On February 24, 2026, in Frick, climate change is presenting significant challenges for agriculture. A new guide from FiBL demonstrates how reduced tillage practices can help safeguard soil functions and enhance climate resilience. This guide offers a practical overview of reduced tillage techniques, outlines commonly used equipment, and provides advice on transitioning to reduced tillage farming systems.
The health of the soil is crucial for human nutrition and plays a vital role in combating climate change. However, intensive tillage can harm the soil. Reduced tillage is one strategy for preserving the soil, improving its structure, and increasing its capacity to retain water and sequester CO2. FiBL has conducted thorough research on the impacts of reduced tillage in organic farming over many years.
The new technical guide “Reduced tillage. Protecting soil functions for better climate resilience” examines the pros and cons of reduced tillage in organic farming, outlines the techniques involved, and recommends appropriate machinery. Farmers receive specific guidance on implementing ploughless systems to ensure long-term soil fertility and yields. The challenges of transitioning to herbicide-free systems without ploughing are also addressed in detail, along with potential solutions.
This technical guide was developed as part of the KLIMACrops project (Strategies for adapting arable farming systems to climate change and their contribution to climate protection in the Upper Rhine region) and the NBSOIL project (Nature-Based Solutions for Soil Management). The English version of the original German edition was created with the support of the OrganicClimateNET project, which received funding from the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI).
Additionally, Bayer has launched a new multi-crop seed brand called “newgold” to assist farmers in accessing the low-carbon biofuel economy.
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