer goods at competitive prices, of quality,

Dacivid Cano Machuca, general director of Grupo Munsa, we are an agro-industry that currently has 10 industrial mills in the country. We are dedicated to milling wheat and corn, mainly.

Within our work, an important part is that our industry was born as a sustainable company, although sustainability was not yet fashionable more than 30 years ago when we started, we had a problem in the country.

We dedicate ourselves to what we see, there is no product more expensive than the one we do not have, the survival of our industry was at risk,

the profitability of the parties, the sustainability of the company, which was born sustainable, now has other approaches, the profitability and survival of the parties

There are 66 producers in this program. Nationally, we must have around 3,500 to 3,800 with whom we work, along with some agricultural organizations.

We as MUNSA, the MUNSA Group, host within this model... partner groups of MUNSA, United Mills of the Northwest, MUNSA, in view of the legacy of NAFTA, we had to design to face competition from American agribusiness. As a MUNSA Group, we must have around 90,000 hectares per year under contract, and as MUNSA Mills, today we are like this, between 23,000 and 25,000 hectares. We produce around 600,000 tons of additional grain, and another one of imports.