The impact of Inca Culture on bio-dynamic agriculture: a study of rock dust in Roraima, Brazil
In Peru, agriculture faces significant challenges due to climate change and the well-known effects of El Niño, which result from the warming of the Pacific Ocean. Indigenous historian Luis E. Valcárcel observed that the Andean civilization transformed an environment unsuitable for agriculture into a productive agricultural society. He described this as a tremendous effort that persisted throughout the Spanish colonial period but has since diminished, highlighting a strong yet fading connection between ancient and modern Peru.
More recently, researchers have identified rock dust as a highly nutritious fertilizer. A commonly used technique to enhance soil fertility combines moderate amounts of rock dust with larger quantities of cattle manure. Another well-regarded strategy for boosting food production is biological nitrogen fixation, primarily occurring at the roots or stems of plants and facilitated by bacteria associated with legumes.
In Roraima, Brazil, there is significant potential for using rock powder as a soil enhancer. However, its application remains limited due to a lack of technology, infrastructure, and educational support, particularly in remote areas within indigenous territories.
This study examines the interplay between culture, knowledge, intelligence, and biodynamic agriculture within two distinct yet interconnected models. The first is the Culture-Knowledge-Intelligence (CKI) model, which illustrates how culture influences knowledge and its application, or intelligence. The second is a biodynamic agriculture model, which emphasizes a sustainable approach to resource utilization on farms.
The findings indicate that Inca culture forms the foundation of the CKI model, encouraging small farmers to adopt family-based and cooperative agricultural practices. Additionally, the biodynamic agriculture model demonstrates that agricultural cooperatives serve as the cornerstone for this sustainable farming approach.
Keywords: Family farming, cooperatives, knowledge management, cultural intelligence, rock dust.
