“The Climate Positive Leaders Program will enable us to advance and inspire more individuals and businesses to adopt good environmental management practices. In addition, it would give our region the well-deserved recognition for being a land of opportunities and constant innovation.”As an agricultural engineer, Pia and her team at La Criolla actively implement environmental management practices across both the livestock and crop production portions of the business. Crop rotation is required to optimize soil nutrients and combat pest and weed pressure while improving yields and productivity. Integrated pest management practices, compost and manure application as well as frequent testing have enabled the team to reduce the use of fertilizers and crop protection products over time.
Improving the overall biodiversity of the ranch while reducing emissions is a key component of Pia’s efforts to advance sustainability. Over the past two years, 1,200 trees have been planted around the farmhouses and feed lots, with a goal of planting approximately 500 trees each year. The goal of the agroforestry project is to build a carbon sink, improve air quality, and establish biodiversity corridors to support bird and wildlife habitats.
