Project Overview:
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The agricultural sector in Sri Lanka, which incorporates both organic and conventional farming, confronts the problem of determining essential soil components accurately. Notably, organic cultivators, who harness natural techniques like compost and crop rotation, find it challenging due to a lack of specific soil composition details. This deficiency compromises the efficient use of resources, particularly in fertilizer application, and inhibits the valuation of their produce's environmental benefits, referred to as Primary Ecosystem Services (PES) [1].
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In response, the Earth Restoration LifeForce Project endeavors to offer clear investment opportunities in biological assets and their associated governance. It prompts landowners to partake in restoration activities by monetizing the PES derived from their land that benefits the wider community. This innovative approach incorporates a certified method, endorsed by both international and local professionals, to measure human contributions to PES [2].
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This initiative introduces advanced agricultural solutions that meld monitoring with automation, designed to meet the needs of the farming community. By utilizing patent-pending, IoT-equipped tools, farmers can observe conditions instantaneously, preempt problems, and make informed choices to enhance crop productivity. This technology enables users to oversee their agricultural areas remotely and determine best practices for maximizing profitability—through minimizing crop waste, judicious resource use, and bolstering crop output [3].
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A pivotal focus of this project is the promotion of biomass to capture carbon and diminish atmospheric carbon – aligning with vital climate action goals. Furthermore, it augments PES, vital for temperature management, which will become increasingly significant for agriculture in the context of global warming. The project emphasizes long-lasting crops and evolved agricultural terrains, utilizing natural cooling methods to minimize crop losses from excessive heat. It protects agricultural outputs by mitigating heat stress, accentuating the role of plant-powered evaporation and transpiration in freshwater generation [4].
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Powered by photosynthesis, the Contracted Primary Ecosystem Services (C-PES) model forms the basis for the management of "tree-farming," rejuvenating ancestral farming systems. This endeavor introduces a novel approach to instill value in current agricultural economies through a blend of digital and traditional financial tools, protected by blockchain[5]. Over 50 pan-tropical tree types are cultivated, with their biomass growth scientifically authenticated via the Photosynthetic Biomass Verification (PBV) application.
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The project's modus operandi includes advocating for investments in contracted tree-UNITS on agricultural lands to proliferate leaf coverage and amplify C-PES output. Meticulous surveillance, informed by a certified methodological paradigm, evaluates the ongoing carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and groundwater release. Some of the commendable outcomes are motivating cultivators to introduce trees-on-farms under contract, enhancing soil quality, and adapting regional environments to counteract the rising impacts of climate change [6].
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Consistent with Sri Lanka's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and possessing global adaptability, the project's analog forestry practice is instrumental in transitioning towards organic cultivation while curbing climate change impacts[7]. It proposes an inclusive and enduring solution to the multifaceted challenges besieging organic farming and the overarching global climate emergency.
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Through blockchain-secured records, the project transparently exhibits its positive contributions. Comprehensive strategies have been devised to relay the project's achievements to the community and share its results with potential collaborators, both within and outside of Sri Lanka. The ambition is to engage a broad audience, stimulate other initiatives, and encourage partnerships with varied entities.
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To date, over 100,000 Sri Lankan farmers have been directly informed about the benefits of our advanced, data-informed, precision agricultural solutions. Our methods have been effectively integrated into the world's inaugural Analog Forest and selected 30 agribusinesses, specializing in specific crops during our initial trials, resulting in significant cost reductions between 15%-20% [8].
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Presently, efforts are underway to secure 400,000 USDs for the production of 1,000 IoT instruments designed to relay data to our web and mobile platforms.
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References:
[1] Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). "Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis." World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.
[2] FAO (2019). "The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture." Rome.
[3] Jayaratne, R. (2018). "IoT and its Application in Precision Agriculture: Sri Lanka as a Case Study." University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
[4] Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka (2019). "Climate-Smart Agriculture in Sri Lanka: Current Actions and Support."
[5] Tapscott, D., & Tapscott, A. (2016). "Blockchain revolution: how the technology behind bitcoin is changing money, business, and the world." Penguin.
[6] Sri Lanka Climate Change Adaptation Program (2020). "Tree Cultivation and Carbon Sequestration Benefits in Sri Lanka."
[7] UNFCCC (2015). "Sri Lanka’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions."
[8] Weerakoon, W.M.W., & Marikar, F.M.M.T. (2008). "Use of Precision Agriculture Technologies in the Semi-Arid Farming Systems in Sri Lanka." Tropical Agricultural Research, 20.
