Restoring degraded soil biodiversity with restorative farming methods

Overview

Fourth Wave Technology Inc, based in Atlanta, is developing regenerative agriculture solutions to restore degraded soil biodiversity and improve farming outcomes. The company's flagship product, Soil Enhance 3 in 1, is designed to repair soil through sustainable farming practices, with the goal of restoring biodiversity and richness. By enhancing water management, increasing carbon capture in the soil, and boosting micronutrients and crop yields, the solution addresses critical challenges in food and farming systems. The approach also emphasizes ecologically sustainable pest management to protect crops while preserving natural habitats, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides alone.

Technical specifications

Key features and benefits:

• Soil Enhance 3 in 1 enhances water management, increases soil carbon capture, and improves micronutrient availability and crop yields
• Improves soil porosity, enhancing fertilizer and water infiltration
• Reduces irrigation needs by up to 30 percent
• Prevents runoff of water and fertilizers
• Supports ecologically sustainable pest management approaches alongside biopesticides
• Digital ecosystem planned as a mobile app enabling smallholder farmers to purchase approved inputs including biopesticides, fertilizers, and soil and water management products
• Connects farmers with a network of approved partners for input procurement

Pilot program details:

• Targets smallholding farmers in Zambia and South Africa
• Encourages adoption of regenerative and ecologically sustainable pest management practices
• Ensures compliance with approved Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) and Prescribed Preharvest Interval (PHI) standards on crops
• Pilot duration is approximately one year

Technology readiness level

Soil Enhance 3 in 1 and the associated regenerative farming methods are positioned for pilot validation. The company is actively seeking partnerships in biopesticides and funding to support the technology and execute a one-year pilot with smallholder farmers in Zambia or South Africa. This pilot will assess current farming methods used by smallholders and introduce regenerative practices alongside the digital ecosystem for input procurement. The initiative builds on Fourth Wave Technology's existing collaboration with USAID on agriculture sector transformation in Southern Africa, which focuses on SME advisory services and agricultural export facilitation. The current stage involves seeking collaborators and funding to advance from concept validation to field demonstration.