Objectives - Return on Ecology

indigenous-cover-crops-vineyards-stellenbosch

providing-cohesive-data-based-management-plans

Return on Ecology facilitates a cohesive approach to land management, integrating soil, crop and water sampling, climate data, conservation data, waste management and socio-economic principles to promote sustainability.

Facilitating-communication-scientific-design-emergent-activities

All industries and agricultural sectors already have role players who are making revolutionary strides in regenerative work. Their own activities often limit their capacity to communicate it with a cohesive narrative and sufficient experimental controls. They are also eager to share the lessons learned. RoE is creating a collaborative verification process, database and relational network in the various industries (wine, fruit, industrial development, urban development) where the scientific, economic and narrative pros and cons of interventions can be shared, as part of a reputable brand. This database and web interface will tell the story of nation-wide experiments and connect those who are experienced with those eager to experiment in regenerative work in soil and water.

facilitating-on-the-ground-near-retirement-knowledge

There are many consultants, business owners and farmers who have knowledge that will be lost, since educational institutions transfer complex knowledge rather than practical guidance. RoE aims to create bite-sized educational workshops developed in the NQF framework, capturing this type of knowledge.

The target clientele includes:

emergent farmers starting from scratch, without generational knowledge, and need a ‘father/mother figure’ for advice on climate data, soil science, crop science or water systems,
business owners relooking at their waste management plan, or
employers looking to upskill seasonal workers with these land management and development skills, with an ecosystems perspective. The above-mentioned database and web interface will be the container to ‘catch’ and communicate the knowledge.

The Institute will be responsible for mobilising grant, CSI and local and international development funds and tenders, for projects related to regenerative land management and urban development. The aim is the regeneration of local soils and water sources.