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Better farming: Mickaël recreates life in the soil
Two years ago, Mickaël PORTEVIN (Agriculture, 2005, Beauvais) decided to change his practices. Between each crop, he sows intercrops. These intermediate crops cover the soil, limit erosion, capture nitrogen from the air and, once destroyed, provide valuable organic matter.
Thanks to this approach, Mickaël has succeeded in reducing his chemical fertilizer inputs, while maintaining the fertility of his land. He has also planted hedges around his plots. These hedges are not just for the landscape: they provide a refuge for biodiversity, providing a home for insects, birds and small animals that are useful to crops.
These still recent practices are already showing their effects. Soils are more supple, richer and retain water better. In the long term, this makes them more resilient to the vagaries of the climate, while producing in a more environmentally-friendly way.
It's a practical approach that proves you can farm better by working with nature.
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