Yann Boulestreau
Yann Boulestreau
Main Expertise
- Regenerative arable farming
- Initial stages of the transition
- Step-by-step transition support
- Cover cropping
- Functioning of agroecosystems
- Agroforestry
Affiliated Organisation(s)
AgSynergie
Harms Hof
Language(s)
- French
- English
- German
Based in
Germany
Contact
My journey of becoming a regenerative agronomist
Master’s in Life Science with a focus on agroecology
PhD in France in agroecology on methods to support the transition towards regenerative agriculture
Focus on agroforestry and conservation agriculture
Manage 55ha of arable crops in Northern Germany (Harms Hof)
Worked on agronomic training activities and transition support with 50 farms in France, Belgium and Germany
Main Challenges for farmers’ transition
- Risk: Fear of economic loss when testing something new
- Equipment: The equipment to test new practices can be difficult to access
- Intergenerational transition: Resistance to change from the old generation
- Education: Poor initial training on soil health and biocontrol
- Positive example: Lack of regional farm models
Success stories
Successful agronomic experiments:
- Field 1: Compost, then rapeseed, and companion legumes
- Field 2: Compost, then rapeseed without legumes
- Better performance of rapeseed in companion
- Good results and proof of companion planting
- Reduced fertilisation of potassium
- Critical thoughts from outside, but the best result ever: improved soil quality, while using less potassium
- Clients impemented successfully minimal tillage and species-rich covercrops
One principle you wish more people understood
Soil life needs energy! To do this, add fresh organic material, such as cover crops or manure. These materials contain a lot of chemical energy in their C-C bonds. Compost, for example, does not.
“Regenerative Agriculture is outcome-focused, pragmatic, and adapted to the context, whereas other approaches are rather focused on the practices.”
— What regenerative agriculture means to me
Learn Directly from the Experts
Meet this agronomist in our Regenerative Agronomy Training.
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