Good and Green
The Good and Green Podcast, hosted by sustainability advocate Chit Juan, was created for the purpose of helping social entrepreneurs overcome challenges and grow impactful ventures that drive meaningful change. Each week, we share the tools, strategies, and stories that empower changemakers to build businesses with purpose. Whether you're launching your dream social enterprise or looking for fresh inspiration, this podcast is your go-to space for practical insights and uplifting conversations. Let's create a brighter, more sustainable future together!
Good and Green
Episode 34: Regenerative Farming is the New Success Formula with Nicolo Aberasturi
How do we bring dead soil back to life?
In this episode, sustainability advocate Chit Juan sits down with Nicolo Aberasturi, President of Banhaw Agriculture and a longtime champion of regenerative farming in the tropics. Together, they unpack how small farms can thrive by working with nature — not against it — and how compost, ruminants, and indigenous wisdom all play a role in soil health and food security. Whether you’re a landowner, a backyard gardener, or a budding agri-preneur, this episode will show you how regenerative farming can be a powerful, scalable, and deeply Filipino solution.
GUEST BIO:
Nicolo Aberasturi, President of Banhaw Agriculture, is a farmer with over 20 years of experience in tropical agriculture who now champions tropical regenerative farming. His soil-centric systems combine biodynamic soil building, a closed-loop philosophy that produces inputs on-site and promotes biodiversity, and scalable models tailored for small tropical farms. By blending traditional knowledge with regenerative practices, his approach empowers farmers with low-cost, climate-resilient solutions that enhance ecological health, productivity, and community resilience while minimizing environmental harm.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- What regenerative agriculture means and why it goes beyond organic.
- How tilling and heavy rainfall damage soil in tropical regions.
- Lessons from indigenous farming practices and permaculture design.
- Why compost, ruminants, and microbes are key to healthy soil.
- How to build small-scale integrated farms using free on-farm resources.
- Strategies to help landowners and young farmers shift to regenerative models.
- Balancing technology and tradition in urban and rural agriculture.
QUOTES:
- Regenerative is farming in a way wherein you utilize nature's abundance in your area. — Nicolo Aberasturi
- We have to practice ways wherein we try to conserve the soil, and the more we need to be building soil on a regular basis. — Nicolo Aberasturi
- For these small family farms to thrive, there has to be an integrated system. You have to integrate livestock and crops. — Nicolo Aberasturi
- The best teacher is experience. Start right away even with a bed of vegetables. That will give you more knowledge than watching a thousand YouTube videos. — Nicolo Aberasturi
LINKS or RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Connect with Nicolo Aberasturi on:
- Down to Earth Website - https://downtoearth.ph
- Down to Earth Philippines on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/downtoearthphiippines/
- Banhaw Agriculture Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554836439999
- Banhaw Agriculture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/banhawagriculture
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