Experts Discussed Regenerative Agriculture in Bratislava

On June 15, 2023, an expert seminar on regenerative agriculture took place in Bratislava. Attendees included Members of the Slovak Parliament, farmers, representatives from ministries, state institutions, experts, and academia.

Regenerative agriculture offers an effective response to climate change. Its goals include protecting soil, enhancing its quality and water retention capacity, sequestering carbon, and increasing resilience against erosion, extreme heat, drought, and flooding. Alongside its ecological benefits, it can also deliver economic advantages by reducing the need for external inputs in agricultural production.

In 2021, the Ekopolis Foundation, in partnership with Nestlé Slovakia and in cooperation with the Partnerství Foundation (Czech Republic), began mapping the landscape to raise awareness of regenerative agriculture in Slovakia.

“Regenerative agriculture is an innovative approach to soil and agricultural production in our context. Experiences from Slovakia and abroad show that this approach not only makes economic sense but also significantly improves soil quality. By reintroducing microorganisms into the soil, it can sequester substantial amounts of carbon, which is vital in addressing the climate crisis that increasingly impacts society,” says Peter Medveď, Director of the Ekopolis Foundation.

The long-term goal is to foster discussions on sustainable land use and measures to enhance resilience to the negative impacts of climate change. As part of this collaboration, an expert seminar titled “Regenerative Agriculture: An Answer to Climate Change and the Global Crisis?” was held on June 15, 2023, in Bratislava. The seminar was organized under the patronage of Jaroslav Karahuta, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment in the Slovak Parliament.

The first session introduced Members of Parliament, farmers, and experts to the principles of regenerative agriculture and its benefits for soil quality, the environment, and farmers. Presenters included Ladislav Miko, a leading soil microbiologist and advisor to the Czech Minister of Environment, and Ľubomír Marhavý from Biopratex, a regenerative agriculture advocate and advisor.

Ladislav Miko provided a captivating explanation of soil life and the importance of microorganisms for soil quality and food production:
“Only living soil is healthy and can sustainably fulfill what people need and expect from it. Regenerative agriculture is an excellent way to achieve this, even on soils degraded by intensive use.”

Ľubomír Marhavý added: “As a society, we often fail to realize the importance of soil. Reckless management of forests and fields overlooks this vital regenerative ecosystem as a living entity. Soil is full of life that determines our future quality of life. Regenerative agriculture is a crucial tool to mitigate negative impacts, not only on the microclimate but also for producing healthier, nutritionally richer food sustainably. It’s also essential for restoring underground water supplies, which will be critical for survival on a still-green Slovakia. If we fail to change our approach to soil as a living ecosystem, we face a bleak future in an increasingly arid landscape. Sometimes it seems as if there are no children or grandchildren living in Slovakia who will also need water and affordable, healthy food. With respect for the soil!”

The second session explored the broader implications of regenerative agriculture, highlighting its benefits for both farmers and society. Speakers included Rostislav Mátl from DVP Agro a.s. and Martina Šilhánová from Nestlé. Rostislav Mátl shared his experience of successfully implementing regenerative agriculture on 1,400 hectares since 2019. He highlighted the ecological benefits achieved, such as eliminating wind and water erosion, increasing water retention in the landscape, improving water infiltration rates tenfold, and enhancing overall soil quality on cultivated fields.

These measures resulted in minimal industrial fertilizer use, a 20% reduction in plant protection costs in 2022, and a 25% decrease in fuel consumption (with a projected 45% saving after transitioning to no-till farming). “Regenerative agriculture leads to stable and higher profits (by 20–40%). Moreover, it brings greater satisfaction, freedom, and less stress,” Mátl said.

Martina Šilhánová of Nestlé Slovakia emphasized the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050: “We know that most of our emissions stem from Scope 3 according to the SBTi methodology—that is, from the cultivation of raw materials needed for our production. Regenerative agriculture offers an opportunity to significantly reduce these emissions. Transforming agriculture from conventional intensive methods to regenerative practices is vital for soil health, biodiversity, and landscape restoration. Healthy soil produces healthy raw materials, which is a key factor for us as food producers. Moreover, arable land is shrinking due to erosion, while the population continues to grow. We must address these challenges and prepare for them, and this requires genuine change and collaboration.”

Presentations from the seminar are available HERE.