Johannes Zauner

Johannes Zauner works on his farm according to the system of conservation agriculture, which was defined by the FAO with three principles. The focus is on maintaining and developing healthy soil. The three principles include minimising soil disturbance through direct sowing, permanent soil cover through crop residues and plant species diversity in the crop rotation and catch crops. There is little to no tillage in order to leave the soil structure untouched. The permanent soil cover provided by the mulch layer protects the soil from heat, drying out and erosion, while intensive intertillage, companion planting and undersowing ensure plant species diversity on the farm. For him, healthy soil means stable yields even in extreme weather conditions and also helps to promote biodiversity: From wild bees and ground beetles to ground-nesting birds such as skylarks and lapwings - they all find suitable habitats on his land. Conservation agriculture has also enabled Zauner to greatly reduce the use of inputs and diesel on his farm, which brings economic and ecological benefits.