Sub-organic regenerative farming is a farming system that restores soil health by integrating controlled organic inputs, mineral corrections, microbial inoculation, and bio-stimulants, without strictly adhering to all organic certification rules. It aims to balance natural, organic methods with targeted, safe nutrients to maintain commercial productivity and improve soil structure.
Key Principles and Aspects of Sub-Organic Farming:
- Soil Engineering: Focuses on rebuilding soil biology (earthworms, microbes) rather than just feeding the plant.
- Targeted Nutrition: Uses mineral corrections based on soil testing to address specific deficiencies, which might not be permitted in strict organic farming.
- Controlled Inputs: Utilizes bio-stimulants and microbial inoculants to enhance nutrient cycling.
- Regenerative Focus: Increases carbon levels to enhance soil structure and water retention.
- Efficiency: Aims to avoid “blind” chemical reliance, reducing costs and ecological damage while keeping yields high.
- This approach is sometimes referred to as a “low-input” system, often utilized by smallholders to manage, and in some cases improve, agricultural production.