Biomimicry in agriculture: Nature-Inspired Solutions for a Greener Future

Presentation made for the Webinar Series on Biomimicry for sustainability on 1st June 2024 organized by Green Building Council Sri Lanka

1. •Introduction
•From Natural Ecosystems to Agro-Ecosystems
•Present situation of major agro-ecosystems in Sri Lanka
•Recommendations for transformation to agro-ecosystems
•Rice field agro-ecosystem
•Evergreen agro-ecosystem concept
•Boundary Green Avenue Concept
•Home garden intensification
•Activities to establish tea, rubber and coconut agro-eco systems
Biomimicry and Sustainable Agriculture: Nature-
Inspired Solutions for a Greener Future
Presentation made for the Webinar Series on Biomimicry for
sustainability on 1
st
June 2024
Dr. P.B. Dharmasena, [email protected]

2. Evolution of small agricultural societies in Sri Lanka
Wild-life
Customs
Natural disasters
External invasions
Pre-agrarian society
Discipline
Traditions Sharing
Rearing
Farming
Water
Protection
Beliefs Food
Foraging Society
Practices Gathering
Hunting
Agrarian society
Trading
Industries
Agriculture Culture
Technology
Politics
Leadership
Transport
CHALLENGE SOCIETY STRATEGY OUTCOME

4. •Biomimicry: A new term for ancient
wisdom?
•Biomimicry or Biomimetics
–the imitation of natural models,
systems, and elements to solve
multifaceted human issues.
•In ancient Greek language bios = life,
mīmēsis = imitation
•The concept of modern biomimicry
was first introduced in 1982
•A book published in 1997
"Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by
Nature". Janine Benyus
MODERN BIOMIMICRY

6. Natural ecosystems have evolved to survive in many challenging
landscapes. Over millions of years they have tried, tested, and
optimized strategies for surviving droughts, floods, and plagues.
Innovative farmers are learning from native ecosystems to design
resilient landscapes which clean rivers, reverse climate change,
and provide more stable food production.
Example: Mangrove
ecosystem
Mangroves have special
adaptations to take in extra
oxygen and to remove salt,
which allow them to tolerate
conditions that would kill most
plants.
Can we study this natural
ecosystem to improve saltwater
farming?

7. What is Biomimicry in Agriculture?
•The imitation of natural
models, systems, and
elements to solve issues in
agriculture.
•Transform present
agricultural production
models to agro-ecosystem
models
•Learn from natural
ecosystem models and
develop agro-ecosystem
models

Hydrophobicity of the lotus leaf for storage and
transportation of fruits and vegetables

8. Agricultural Ecosystems in Sri Lanka
•Total extent of agricultural lands – 2,812,000 ha
•The agricultural landscape of the country consists
of mainly:
– Rice paddies - 983,550 ha
–Plantation crops
•Tea – 228,118 ha
•Rubber – 186,334 ha
•Coconut – 208,368 ha
•Sugarcane – 28,808 ha
–Field crops – 307,311 ha
–Home gardens – 839,124 ha

9. Agro-ecosystems selected
•Rice fields
•Field crop cultivation
•Home gardens
•Tea plantation
•Rubber plantation
•Coconut plantation

10. Teachings of the natural ecosystems
Characteristics of the Natural
Ecosystems
•Mixture of species (rich
biodiversity)
•Canopy stratification
•Root depth variation
•Micro-climate creation
•Natural soil fertility
enhancement
•Improved soil microbial
activities
•Resilience to natural
disasters
•Enhanced C sequestration

11. Biomimicry levels of Major Agro-Ecosystems in Sri Lanka
Biomimicry factor Rice Field crops Home gardens Tea Rubber Coconut
Mixture of species (rich
biodiversity)
L M H L M M
Canopy stratification L M H L M M
Root depth variation L M H L M L
Micro-climate creation L L H L H H
Natural soil fertility
enhancement
M M H L M M
Improved soil microbial
activities
M M H M H H
Resilience to natural
disasters
L

L M L M M
Enhanced C
sequestration
M L M L H H
– High – Moderate – Low H M L
A Situation Analysis

12. Recommendations for transformation
Natural Ecosystem Agro-ecosystem Recommendation for Bio-
mimicry
Solar energy only – no
additional energy
input
Solar energy plus energy
from food (labour) and
fossil fuels (machinery
and transport
Green energy* - Use solar
energy plus energy (electricity)
derived from natural energy
sources.
Lower productivity Higher productivity Sustainable and optimum
productivity
More species diversity Less species diversity Boundary Green Avenue
Concept to increase diversity
introducing more species
More genetic diversity
within a species
Less genetic diversity
within a species

Introduce varieties adaptable to
natural stresses (water shortage,
excess moisture, pest and high
winds)
Green energy* The energy that can be produced using a method, and from a
source, that causes no harm to the natural environment.

