Cuban organic farmers counter pests with mycorrhizal fungi, biodiversity

Miguel Salcines Lopez and his 163 co-workers at Vivero Alamar—an urban farm in Havana, Cuba—operate by practicing a “feed the soil, not the crop” philosophy.

In addition to planting in color bands, raised beds and utilizing worm compost to maintain blemish-free produce, the farmers inoculate each plant with mycorrhizal fungi, which helps fend off insects and disease while improving nutrient intake by 40 percent.

This kind of agro-ecological farming requires knowledge in climate, weather patterns, soil types, and plant needs. “It’s a much more complicated form of agriculture,” Salcines said. “Agriculture of the 21st century will not be the same as the 20th century. We have to work more intelligently, not harder.”

Full Story: WorldWatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet blog