Binissaida des Barrancons

Binissaida des Barrancons transition to regenerative farming

Investment costs

• Restoring and preparing the land
• Re-organizing the farm landscape
• Rebuilding traditional stone walls
• Establishing two new greenhouses
• Creating living space for students

Challenges so far

• Restoring traditional agroforestry systems (e.g. coronar) to
  rebuild biodiversity, resilience, and cultural knowledge
• Regenerating thin, erosion-prone soils by increasing organic
  matter and maintaining permanent cover
• Restoring water cycles by improving infiltration, retaining
  moisture, and buffering rainfall extremes (gota fría)
• Building wind-resilient landscapes through agroforestry and
  natural windbreaks
• Scaling integrated regenerative systems with dynamic
  grazing and diversified production

Learnings of your journey

• Agroecology is foundational to everything: it shapes the
  health of people, biodiversity, landscapes, water cycles and
  climate.

“We are losing too many farmers. If we want the next
generation to step into this role, agriculture must once again become a respected and attractive path. Farmers should be able to work with dignity — with reasonable hours, a fair income, and the respect this profession deserves. Because the farmer is at the heart of everything: paysan, paysage, pays, as one says in French. The farmer shapes the landscape, and the landscape shapes the country. I want to help grow a new generation of farmers who see agriculture as meaningful work — caring for the land, nourishing communities, and shaping the future. Becoming a farmer should be something you are truly proud of.”

— Patrick de la Chesnais on why Binissaida des Barracons became a training farm

Future ambitions

Over time, gradually reduce irrigation by improving soil structure and water retention