The science behind Regenerative Agriculture at Monte Silvera Farm [DIOGO PINHIO]

🔴 What if your olive oil could reduce disease risk, your soil could retain water like a sponge, and your sheep could restore ecosystems?

Welcome to Monte Silveira Farm in southern Portugal, where regenerative agriculture meets scientific research to create a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, and economically thriving model for the future of farming.

In this episode, we sit down with Diogo Pinho, Research Manager at Monte Silveira, to dive deep into the real science and data-backed practices behind their 16 cutting-edge R&D projects. From doubling organic matter in just 5 years to producing high-polyphenol olive oil, this is a masterclass in regenerative agriculture with major implications for food systems worldwide.

💥 Don’t miss this powerful conversation—perfect for anyone passionate about sustainable farming, soil health, food quality, and ecosystem restoration.

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🔎 Timestamps & Topics Covered:

00:00 Intro – Welcome to Monte Silveira Farm 🌿
00:28 Meet Diogo Pinho – Research Manager & Soil Scientist
01:27 The Power of Research in Regenerative Agriculture
02:04 Soil Health: What They Measure & Why It Matters
03:35 What is Soil Organic Matter? Explained Simply
07:18 The Soil Food Web: From Microbes to Earthworms
07:48 Why Sheep Are Key to Regenerating the Land 🐑
08:36 How Rotational Grazing Boosts Soil and Biodiversity
11:37 Organic Matter Results: +50% in 5 Years
13:51 Montado System: 5% Organic Matter & Zero Disturbance
14:52 Monitoring Biodiversity at Monte Silveira
15:56 Endemic Species Making a Comeback
16:36 How Biodiversity Increases Economic Efficiency 💰
17:55 Soil as a Sponge: Water Retention & Climate Resilience
20:02 Quick Note from Our Partner – Soil Capital
20:21 Regenerative Almonds: The Arbor Inova Project 🌰
22:59 No Herbicides, Lower Costs, Higher Soil Health
24:12 Why Their Olive Oil Has So Many Health Benefits
25:28 How They Doubled Organic Matter in Olive Groves
26:48 Sheep = Nutrient Recycling Superstars
27:27 Early Harvesting & Polyphenols Explained
28:38 How Water Stress Boosts Olive Quality
29:13 The Secrets Behind High-Phenolic Olive Oil 🫒
29:42 Final Words & How to Support the Podcast

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📌 What You’ll Learn:

✅ How soil microbiology and organic matter build resilient ecosystems
✅ Why rotational grazing is a game-changer for biodiversity and soil structure
✅ How regenerative olive and almond systems can outperform conventional models
✅ The health benefits of high-polyphenol olive oil
✅ How to make regenerative farming profitable, scalable, and climate-resilient

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💡 Keywords to Help You Discover This Video:

regenerative agriculture, soil health, agroecology, biodiversity, polyphenol olive oil, regenerative almond farming, holistic grazing, sustainable farming, carbon farming, Mediterranean agriculture, rotational grazing systems, nutrient cycling, water retention in soil, ecosystem restoration, organic matter in soil

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🎙️ About Our Guest:

Diogo Pinho is a microbiologist and research director at Monte Silveira, where he leads groundbreaking projects at the intersection of science and soil. His work helps bridge the gap between academic research and profitable, regenerative farming—all while restoring landscapes and ecosystems across southern Portugal.

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🤝 In Partnership With:

Soil Capital – financially supporting farmers who improve soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
🔗 https://soilcapital.com

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🔗 Resources & Links:

🌾 Monte Silveira Farm: https://www.montesilveira.com/
📸 Instagram:   / deep_seed_podcast  
💼 LinkedIn:   / deep-seed  
📬 Contact: [email protected]