BayCEER Workshop 2025

Principles and practices for long-term soil fertility and plant nutrition in stockless and veganic farming: Foundations and future directions of veganic agroecology

P 4 in Posters

In the light of the multiple crises humanity is facing, including climate change, soil degradation and biodiversity loss, we need to drastically reduce livestock production and move towards plant-based diets. While the health- and climate-related advantages of such dietary changes (as proposed, e.g., by the planetary health diet) are quite well studied, the production-related implications have not yet been adequately addressed. Sustainably increasing plant production while substantially reducing animal production unveils the need of alternatives to both chemical-based conventional and animal-based organic agriculture. However, stockless farming is often considered challenging in terms of long-term soil fertility and plant nutrition, although research on this topic is rare. Recently, veganic agroecology has been suggested as strategy to tackle these challenges within the new paradigm of inclusive responsibility.

The aim of my research is to take this paradigm up and amplify which agroecological measures are suitable to enhance soil fertility and plant nutrition in stockless and veganic farming. Specifically, agroecological principles and practices are identified that drive processes such as nutrient cycling, plant nutrient acquisition, and soil organic carbon accrual. First findings indicate that agroecology could help stockless and veganic farming approaches to ensure long-term plant nutrition and soil fertility (and thus overall productivity and resilience), while the veganic approach could guide agroecology away from animal-based inputs, thus aligning agroecology better with future needs and the own foundation of justice. The poster reflects work in progress and is also thought of as a basis to discuss future research directions and potential collaborations.

Keywords: agroecology, veganic farming, soil fertility, plant nutrition