Are you under 35, a biological farm and the passion for practices that not only respect the environment, but do they regenerate it? This could be your opportunity.
The Davines groupin collaboration with the Foundation for sustainable developmentlaunches the second edition of “The Good Farmer Award”, the first Italian prize dedicated to young farmers who have embraced the principles ofBiological regenerative agriculture.
It is an opportunity for those who are already changing the face of Italian agriculture: two projects will receive 10,000 euros each for enhance agroecological practices already started.
Applications are open From 3 April to 16 June 2025 on the official website of the group.
What is biological regenerative agriculture
Regenerative biological agriculture does not mean only Avoid pesticides and chemical fertilizersbut adopt an approach that imitates natural processes, creating agricultural systems capable of self -sustain and improve the quality of the soil over time.
Candidates will have to demonstrate use at least three of the regenerative practices indicated in the announcement: from the cultivation rotation to the minimum soil disorder, from the use of organic fertilizers to the cultivation of trees associated with arable fields or pastures, up to the use of roof crops such as legumes and the mulching of the soil.
The novelty of this year? The award also opens up to farms-zootechnics which integrate extensive breeding with organic agricultural production, recognizing the value of the synergistic approach that exploits, for example, the manure for the fertilization and recycling of vegetable nutrients as feed.
Regenerative agriculture is convenient (also economically)
Those who think that these practices are only a luxury for idealists should take a look at the results of the forty -year study of Rodal Institutementioned in the prize document. Research shows that regenerative biological systems not only equal the renders of conventional agriculture in the long run, but in some cases they exceed them, with lower operating costs.
The performance is important during the periods of drought: the fields managed with regenerative methods have shown one Upper productivity of 30% Compared to the conventional ones in the years characterized by scarce rainfall, thanks to the greater soil ability to retain water. In addition, the organic substance in regenerative soils has increased by 100%, making them more resilient to climate change.
A global opportunity: the prize also lands in the USA
The news that confirms the importance of this initiative is its debut even overseas: the North American branch of the Davines group, in collaboration with the Rodal Institute, has recently closed the candidates for the US edition of the prize. The winner, who will be announced on April 22, 2025 on the occasion of the World Earth Day.
The award ceremony of the Italian edition will be held between the end of November and the beginning of December 2025 at the Davines Group Village in Parma, where a jury of eight experts, chaired by Edo Ronchi, will select the two most innovative and advanced projects. An opportunity for young farmers who are demonstrating, with the facts, that a different agriculture is not only possible, but represents the future.
