Here’s how the Amish revolutionised organic farming in Africa… without as much as a high school qualification

Let’s start by saying, the Amish aren’t exactly who you would expect to revolutionise anything, except maybe how to match different shades of black or how to spruce up your hat… with more black. That being said, they are known for two things, farming and reading the bible. So when we came across this success story, on world food day nogal, we just had to tell you all about it.

It all started with with a man named Jonathan Kempf. Now, Jonathan was a simple man, a modest farmer doing what generations had done before him. After decades of using artificial fertilizers to keep production going on his farm, Kempf began noticing that his crops, even when being fertilized, began slowly dropping in yield until it got to a point where he would have had to sell his family farm.

This is when 18-year old Jonathan, who dropped out of high school to take over the farm, jumped into action. He started reading up on biology, chemistry, and agronomy in an attempt to save his crops, and what he found led not only to that, but the start of a global shift in how organic farming is done.

See, Kempf realised that, as with human beings, plants have immune systems that are reliant on certain vitamins and minerals to function properly; and that, if supplemented with the right organic nutrients, plants develop natural defenses against pests. Now, I think it’s safe to say that almost all agriculture is focused on one thing and one thing only, yield. Thing is, artificial fertilizers are not meant to boost the plants immune system, they’re only there to boost yield, leading to a depleted crop and poor soil quality.

Jonathan Kempf went on to start his own company, Advancing Eco Agriculture, and his model is replicated throughout Africa, where farmers are getting involved in regenerative farming and making use of organic, wholesome methods to boost production. All the while maintaining healthy crops and nutrient-rich soil.