From No-Till to Regenerative Agriculture: Transforming Bulgaria’s Soil & Farms Part 2

Send us Fan MailWhat if regenerative agriculture is more than restoring what we've lost, and instead means continually improving the living capacity of our farms, communities, and ecosystems?In Part 2 of this Harvesting Wisdom podcast, Mike McMahon and Bulgarian regenerative agriculture advocate, Petya Ivanova, take a broader look at what it means to create lasting change in agriculture and society.The conversation begins with Bulgaria's diverse soils and long agricultural history before expanding into the larger systems that influence farming, including economics, food prices, government policy, education, and consumer awareness.Petya explains why she sees regeneration as a universal principle. One that can apply not only to agriculture, but also to economic and social systems. She discusses why meaningful change must begin at the individual level and how farmers, consumers, educators, nonprofits, and communities can work together to move sustainable practices into the mainstream.Mike and Petya also discuss the importance of education and storytelling and student-focused agricultural education. The conversation concludes with Petya's goals for the future, including reducing pesticide and fertilizer dependence among no-till farmers and reaching the agricultural tipping point where regenerative and conservation practices become increasingly widespread.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:🌱 Why regeneration means more than simply restoring damaged land🌎 How regenerative principles can apply beyond agriculture💰 How economic pressures influence farming decisions🚜 Why farmers often face difficult short-term versus long-term choices📚 Why education can be a powerful driver of agricultural change🤝 How farmer networks and communities can accelerate the transition🌾 Why no-till, regenerative, and organic farmers can contribute to a larger movement♻️ How reducing external inputs can support more resilient agricultural systems🧠 Why meaningful change starts with awareness and individual decisions🌍 Why reaching a tipping point could help regenerative practices become a broader movementLEARN MORE ABOUT ABNTThe Association of Bulgarian No-Tillers (ABNT) works to support the development and understanding of no-till, conservation, and regenerative agricultural practices in Bulgaria through farmer education, knowledge sharing, community building, and initiatives supporting agricultural transition.Learn more about ABNT, their mission, and their initiatives:https://abnt.bg/CHAPTERS00:00 – Bulgaria's soils and agricultural history02:13 – Soil degradation, sustainability, and farming economics03:42 – Regenerative capitalism and systems thinking04:18 – Regeneration as a universal principle05:09 – Korean Natural Farming and closed-loop systems09:10 – Economic pressures and the challenge of changing agriculture12:02 – Why change needs to come from the bottom up19:43 – Petya's vision for the next three years20:15 – Reducing pesticide and fertilizer dependence20:29 – The agricultural tipping point21:26 – Why success stories can accelerate change22:35 – Looking toward the future of regenerative agricultureIf you’re interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable farming, soil health, agricultural education, food systems, or community-driven environmental change, this conversation offers a hopeful look at how individual decisions can contribute to larger systemic change.Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with farmers, researchers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities, more resilient food systems, and a more sustainable future.