In practice, some progressive Slovenian farmers have found that traditional tillage methods with intensive tillage sooner or later lead to increased humus depletion, a decrease in the biological activity of the soil, an increase in erosion with soil degradation and loss of productivity, and compaction in the subsoil. We realized that we had to change the mentality of agricultural production if we wanted to give farmers the opportunity to survive on the land and practice sustainable, economically viable agriculture. We realized that anchoring conservation agriculture in general agricultural practice depends heavily on the dissemination of information and the exchange of experience between the producers themselves, as well as on the connection with the professional community. We realized that Slovenia needs an organizational form that brings all actors together and facilitates the establishment of such connections in the future.Finally, after a year of preparations, we established SZOK in Jan 2016.
Achievements and milestones
- Mar 8, 2018 SZOK becomes a member of the ECAF
- Jan 2019: first introduction of CA in the Slovenian CAP after 2020: we proposed the inclusion of a separate voluntary measure in direct payments to better achieve the goals of sustainable agriculture: Conservation agriculture. This would significantly reduce the administrative burden, as conservation agriculture as a whole is easier to monitor, control and measure the impact.
- March 2019: National Consultation: Conservation agriculture (CA) – the basis for the development of sustainable agriculture, with guests: Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Amir Kassam, Prof. Gottlieb Basch, Prof. Emilio J. Gonzalez-Sanchez.
- March 2019: Organisation of the ECAF General Assembly in Slovenia
- 2019 – on-going: Numerous presentations in national media (TV, radio, newspapers and magazines); SZOK activities at national agricultural fairs
- 2022: Establishment of a voluntary educational programme on CA for farmers
- 2022: Active participation in the 8WCCA (World Congress) in Bern, SCH (online).
- 2023: SZOK was partially successful in introducing CA into the national CAP (only induvidual measures – this was seen as a disappointment by our most ardent members).
- June 2023: Slovenian President publishes a brochure »Save the Soil«, presenting CA as the main solution
- 2023- on: SZOK becomes a partner of research and educational projects at national and EU level.
- Current situation: The management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development supports the CA programme, which complies with all EU commitments on green transition policy, but we have not yet penetrated the official programme in its entirety (as a comprehensive measure) because the policy is led by lobbyists who do not want to give up their privileges. We also don’t have enough support from our fellow scientists and experts, but we have educated the new generations so that the future is in CA.
- The CA farming community is slowly growing.
Current status
Farmers are aware of CA, and in some regions (where most of our arable land is located) they now avoid ploughing and also use cover crops. The use of no-till and strip-till is still in the experimental phase. There are only a few genuine no-till machines in Slovenia. The problems are weeds due to the humid, warm climate.
National policies
The leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development support the CA programme which corresponds to all the EU’s commitments to the green transition policy, but we have not yet penetrated the official programme in its entirety (as a comprehensive measure).
Contact information
Contact information:
- Address: Periška cesta 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- E-mail: drustvo.szoort@gmail.com
- Web: https://www.ohranitveno-kmetijstvo.si/
President:
- Name: Rok Mihelič
- Address: Loško 55, 1380 Cerknica, Slovenia
- Telephone: +386 40795561
- E-mail: rok.mihelic@bf.uni-lj.si
