Growing microbes, planting forests and other fungal fantasies
‘The Soil Assembly’ is an international gathering of artists, designers, curators, educators, activists, farmers, and hackers to support the sharing of knowledge and explore the vital role of soil in (agri)culture and the environment. The assembly aims to highlight the essential link between human life, fertility and biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of functional ecosystems for a planetary balance. Malte Larsen represented the mikroBIOMIK Society as well as MIYA association and gave the audience a glimpse into his projects around community building, mushroom cultivation, urban forests and soil regeneration. As a friend and coworker of Malte, I would like to reflect on his work in the wider context of small-scale regenerative agriculture and soil biodiversity.
Microbes support fungi and plants. Fungi support plants and microbes. Plants support fungi, microbes and all animals including us. This is a very simplified description of a food web, but it helps to understand how we as Homo sapiens are entangled with a myriad of other creatures. I like to see the role of humans in the global ecosystems as caretakers. With our amazing intellectual capacities we are not only capable of rapid destruction, but also able to understand the needs of others (human and non-human), support them in their struggles and ultimately improve the productivity and resilience of ecosystems. In the end, this web of relationships is what keeps us alive.
It is the year 2019 (412 ppm CO2) and I arrive to a meeting of fungi enthusiasts in Berlin. As usual, the coffee break is where the important things happen. Malte Larsen and I immediately dive into conversations about fungal symbiosis and their relevance for regenerative agriculture. In the year before I had co-initiated the HUMUS sapiens project and of course I invite Malte to come to our next retreat. Our collaboration is driven by a shared passion for soil life and the urge to do something against its decline. Malte is an archetypical “maker”, a hands-on person who usually runs several projects at once with seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm. Biopunk-meetups, workshops on mushroom cultivation, the fashion-to-soil project and building fungal bioreactors, to name just a few of his activities. Recently, he also joined the MIYA association to assist them with planting tiny forests in urban environments. To summarize, Malte is involved in all the steps of landscape regeneration. He supports microbes, fungi and plants to transform wastelands into productive ecosystems.
To put Malte’s works into perspective, let’s look at the bigger picture for a moment. A study, recently published in the journal “World Development”, estimates that small farms (<2 ha) “account for 84% of all farms worldwide, […] but operate only around 12% of all agricultural land, and produce roughly 35% of the world’s food.” From these numbers we can further infer, that it would be possible to produce the same amount of food on only ~34% of the currently cultivated agricultural land, provided that all agricultural businesses would operate as area-efficient as small farms. Let’s say 50%-60% of present land use, considering that in cooler climates more land is needed. This means that about half of the currently cultivated agricultural land could be rewilded, with all its beneficial effects on climate and biodiversity, as well as our mental and physical health. If we reduce meat consumption and food waste, even less cultivated land would be needed or, if necessary, the planet’s ecosystems could surely support 20 billion frugal humans.
Small-scale regenerative farming offers a holistic and sustainable approach to agriculture. It values community, biodiversity, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. We need to recognize that it is not only a viable alternative to large-scale industrial agriculture, but the only way forward. By revitalizing rural communities, we can build a more equitable and just food system, where farmers are valued for their knowledge, skill, and commitment to the land. We need to recognize that healthy landscapes are not simply a matter of individual species, but of interconnected ecosystems. Regenerating these ecosystems requires a fundamental shift in our approach to the natural world. It requires us to recognize that we are not separate from nature, but an integral part of it. It requires us to view the world around us with a sense of wonder and reverence.
In the end, it comes down to how we treat our soils and the creatures that live in it. Imagine a barren plot of land, maybe on the edge of a construction site in the middle of a metropolis. It is a hot and dry summer day, somewhere around 420 ppm CO2. The asphalt is flickering and the only sounds you can hear come from cars and air conditioners. You go down on your knees and try to dig your hands into the cracked surface of the soil, or rather dirt, as it seems to be completely lifeless gray and dusty. This place is anti-biotic. It is against life. You are suffering here and you will leave this wasteland soon, as did thousands of creatures before you.
How did this land look like a few hundred years ago? Most probably, it used to be a forest. Boreal, temperate or tropical but surely full of trees. The ecosystem supported myriads of different lifeforms and it regulated temperature and humidity. It used to be a home, a place to stay. What if we try to bring back this former glory? What if we plant a forest here? Left untouched, it takes hundreds of years for a forest to develop on barren land. But with our support, the process can be accelerated immensely. We dig up the lifeless dirt and introduce organic material, bacteria, fungi and earthworms. We plant local bushes and trees that have a good chance to thrive in this specific location. We water the vulnerable saplings and keep them safe from harm. We take care.
Malte and I both work for the non-profit mikroBIOMIK Society. Our research activities circle around microbial ecosystems and in the last few years almost all projects had something to do with soil life. Interdisciplinary networking, science communication and hands-on workshops have always been an important part of our work. Lately, we expanded our efforts to promote regenerative practices by publishing guides and providing direct support to local farmers. We are convinced that small-scale regenerative agriculture has the power to transform our eroded and impoverished landscapes into thriving ecosystems that will provide us with an abundance of healthy food.
Fertility is not only the key for improving yields, but also for landscape regeneration; and it is driven by a healthy soil food web. The symbiosis between plant roots and fungi improves the availability of nutrients. Microbes and the substances they produce, enhance soil structure and water retention capacities. Some soil creatures even control pest and disease populations by preying on or competing with harmful organisms. A healthy soil food web also supports biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. By promoting biodiversity, we can help to maintain healthy ecosystems that are better able to resist and recover from disturbances such as drought, flooding, and extreme weather events. The main reason why we see such a horrific increase in soil depletion and erosion is because those self regulating systems are disrupted.
Malte’s bioreactors are constructed to produce a special kind of ‘compost’ (better ‘inoculant’) that is so rich in microbial life that it can reverse the process of degradation and bring new life to the soil. The design of the reactors is inspired by Johnson & Su, who developed the technique as part of their biologically enhanced agricultural management practices. What is really special about this supercompost: it is extremely rich in fungi. In contrast to traditional composting systems, the substrate is not turned, which allows the delicate fungal hyphae to develop their full potential. No turning also means less work and less use of space. In addition, the bioreactors are easy to build and maintain, with irrigation being the most critical step. So far, Malte has set up 11 reactors of different sizes to support circular management systems in several different projects. Organic ‘waste’ like leaves, straw and wood chips are transformed into a lively inoculant that is then used to vitalize garden plots and fields. The idea is to introduce not only organic matter and minerals, but also key microbial species and lots of fungi. Although the first results look promising, it’s a bit early to celebrate the success. There is still a lot to learn about how to optimize the process and how to use the product. We are on it. Stay tuned!