13. Recommendations for transformation
Natural Ecosystem Agro-ecosystem Recommendation for
Bio-mimicry
Nutrients are recycled
naturally within the
ecosystem with little
addition from outside
Natural recycling is more
limited and supplemented
by the addition of
artificial fertilizers
Add more organic
matter sources in-situ.
“Evergreen Agro-
ecosystems” concept
Populations are
controlled by natural
means such as
competition and climate
Populations are
controlled by both natural
means and by use of
pesticides and cultivation
Use bio-pesticides and
adapt ecological
farming
It is a natural climax
community
It is an artificial
community prevented
from reaching its natural
climax
Adopt Agro-forestry
approach

14. Types of Rice Field Agro-Ecosystems in Sri Lanka
1.Irrigated environments, which have sufficient water
available during the entire growing season, with controlled
shallow water depth between 5 to 10 cm.
2.Rain-fed lowland environments, which are mainly
dependant on the duration of rainfall and hence with an
uncontrolled shallow water depth, ranging from 1- 50 cm.
3.Deep water environments, which are unbunded fields with
maximum sustainable water depths from 0.5 m to 3 m.
4.Rain-fed upland environments, which are bunded or
unbunded fields with no surface or rhizosphere water
accumulation.
5.Tidal wetlands, which are located near the sea coasts and
inland estuaries, and are influenced by tides.

15. Controlling soil
erosion through
bunding and
terracing
Reducing the impact
of drought through
water retention and
groundwater
replenishment
Regulating the
runoff through
the drainage
system
Reducing the effect
of dry wind
through live fence
and green hedges
Regulating flood
through rainwater
absorption and
excess water
drainage
Regulating Services
Goods and Services from Improved Rice Field
Agro-ecosystem

16. Provisioning Services Providing green
manure from live
fence and green
hedges
Providing nutritional
and healthy food by
growing medicinal rice
Providing habitats
for predators
Goods and Services from Improved Rice Field
Agro-ecosystem

17. Support to human
health (nutrients,
medicine, moist and
shady and pollution
free environment)
Support
enrichment of soil
micro-organisms
Support to assure a steady
income from increased
cropping intensity and crop
diversification
Supporting Services
Goods and Services from Improved Rice Field
Agro-ecosystem

18. Aesthetic beauty of
the surrounding
Social cohesion and
happiness by working
together
Less disturbance
to neighbours
Gathering for
traditional rituals
Cultural Services
Goods and Services from Improved Rice Field
Agro-ecosystem
Education and
ecotourism

19. Evergreen Agro-ecosystems Concept
- Main features
•Cultivation of crops with different duration to keep green cover even
during the harvesting stage of one crop;
•Cultivation of crops leaving zero fallow period of the land;
•Farming models, which combine seasonal, semi-perennial and perennial
crops ensuring the green cover around the year;
•Green manure plants such as gliricidia, adathoda, erithrina, thespesia etc.
are grown as hedges with strict frequency of pruning;
•Shade management is adopted to minimize light competition and to
maintain the crop land with evergreen situation; and
•Live fence is maintained with plants to create a stratification enabling to
act as wind barrier as well as favourable micro-climate in the crop field.

20. Benefits of Evergreen Agro-ecosystem
•Year round soil cover protection and increased soil
organic matter
•Improved plant nutrition via nitrogen fixation nutrient
cycling
•Ecologically sound control of insect pests and weeds
•Enhanced soil structure and soil water recharge
•Increased food production
•Increased production of non-food products such as oil,
fodder, fuel and medicines
•Increased landscape carbon sequestration
•Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity

21. 2050 Carbon Net Zero Road Map
Evergreen agro-ecosystem concept for Rice field
and Field crop agro-ecosystems
Total paddy extent in Sri Lanka – 0.984 mil. ha
Total field crop extent in Sri Lanka – 0.307 mil. ha
•Mixture of species (rich
biodiversity)
•Canopy stratification
•Root depth variation
•Micro-climate creation
•Natural soil fertility
enhancement
•Improved soil microbial
activities
•Resilience to natural
disasters
•Enhanced C sequestration

Green hedges for rice and field crops agro-
ecosystems

22. Nutrient composition of Manure Plants
Plant name Scientific term N % P % K %
Gliricidia Gliricidia sepium 4.6 0.2 1.45-2.95
Wild
sunflower
Helianthus annuus 4.7 0.4 2.15-4.20
Citronella Cymbopogon nardus 0.77 0.40 1.08
Adathoda Adathoda vasica 5.04 0.13 3.00-4.50
Erythrina Erythrina variegata 5.21 0.32 0.92-2.88
Keppetiya Croton laccifer 3.5 0.2 1.25-1.85
Thespesia Thespesia populnea 3.4 0.3 2.3
Water
hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes 2.56 1.7 1.57-2.58
Azolla Azolla filiculoides 4.5 0.9 2.00-4.50
venture

23. Boundary Green Avenue Concept
Large
canopy
Medium
canopy
Low
canopy
Ground layer
Creepers
Ground cover
Roots and
tubers

