Chevalier College start 'cutting-edge' agricultural project with Regen Action

The Year 11 student is one of many from Chevalier College who are taking part in a regenerative agricultural project, and is the first school in the region to do so.

The soil was turned in the first contours on June 5.

The Regeneration Chevalier initiative is a collaborative venture with not-for-profit organisation Regen Action, with support from the Bowral Co-Op, NSW Department of Education through its Regional Industry Education Partnerships, and Andrews Earth Moving.

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Students from different faculties will take part in all aspects of the project such as land management, soil testing, audiovisual documentation and surveying the land.

"The project has really taught me we need to utilise the land better," he said.

Through the initiative, the school will move away from traditional farming methods to regenerative practices and natural sequence farming.

Regen Action project director Rob Skinner said it would help the school "mimic nature", and it was important to capture carbon in the soil, which reduces emissions.

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"We need to transition to a system that cares for our soils and takes us back to what nature was doing originally, automatically spreading hydrology and fertility through the landscape," he said.

Regenerative techniques enable crops hold more nutrients, increases bushfire and drought resilience, as well as creating flood mitigators that deliver higher quality waters.

"[It's] pretty cool to see how it works and capitalise [on] carbon and nutrients to make the land better," said science and agriculture student Kate Bartolo.

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"It's been a privilege for us to be involved and connected with Regen Action," said Chevalier College principal Greg Miller.

"We're excited to be a part of a cutting-edge project and a cutting edge approach to agriculture."

The principal said he looked forward to the techniques being adopted beyond Chevalier, and it gave the school the chance "to work shoulder to shoulder with experts in the field".

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