A complete new approach using drawdown technologies, biomass and native plants for high value-added products results the way to go in the Mediterranean.

Cala Falcó is a typical 50 hectare farm near Manacor in Mallorca, Spain. Little or no water access, desertification, erosion, presence of nitrates, sulphates and other chemicals leached during decades by previous and neighboring farmers in the basin, deforested bush and marina impacted by bad practices and tourism, biodiversity losses and a not very much promising future considering climate change scenarios expected. The farm access to a beautiful shore and amazing caverns and grottoes visited in the area where a potential connection with nature allows new approaches of human and nature regeneration.

Funders acquired this property in 2019 and begun development during 2020 when initial activities included soil amendment, permaculture approaches and observation (botanic studies, fauna analysis, etc.) and afforestation of most fragile areas near the shore.

Based on regenerative agriculture, afforestation, clean energy and educational activities, Cala Falcó funders look for a social inclusive model including soil organic matter regeneration, aromatic and medicinal native species to produce perfumes and cosmetic products, enhanced training activities and healthy-regenerative approaches based on a new consciousness to connect people with nature.

The key aspects on these new approaches include:

• Soil regeneration: in particular in areas which had decades of plowing, overgrazing (goats/sheeps mainly) and agri-chemical which produced subsidies dependency and extremely low yields while depleting soil nutrients and fertility.
• Biochar based organic fertilizers made with local waste materials (including dry matter collection to prevent wildfires). Locally made, these products have high potential to recover soil fertility in short term. Enhanced microbiologic methods using mychorrizae, fungus, and beneficial bacteria.
• Landscape design taking approaches from analogue forestry and nature mimicry near most fragile areas. Native species targeting essential oils, medicinal products, fruits, hardwoods and bushes in a perennial model with low water and crop maintenance cost. Valuable products: re-valorization of native species such as Hypericum balearicum, Crithmum maritimum or Santolina chamaecyparissus.
• Cosmetic products including sophisticated artisanal perfumes, fragances, clays, organic hydrolates and floral waters
• Energy efficiency methods for inputs, transportation (animal traction), housing and warehouse. Clean thermal energy for essential oil distillation based on biomass waste materials. Solar panels to complement off-grid electricity.
• Circular economy: collection of animal and vegetable waste material as well as grey and black waters and residual ash and biochar recovery methods to produce biofertilizers.
• Artisanal ligno-cellulosic green materials for product packaging (woody and fiber species cultivated in most marginal areas).
• Afforestation, biodiverse stands and cover crops as initial steps in eroded bare soil with scarce organic matter.
• Water for irrigation based on sanitation water recycling and rainfall captures and an exemplary low endowment ranging 50-100 m3/ha mostly during crop/tree establishment years. Xerophytic gardening techniques.
• Hydrological and topographic studies are used to detect wetter areas in microbasins in the farm in order to concentrate intensive activities (organic fertilizers, labour, irrigation support) in specific areas with more potential.
• Social inclusive model with voluntary schemes, small entrepreneurs, young rural people, gender equality and access to small loans and alternative funding through a variety of regional, national and European funding options (including collaboration with NGOs, Universities and Research organization promoting similar approaches, new technologies).