24. Boundary Green Avenue for Rice Fields and Field Crop
Agro-ecosystems
Large
canopy
Medium
canopy
Low
canopy
Ground layer
Creepers
Ground cover
Roots and
tubers
Aegle marmelos, Wood
apple, Neem, Mango,
Coconut
Papaya, Drumstick, Kathuru
(Sesbania grandiflora), Anguna, Wingedbean, Passion fruits,
Guava,
Pomegranate,
Soursop
Gotukola (Centella asiatica),
Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera
sessilis),
Ginger, turmeric,
vegetables
Potato, Sweet potato, carrot

25. Food – Forest Garden
•Characteristics
–Diversity of crops
–Forest effect
–Multi layer architecture
–Shade management
–Nutrient recycling
–Moisture sharing
–Micro-climate
–Habitats
–Pest control
–Livestock integration
–Aesthetic beauty
Boundary Green Avenue Concept

26. Intensification of Home Gardens
1.Mixture of species (rich
biodiversity)
2.Canopy stratification
3.Root depth variation
4.Micro-climate creation
5.Natural soil fertility
enhancement
6.Improved soil microbial
activities
7.Resilience to natural
disasters
8.Enhanced C sequestration

1.Increased biodiversity
2.Filling gaps with species of different
canopy cover
3.Filling gaps with species of different
Root depths
4.Micro-climate creation
5.Soil fertility is enhanced by adding
pruned and lopped plant debris
6.Providing favourable environment soil
microbes
7.Tree canopy structure will act as wind
break, preserve soil moisture
8.C sequestration can be increased
remarkably

Natural Ecosystem

27. Intensification Targets for Carbon Stock Improvement in
Home Gardens
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055
C Million MT

Year

28. Home garden intensification
Climate Zone Home Garden
extent (ha)
Carbon Stock in home gardens
(MT mil.)
2021 2030
target
2050
target
Dry zone 436,328 4,363 15,272 23,998
Wet zone 219,843 10,553 19,125 31,877
Intermediate zone 187,190 5,429 11,419 18,719
Total 843,361 20,345 45,816 74.594
C stock can be increased by 267 % by the year 2050
through Home Garden Intensification

29. Activities to establish tea agro-ecosystems
•Physical - Repairing stone bunds and
lock and spill drains, SALT, leader
drains and gully conservation measures
•Establishment – In-filling, replanting
•Intercropping - Planting Pepper,
Cardamom, Mandarin, Cloves, Oranges,
Coffee, Vanilla etc., in vacant spaces in
tea lands.
•Weeding - Manual weeding, loppings of
green manure crops and grasses, soft
weeds as mulch
•Shade management – to optimize light
penetration, micro-climate

30. Activities to establish tea agro-ecosystems
•Live fence – Food forest garden concept
•Green hedge - A green hedge with grass
species
•Mulch cover - grass and legume tree
lopping
•Composting – with crop residues
•Use of cover crops and green manure for
erosion control
•Water supply during dry periods -
rainwater harvesting ponds , micro-
irrigation systems
•Crop diversification – in under-utilized or
abandoned crop lands into tea
plantations.

31. •Adoption of sustainable land management
practices
–Structural – stone bunds, terracing, leader
drains
–Vegetative – green hedges and cover crops,
rows of perennial low canopy plants (guava,
pomegranate, lemonime, soursop etc.)
–Agronomic – mulching with drip irrigation,
mixed cropping (different crops in the same
plot. Ex. Carrot, leaks, lettuce), incorporation
of green and organic manure,
–Establishment of boundary green avenue -
Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), Aramana
(Cassia siamea), Pawatta (Adhatoda vasica),
Kathurumurunga (Sesbania grandiflora),
Wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus),
Halmassan dambala (Lablab purpureus),
Chow chow (Sechium edule)
Activities to establish rubber based agro-ecosystems

32. •Bio-fertilizer and bio-
pesticides - Bio-fertilizer
production units,
•Intercropping tea with rubber
•Microbial and natural
pesticides , pest repellant
species - Citronella
(Cymbopogon nardus), Sera
(Cymbopogon citratus),
Turmeric (Curcuma longa),
Ginger (Zingiber officinale),
Araththa (Alpina calcarata)

Activities to establish rubber based agro-ecosystems

33. Grow pest repellant plants within the farm
Sera Citronella Turmeric
(Cymbopogon citratus) (Cymbopogon nardus) (Curcuma longa)
Ginger Araththa
(Zingiber officinale) (Alpina calcarata)

34. Activities to establish coconut agro-ecosystems
Coconut intercropped with pineapple
•Integrated nutrient
management,
•Coconut based
intercropping
•Green manuring/cover
cropping,
•Soil and water
conservation measures,
•Weed management,
•Irrigation,
•Fertigation and
•Cropping/farming system
approach.
Coconut intercropped with cocoa

35. Coconut intercropped with banana Coconut intercropped with turmeric

36. Agro-ecosystems can be developed in
all major crop cultivation fields
•Rice field agro-ecosystem
•Field crop agro-ecosystem
•Home garden agro-
ecosystem
•Tea plantation agro-
ecosystem
•Rubber plantation agro-
ecosystem
•Coconut plantation agro-
ecosystem

Learn from Nature to make agriculture a
sustainable venture