Regenera Osa

The aim of this proposal is to evaluate the soil biodiversity, crop production, and financial profitability of Conventional Agriculture (CA) and Regenerative Agriculture (RA) systems in the Osa Peninsula, to assess the potential for economic and environmental resilience in the region. The necessity for a paradigm shift, due to vulnerability to external input dependency and economic instability amidst the climate crisis, becomes urgent. It is argued that Regenerative Agriculture, by restoring soil function and reducing chemical dependency, offers concrete pathways to improved financial viability and long-term cost savings. There is a significant empirical void in the scientific literature regarding the productive and economic performance of RA within an agroecological and socioeconomic context like the Osa Peninsula. This study will provide applied scientific information to evaluate a model of economic and environmental resilience against pressures such as the expansion of industrial agriculture.
The research will focus on an empirical comparison of production systems (CA and RA) across three main axes: i) Productivity and Yield: Crop production yield (such as cocoa, African oil palm, and forest species) will be calculated using counting methodologies and specific formulas for each crop type, ii) Financial Profitability: The total production cost will be estimated (including inputs, labor, and equipment). Profitability will be measured using economic indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), with data collected for one year and projected over five years, iii) Soil Biodiversity: The biological diversity of the soil in the selected plots will be compared using metagenomic analysis. This involves DNA extraction and sequencing on the Illumina platform for the bioinformatic analysis of bacteria and fungi.

Evaluar la i) biodiversidad del suelo, ii) producción de cultivos y ii) rentabilidad financiera; de sistemas agroalimentarios en la Península de Osa, comparando entre sistemas de Agricultura Convencional y Regenerativa, para una valoración del potencial económico y ambiental de las parcelas en estudio

Biodiversidad