Excited to share a recent episode of Secrets of the Soil podcast featuring Tony Hill, where we dive deep into the world of regenerative agriculture and ecological outcome verification!
Tony Hill, our guest, emphasizes the need to view soil as a living organism and take a holistic approach to land management. This includes understanding the ripple effects of our actions on the entire ecosystem and monitoring changes in patterns and humidity to ensure the health of the environment.
Key takeaways from this episode:
Healthy ecosystems are crucial for addressing planetary problems. Understanding the four aspects of ecosystem dynamics (nutrient cycle, energy flow, mineral cycle, and community dynamics) is essential.
The well-being of soil organisms is often overlooked compared to visible animals. Farmers need to prioritize the health of all organisms and take care of their pastures to benefit the overall farm health.
Individual farmer decisions matter. By adopting regenerative practices, farmers can contribute to safeguarding biodiversity, protecting against pandemics, and positively impacting the debate on planetary health.
Listen to the episode to gain a deeper understanding of regenerative agriculture and ecological outcome verification! Let’s work towards a sustainable future together.
Who is Tony Hill?
Tony teaches Holistic Management in NSW and is an accredited professional with the Savory Institute. With a background in economics, policymaking, regional development, ecology, and biodiversity, he has worked for the government and consulted on design applications for Cooperative Research Centres.
Tony chairs the Australian Holistic Management Co-operative, has been a member of the Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council and is an accredited teacher of the NSW TAFE Holistic Management Diploma.
He is the founder of the Land to Market Australia project incorporating Ecological Outcome Verification.
Hangout with Tony via this link :landtomarket.com.au
Nestled within the heart of every farm lies a universe teeming with life — the soil. As custodians of this precious resource, the agricultural community is turning over a new leaf with regenerative practices, striving to enhance the vitality of their land. In our debut episode of “Secrets of the Soil,” Regen Ray Milidoni and Tony Hill delve into the transformative approach of Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV), setting the stage for a revolution in soil care and farm health.
Understanding Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV)
EOV offers a groundbreaking framework for farmers to monitor the well-being of their ecosystems. Unlike conventional agriculture, which often relies on a static checklist of dos and don’ts, regenerative agriculture embraces the dynamic, complex nature of ecosystems. Ecosystems do not confine themselves to the lines we draw; thus, EOV steps in as a flexible, adaptive solution to measure ecological health.
EOV in Action: Monitoring Ecological Health
In the vast landscapes of Australia, where EOV is currently operational in five states and involves around 50 member farms, farmers are witnessing the benefits of this robust verification system. By tracking specific ecological indicators, such as soil humidity and pattern changes, EOV helps farmers understand the direct impact of their practices on the environment, empowering them to make every farm an engine of ecological health for their community and the planet.
The Ripple Effect of Every Action
Our guest, Tony Hill, acknowledges the deep interconnection between soil health and broader environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Addressing these challenges requires a proactive mindset, one that favors prevention over mere reaction to crises like bushfires. This perspective places responsibility on each individual to contribute to the solution, reinforcing the notion that collective, small-scale actions can spur significant change.
Shifting Paradigms: From Reactive to Proactive
It’s not just about understanding the soil; it’s about embodying it. Tony’s company, Soul Connect, operates with the soil as its avatar, championing its cause through targeted digital marketing for soil-caring businesses. This shift in perspective — embracing the soil as a living, breathing entity — propels us to take care of pastures, soil organisms, and the myriad life forms beneath our feet. Doing so ensures not only the health of the visible farm but of the entire subterranean ecosystem, which sustains all life above.
The Science Behind the Soil
A key component in this regenerative journey is the science that substantiates it. Tony explains that holistic management, as pioneered by Alan Savory, is instrumental in grasping the ecology of our planet. Through understanding aspects like the nutrient cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics, farmers are able to make informed, holistic decisions for their land. With EOV, we’re not only tracking 15 carefully chosen indicators to assess ecological health, but we’re using this data to influence pivotal discussions on planetary health.
Addressing Misconceptions: Cows, Climate, and Carbon
There’s more to global warming than the methane emissions from livestock, as Tony emphasizes. He argues that the fixation on cow emissions overlooks the missed opportunities for carbon capture when bare soil is left unmanaged. Photosynthesis is an integral ecosystem process that not only sustains plant life but plays a critical role in regulating our climate. By prioritizing the health of soil ecosystems, we are addressing climate change more effectively than any single-focused solution could.
Biodiversity as our BioShield
Wrapping up our in-depth discussion, Tony Hill shares a hopeful message that time spent nurturing the soil and adopting EOV can fortify biodiversity, our bioshield against future pandemics as per the OECD’s post-pandemic recommendations. Such proactive efforts, coupled with the rising environmental awareness in our communities, position us to radically transform our relationship with the planet.
Through Secrets of the Soil, we pledge to continue unraveling these profound truths, advocating for the health of the very ground beneath us and the complex web of life it supports.
