Alberto Alfaro: “with Navarra 360 I’ve been able to resolve many doubts, especially around fertilisation”
The Miramón Alfaro farm in Cascante (Navarre) is moving towards a more sustainable model through Navarra 360, combining innovation, digitalisation and regenerative agriculture.
Natalia Miramón and Alberto Alfaro’s farming operation bases its winter cereal production on regenerative agriculture practices aimed at improving soil health, increasing farm efficiency and progressing towards a more resilient and sustainable agricultural model.
In this interview, Alfaro shares how the transition from conventional farming to a more sustainable approach has unfolded, what he has learnt through Navarra 360, and how these changes are already having an impact both on farm management and soil health.
Could you tell us about your background and the main challenge you were facing before joining Navarra 360?
Before joining Navarra 360, I was practising conventional farming and, following the droughts of 2022 and 2023, I decided to move towards conservation and regenerative agriculture. That same year, the programme was launched and I felt it aligned perfectly with the direction I wanted to take. So I decided to join because I thought it would benefit my farm and be better than trying to do it on my own.
What were the most important lessons, skills or connections you gained during the programme, and how have they influenced you?
This is my second year participating in the programme, with one more still to come. With Navarra 360 I’ve been able to resolve many doubts, especially around fertilisation. It has also helped me understand where I started from and how far we can go.
“Being part of EIT Food and Navarra 360 gives you access to events and a network of contacts that you may not have known before or had access to.”
How did the support and guidance from EIT Food influence the development of your business journey?
Being part of EIT Food and Navarra 360 gives you access to events, specialised training and a network of contacts that you may not have known about before or been able to access.
In addition, building relationships with the other participants and technicians, exchanging opinions and experiences, helps you avoid mistakes, or at least minimise them, which is extremely helpful when making decisions and approaching the transition with greater confidence.
How do you plan to apply the knowledge gained through Navarra 360 in the future?
There are things related to fertilisation that I’m applying already. I’d also like to learn more about microorganisms to test how they work and continue exploring different types of crop rotations to improve soil health. I’m even considering moving into training and education to help other farmers transition towards more sustainable and efficient farming practices.
“I’ve now been practising direct drilling for two years and the results have been positive. I think that if I had been on my own, it would have been much more difficult.”
What important achievement have you reached since taking part in the programme, and how did Navarra 360 contribute to this?
I’ve now been practising direct drilling for two years and the results have been positive. Aside from the climate conditions, Navarra 360 has also helped me adjust fertilisation according to what was already present in the soil. I think that if I had been on my own, it would have been much more difficult.
The first years are usually the most challenging and, despite that, we’ve managed to maintain our harvest levels, which is already an achievement because when you start with direct drilling the results can sometimes be very poor. However, thanks to what I’ve learnt and the support of other farmers, I’ve achieved a harvest similar to what I had with conventional farming, while reducing fuel and labour costs.
Who would you recommend Navarra 360 to, and what would you say to someone before they join?
If you want to move from conventional farming to regenerative agriculture or direct drilling, this is a programme that helps you make that transition in a much simpler way.
You also gain knowledge and tools that, in the long term, help you save time. The time you invest now will pay off in the future, as it enables you to improve as a farmer.
How does your business contribute to creating a positive impact in your community or within the food system?
With regenerative agriculture, you improve soil health and biodiversity, which ultimately is a shared good. That impact can already be seen in the analyses, where we are observing improvements in microorganisms, organic matter and soil nutrients.
You are not only leaving behind living, healthy soil for our generation, but also for future generations.
About EIT Food's Resilient Agriculture Portfolio
Resilient agriculture offers one of the greatest opportunities to help Europe address human and climate health, along with the financial well-being of farmers.
We have created a series of activities for farmers, agrifood businesses and consumers to scale regenerative practices in Europe. The aim is to spread knowledge and outcomes of our project to build a European regenerative farming community.
The impact of this work can already be seen across Europe. Through the ScaleUp programme alone, more than 2,900 farmers and agronomists from 14 countries have gained the knowledge and support needed to implement regenerative practices. Their experiences and outcomes are highlighted in the ScaleUp Impact Report.