Manuel Troya is the owner of Pajaretillo, a farm that’s been in his family since the 60s. At the foot of the Sierra Cádiz in Spain, it’s located in one of the most prestigious livestock regions. But the livestock raised at Pajaretillo isn’t like the rest in the region: it’s regenerative.
Since 2018, Manuel has been increasing animal welfare, biodiversity, and the health of his land as he transitions to regenerative farming. We spoke with him to learn more about his journey.
Farmer
Manuel Troya
Location
Sierra Cádiz, Spain
Type of farm
Livestock
Farm name
Pajaretillo
Farm size
475 hectares
Climate Farmer since
2018
History and context of Pajaretillo
After taking over the family farm, Manuel carried on practising conventional agriculture, as had been the case for years. But he brought a new approach. He started analysing the data and trying to balance the numbers.
He realised that conventional agriculture wasn’t profitable. But he also realised that by damaging the land, he was damaging his future economy.
“I was investing a lot of money, but I wasn’t even improving my farm. Rather, I was destroying it.”
He knew something needed to change – but he wasn’t quite sure what.
He started attending events, where he began to learn about holistic management and regenerative farming. It became clear that this was how he could improve the health of his farm and boost his bottom line.
Manuel’s transition to regenerative agriculture
Manuel started his transition in 2018. He attended courses, events, and conferences to learn more about regenerative farming. When he was armed with enough knowledge, he began running tests and implementing new practices.
Ecological benefits
- Increased soil organic matter and decreased soil erosion
- More vegetation on the farm
- Increased the number and species of biodiversity present
Social impact
Found a community of farmers to share his improvements, achievements and turn to for support.
Profitability
- Doubling the size of farmable land through a new water network
- Increased margins for his produce
- 24.000€ revenue generated in two years from the Carbon+ Program
Other benefits
- No longer reliant on synthetic inputs.
- Has a long term vision for his farm
Manuel’s thoughts on the Carbon+ Program
Manuel is using our Carbon+ Program to access an additional income stream on his path to regenerative farming. He’s using his earnings to invest in a new water network that will allow him to boost his bottom line and regenerate his fields. Over two years, he’s earned 24.000€ from Carbon+.
“Out of 475 hectares on the farm, I only have access to water in about 250 Ha. Now that I can invest in a water network, I can pump water up the hills. In doing so, I’ll be able to make the farm more resilient, use the land economically and at the same time regenerate the paddocks.”
Thoughts on the program
“The process of going through Carbon+ has been great. It’s made me think of the next ten years and my future.”
New practices
Holistic management with regenerative grazing, keyline water design, biodiversity habitat creation, no chemical inputs.
Ready to get started with regenerative agriculture?
