This is a concept that will surely make you see agriculture from a different perspective. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve become just a consumer of inputs, this tool is for you. We are talking about process-based agriculture, a practice that moves away from dependency on products to focus on the true health of your farm. Can you imagine depending less on fertilizers and chemicals? Here you will learn how to harness nature’s forces in favor of your soil and crops—something as transformative as the Green Revolution of the 1960s, but on an ecological and sustainable path.
Principles and Evolution
Process-based agriculture is built on the idea that the real strength of your farm does not come from external products, but from the natural relationship between soil, plants, and microorganisms. Several agricultural approaches apply its principles, such as holohomeopathy and syntropic agriculture. Both agree on not covering up problems with temporary solutions but rather strengthening the entire structure of the agricultural system, providing real and sustainable independence.
Input-based agriculture is about adding products without understanding the underlying processes, whereas process-based agriculture focuses on activating natural mechanisms of nutrition, defense, and resilience.
Key Processes in Process-Based Agriculture
Process-based agriculture is grounded in understanding and optimizing the natural processes of soil, plants, and microbiology, rather than relying on external inputs. Here are the fundamental processes that sustain this approach:
Soil Fertility Processes
Nutrient cycling is not about applying fertilizers but making nutrients already present in the soil available. For example, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria like Pseudomonas and Bacillus release trapped phosphorus, while Firmicutes and proteobacteria release nitrogen by decomposing organic matter. The carbon cycle is essential, as carbon is not only organic matter but also an energy source for microorganisms. Biofilms and polysaccharides, for instance, help retain moisture and carbon in the soil. Additionally, the silicon and calcium cycles strengthen plant structures and increase resistance to pests and diseases, as observed with the use of prickly pear mucilage as a silicon adjuvant.
Plant-Soil Relationship Processes
Nitrogen fixation is optimized through symbiosis with bacteria like Azotobacter and Rhizobium, instead of applying nitrates. Mycorrhizae also play a crucial role by facilitating nitrogen uptake in poor soils. Roots not only absorb nutrients but also release root exudates, substances that feed and select beneficial microbiology. For example, stressed plants release more exudates to attract protective fungi and bacteria. Additionally, the soil enzyme cycle is vital, as without enzymes there is no nutrition. Phosphatases, cellulases, hydrogenases, and laccases facilitate mineral absorption, and biofilm applications stimulate enzyme production.
Natural Plant Defense Processes
Plants produce secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes to defend themselves against pests and diseases. An example is Artemisia annua, which produces compounds that inhibit fungi. Biochemical signaling is another key process where plants communicate through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metabolites. For instance, plants attacked by aphids emit signals to attract natural predators. Moreover, induced systemic resistance (ISR) is a mechanism in which bacteria and fungi like Pseudomonas fluorescens stimulate a plant’s immune system, enhancing its resistance to pathogens.
Ecological Succession Processes
Long-term soil evolution is not achieved through inputs but through a progressive succession of microorganisms and plants. Initially, pioneer bacteria colonize the soil, followed by fungi and, eventually, more complex systems. The creation of biofilms and fungal networks is essential for a living soil as they provide microbiological structure. For example, prickly pear mucilage and cactus extracts promote biofilm formation.
Organism Interaction Processes
Plant-microorganism mutualism extends beyond nitrogen fixation, also including nutrient transport through mycorrhizae. An example is Glomus intraradices, which improves phosphorus and water uptake. Antagonism between microorganisms is another key interaction where beneficial fungi and bacteria like Trichoderma harzianum displace soil pathogens. Moreover, the plant-insect interaction cycle shows that pests are not just problems but ecosystem responses. For instance, biochemical signaling can increase the presence of lacewings and ladybugs, natural predators of pests.
Agroecosystem Resilience: Adaptation and Strengthening
One of the greatest advantages of process-based agriculture is its ability to create resilient agroecosystems capable of withstanding adverse conditions, degraded soils, or water scarcity. Instead of relying on products whenever a problem arises, we foster biological diversity that reinforces the system at its root. Instead of adding products, we focus on strengthening the natural balance among the soil, plants, and microorganisms.
Soil and Crop Health
In a well-managed and evolved agroecosystem, crops do not depend on external interventions to stay healthy; instead, they sustain themselves through natural balance. Crops can generate their own immunity and produce the nutrients they need, thanks to microbiota and soil structure. We are not talking about a simple practice, but about a radical shift in how we view agriculture. Here, all fauna (macro, meso, and micro) becomes fundamentally important. This allows us to move away from temporary patches and build a truly healthy agricultural system.
Holistic Farm Management: The Farm as a Living System
For process-based agriculture to work, it is essential to adopt a holistic view of the farm. Every action we take affects the entire system, from the soil to the crops. This management approach involves minimizing dependence on external inputs and making the most of the farm’s natural resources, gaining adaptability and resilience while functioning harmoniously with its environment.
Resource Efficiency: Sustainable Production
Process-based agriculture focuses on maximizing efficiency, meaning lower costs and minimal environmental impact. Instead of adding more external nutrients, we optimize water use and preserve soil structure, enhancing the natural symbiosis between plants and microorganisms. For us, this has been a complete shift: we have achieved profitable production with low environmental impact, caring for the soil and conserving water—something that can be directly reflected in any farm’s financial balance.
Process-Based Agriculture vs. Conventional Agriculture
Unlike conventional agriculture, which relies on products like fertilizers and pesticides, process-based agriculture addresses problems at their root, understanding that crop diseases often stem from systemic imbalances. Instead of adding external elements to cover deficiencies, this approach strengthens the entire system, enabling farmers to reduce risks without compromising soil or microorganism health.
Process-based agriculture represents a convergence between technological processes in agriculture and ecological processes in sustainable farming, aiming to maximize productivity without compromising ecosystem balance. Over time, both traditional and modern technological processes in agriculture have improved agricultural productivity. However, the integration of automation into agriculture has not only increased efficiency but also changed humans’ relationship with the soil, reducing manual intervention and optimizing the use of natural resources.
In this context, it is crucial to analyze how agriculture affects deforestation processes, as agricultural intensification has been one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Therefore, process-based agriculture must be designed to balance production with soil regeneration and water use optimization, using practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and the implementation of biotechnologies focused on sustainability. The key is to develop resilient systems where technology and ecology work in synergy, thus ensuring food security without compromising the planet’s future.
Conclusion: A Promising Future for Agriculture
If you’ve made it this far, you are ready to take a leap toward a more conscious agriculture in harmony with the natural cycle. Process-based agriculture shows us a sustainable path where we do not depend on external inputs to achieve results. We invite you to visit our farms in Murcia and Almeria (Spain), where you can see how this way of working is already a reality, applicable to hundreds of hectares and dozens of crops. Contact us and take a look at our online courses to start working profitably, efficiently, and most importantly, sustainably.