How do we bring dead soil back to life?

In this episode, sustainability advocate Chit Juan sits down with Nicolo Aberasturi, President of Banhaw Agriculture and a longtime champion of regenerative farming in the tropics. Together, they unpack how small farms can thrive by working with nature — not against it — and how compost, ruminants, and indigenous wisdom all play a role in soil health and food security. Whether you’re a landowner, a backyard gardener, or a budding agri-preneur, this episode will show you how regenerative farming can be a powerful, scalable, and deeply Filipino solution.

GUEST BIO:

Nicolo Aberasturi, President of Banhaw Agriculture, is a farmer with over 20 years of experience in tropical agriculture who now champions tropical regenerative farming. His soil-centric systems combine biodynamic soil building, a closed-loop philosophy that produces inputs on-site and promotes biodiversity, and scalable models tailored for small tropical farms. By blending traditional knowledge with regenerative practices, his approach empowers farmers with low-cost, climate-resilient solutions that enhance ecological health, productivity, and community resilience while minimizing environmental harm.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• What regenerative agriculture means and why it goes beyond organic.
• How tilling and heavy rainfall damage soil in tropical regions.
• Lessons from indigenous farming practices and permaculture design.
• Why compost, ruminants, and microbes are key to healthy soil.
• How to build small-scale integrated farms using free on-farm resources.
• Strategies to help landowners and young farmers shift to regenerative models.
• Balancing technology and tradition in urban and rural agriculture.

QUOTES:

• Regenerative is farming in a way wherein you utilize nature's abundance in your area. — Nicolo Aberasturi
• We have to practice ways wherein we try to conserve the soil, and the more we need to be building soil on a regular basis. — Nicolo Aberasturi
• For these small family farms to thrive, there has to be an integrated system. You have to integrate livestock and crops. — Nicolo Aberasturi
• The best teacher is experience. Start right away even with a bed of vegetables. That will give you more knowledge than watching a thousand YouTube videos. — Nicolo Aberasturi

LINKS or RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Connect with Nicolo Aberasturi on:

• Down to Earth Website - https://downtoearth.ph
• Down to Earth Philippines on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/downtoearthphiippines/
• Banhaw Agriculture Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554836439999
• Banhaw Agriculture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/banhawagriculture

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