Kalleske is the oldest certified organic and biodynamic vineyard, farm and winery in the Barossa, having now been certified for a quarter-of-a-century. As well as organic and biodynamic, all farming practices are sustainable and regenerative. Regenerative agriculture has been around for some time but only more recently the term has come to the fore.
The term ‘regenerative organic agriculture’ was coined by Robert Rodale, of the Rodale Institute (Pennsylvania, USA), to distinguish a kind of farming that goes beyond simply ‘sustainable.’ The Rodale Institute is a pioneer in this field, back in 1942 founder, J.I. Rodale, wrote “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People”.
According to Rodale, Regenerative Organic Agriculture means agriculture improving the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them. It is a holistic systems approach to farming that encourages continual innovation for environmental, social, and economic well-being. The goals of Regenerative Organic Agriculture are to increase soil organic matter over time, improve animal welfare, provide economic stability and fairness for farmers, and workers, and create resilient regional ecosystems and communities.
The environmental outcomes of a systemic shift to regenerative organic agricultural practices could be profound. In 2014, research by Rodale Institute estimated that if current crop acreage and pastureland shifted to regenerative organic practices, 100% of annual global CO2 emissions could be sequestered in the soil*. The Cornell University found that through regenerative agriculture as soil health improves, input requirements decrease, and crop yields increase as soils are more resilient against extreme weather and harbor fewer pests and pathogens.
The Kalleske property has embraced and practiced regenerative agriculture for decades. The organic/biodynamic vineyard and farm practices (cover crops, composts, etc) ensure a healthy soil with plenty of organic matter and natural biodiversity. Hundreds of native trees and shrubs have been planted increasing biosequestration and providing a refuge for native birds, insects and other critters as well as shelter for the livestock. The winery is self-sufficient with its own solar power and rainwater supply. Organic waste (skins, stalks) is composted and returned to the soil. Glass bottles and cardboard is recycled. Here at Kalleske, regenerative agriculture is the natural way of doing things to ensure the future is bright.
*Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Climate Change https://rodaleinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/rodale-white-paper.pdf