Piibe Vaher: the soil is farmers' most valuable asset

eAgronom is well known as a climate technology company working on sustainability projects in agriculture. The most popular is the carbon program, which allows farmers to receive additional payments and improve soil quality by changing conventional practices to more sustainable ones. Implementing them requires a deep knowledge of regenerative agriculture. eAgronom's agronomical advisor Piibe Vaher is a person who works with farmers daily to help them adopt these practices. We invited Piibe for an interview to tell us more about her experience working with farmers.

The upcoming article is an interview with an experienced agronomical advisor who shares valuable insights and pieces of advice on sustainable farming and why it's important to farm in a more environment-friendly way.

Visiting Cereals agricultural fair in 2022

At the beginning tell us a bit about your background. Why did you choose the agricultural industry?

I grew up in a farming family. My father owns and runs a livestock farm. In my childhood, I saw how much he enjoyed working with animals and how driving past his beautiful fields sparkled his eyes with pride. That is one of the biggest reasons why I decided to connect my life with agriculture. I studied agronomy in university and I have a master’s degree cum laude in agricultural sciences. After graduation, I worked at my father’s farm as head of plant production overseeing planning and managing of plant production.

What is your daily life as an agronomical advisor in eAgronom?

My role has changed quite a lot during the last 4 years. As eAgronom has changed its direction from a farm management system to climate projects and promoting sustainable agriculture, my role has also changed to focus more on practices like cover cropping, direct drilling, residue management, etc. - all for the benefit of soil health. My daily life involves managing the agronomical team, supporting my team members in different countries, planning and organizing field trials, and giving in-house knowledge and support to other teams.

eAgronom team at sowing of cover crop trial

Why is regenerative farming important and why is it necessary to talk about it?

Soil is farmers' most valuable asset. All farmers understand that increasing soil health is important. The problem is a need for more knowledge and practical experience in incorporating new sustainable practices into their normal production cycle. Collaboration and knowledge sharing among farmers are crucial in promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Farmers can learn from each other's experiences, share best practices, and collectively work towards a common goal of improving soil health and reducing environmental impact. By working together, we can leverage each other's expertise, resources, and support networks to make sustainable agriculture more accessible and achievable for all. That is why we organize field trials - we want to make mistakes, so farmers don’t have to.

What are some key challenges that farmers face when transitioning to regenerative practices?

One of the main challenges that farmers face when transitioning to regenerative agriculture practices is the need for a change in mindset and the willingness to try new methods. It can be difficult for farmers to change from conventional practices that they have been using for years. Additionally, there may be financial barriers to adopting new equipment or investing in soil health improvement. I encourage farmers to seek support and guidance from agronomical advisors and look for opportunities for financial assistance or incentives for sustainable farming practices.

“Step one is the change of mindset, step two is careful planning, and step three is practicing.”

Which regenerative farming practices are most important and should be implemented first?

I wouldn’t say that one practice is more important than the other. It is a whole system. For example, if you grow cover crops but continue intensive cultivation, then you probably won’t increase your soil's organic carbon content because each time you turn over the soil you put oxygen into it and organic matter starts mineralizing. Also, you destroy the homes of the “real carbon farmers” earthworms. The best results come when you take care of the whole system. That is why I wouldn’t encourage farmers to jump only into one practice.

Collecting biomass samples of cover crops

What improvements have you observed in farms that have adopted sustainable practices?

During my visits to farms across various countries, I've noticed that those with healthier soil (characterized by higher organic matter content, enhanced water retention, and good structure) are faring better in challenging weather conditions such as drought or heavy rainfall. Yields can become more consistent and they stand out in difficult conditions. I believe these positive outcomes are directly correlated with enhanced soil health, which, in turn, is a result of sustainable practices.

Piibe on the cover crop trial with seed manager of Linas Agro Estonia, Stefani Jakuš

There are concerns that the farming sector is moving too fast into regenerative agriculture, what are your thoughts on that?

If changes are forced on farmers who are not ready for it is not right. Farmers’ priority is to produce food and earn profit. I believe those priorities can be fulfilled sustainably, but they should be rewarded for it. We want it or not, but the future of agriculture will be increasingly focused on regenerative agriculture. Farmers who adopt regenerative practices and prioritize soil health will benefit from increased resilience to climate change improved yields and a positive reputation and market access for their sustainable products.

For farmers who might be considering participating in the carbon program, what advice or tips would you give them?

I would say that if farmers feel the need to change the way they farm or they become interested in regenerative farming then it is worth investigating opportunities that help finance the change. If a farmer has decided to move towards regenerative practices then they need financial support and eAgronoms’ carbon program is one opportunity. We are not forcing farmers to jump in and change everything in the first year. We are giving them time to start adopting new practices and see what works on their farm. We also support farmers by having agronomical advice available and by organizing trials, conferences, and other educational events.

How do you see the future of agriculture evolving in the coming years, especially in terms of sustainability and regenerative practices?

As consumers become more mindful of where their food comes from and how it is produced, there is a growing demand for products that are grown in an environmentally sustainable manner. I also think that if we move towards measuring products’ GHG footprint then products with a lower footprint should earn higher prices. I envision a future where sustainable agriculture is the norm rather than the exception, and where farmers are recognized and rewarded for their efforts to protect the environment and promote a more sustainable food system. The agricultural sector has suffered for a long time with the image of being the polluter, now we have a chance to change it.

Visiting Cereals 2022 with a colleague