New AGROSAVIA handbook available: a practical guide to make compost and improve soil fertility

• The publication is aimed at small and medium-sized producers seeking sustainable alternatives to manage organic residues, reduce fertilizer costs, and improve soil quality.

Mosquera, Cundinamarca. April 4, 2025. AGROSAVIA presents the Composting Guide for Farmers, a resource designed to help agricultural producers transform agricultural and livestock residues into high-quality organic fertilizers. This handbook offers accessible and affordable techniques adapted to Colombian rural conditions. It was developed within the framework of the project "Improving Soil Fertility through Bovine Manure Composting in the Colombian High Tropics," led by the Tibaitatá Research Center and funded by Kolfaci (Korea-Latin America Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative) of the Republic of Korea.

German Estrada Bonilla, PhD Researcher at the Tibaitatá Research Center and co-author of the publication, mentioned, "The handbook is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized agricultural producers seeking to improve the management of organic matter produced on their farms through composting. This material offers clear and practical information, enabling producers to implement sustainable strategies for valorizing agricultural and livestock byproducts. Furthermore, by targeting this segment of producers, the handbook emphasizes accessible, low-cost techniques using locally available inputs, promoting a transition toward more circular and resilient agriculture."

The handbook aims to foster agroecological and circular economy practices, promoting the valorization of organic agricultural byproducts generated in agricultural and livestock activities. Producers can transform these residues into organic fertilizers through composting, reducing their dependence on synthetic fertilizers, which can be costly and potentially generate negative impacts on the soil and ecosystems.

For Estrada, "In terms of sustainability, this handbook helps reduce the negative impact of poor organic residue disposal, allows producers to save money on synthetic fertilizers, and improves soil quality in the long term, reducing costs associated with soil degradation."

Click here to learn more about this educational tool that will help you make your production more profitable and sustainable.