Bio-intensive gardens:

Nutrition sensitive,
climate smart and
biodiversity rich
Julian F. Gonsalves, PhD
Senior Advisor, IIRR
 Years of monocropping
have destroyed soil
biodiversity and more
importantly, soil nutrient
status. Hence, the focus
now is on micro nutrient
deficiencies. These are now
the major critical limiting
factors to productivity.

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 Commercial
agriculture has relied
too much on chemicals
affecting health
adversely. Chemical
residues are a double
burden on
malnourished
children.

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 With climate change, increasing pesticide
use is expected as insect problems
worsen. Stored food (corn, peanuts, etc.)
are expected to have harmful aflatoxin
levels.
Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 Declines of nutritional value of vegetables and
fruits

Researchers from the University of Texas in Austin

examined data from 1950 and 1999 for 43 varieties of
fruits and vegetables. They found “reliable declines”
in amounts of calcium, iron, phosphorus, protein,
riboflavin and vitamin C over the nearly 50-year time
period.

Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soil-depletion-and-nutrition-loss/
http://www.ivlproducts.com/Health-Library/Health-Concerns/Digestive-Health/Soil-Conditions-Affect-on-Food-Nutrients/
 There is a new recognition of
the value agro-biodiversity
conservation in context of
climate change and also
because of their unique
nutritional contributions
(such as iron, calcium,
protein, low glycemic index
and fiber content).

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 Both nutrition sensitive
and nutrition specific
interventions that
address the underlying
causes of malnutrition
are needed.

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 School feeding programs
linked with gardens,
and activities that support better
health and nutrition of school
children including nutrition
education and behavioral change
communications are needed

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 Activities in the schools
and at the community level
must feature a better
understanding of the
importance of nutrition
health and agriculture
linkages.

Source: IIRR and IDRC (2017). Leveraging the Nutritional Contributions of Agriculture
 Bio-intensive Gardens
(BIG) is an agro-ecological
approach to gardening
which features climate
change adaptation,
enhancment of nutrition
and the restoration of soils /
biodiversity

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
Bio-intensive gardens provide opportunities
to demonstrate nutrition-sensitive and climate-
smart agriculture, SAFE FOOD and RESILIENT GARDEN.
Bio-intensive gardens are a biological (organic)
form of gardening compatible with other initiatives
(container gardens, landscape and edible gardens).
BIG methods involve close planting: deep beds
encourage deep routing, weed control is achieved and
moisture in beds is conserved (climate-smart).
BIG features locally adapted crops and
varieties that withstand low fertility conditions
and adverse environments. To reduce climate
and pest risks and ensure nutritional diversity
(at least) 60% should be indigenous crops.
A key principle has always been NARROW,
RAISED and DEEP DUG beds.
Reasons for deep-digging

 Deep beds drain out excess water during heavy rains.

During drought, these beds dry-out much later than
conventional beds.
 Applied water is stored in lower profile of the soil,
reducing evaporation, thereby conserved for a longer
period of time.
 Conserves not only above ground biodiversity but also
BELOW ground biodiversity that consists of beneficial
microbe and earthworms.
 The beds are narrow
making it possible to work
from the sides to prevent
compaction. This leaves the
soil always loose. The
slightest rain is absorbed
and stored in the soil. BIG
beds harvest rainwater
better and store moisture
longer.
Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 Deep-dug beds with loose soil
and lots of organic matter
help store water, encourage
earthworms and beneficial
bacteria. This is a living soil
and gets better every year
(provided you don’t let it dry
up and compact again in
summer).

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 In BIG, we practice minimum
tillage. After the first digging
and especially in the drier
months, we avoid subsequent
unnecessary digging. The next
crop is planted in the residue of
the previous crop. This is a way
of conserving soil moisture.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 In BIG, the plants do the
digging themselves. When
you practice crop rotation
you take advantage of the
fact that different crops
have different rooting
depths. So crops are
always rotated and never
planted in the same area
in the same year.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 Another way of
conserving moisture and
lowering soil temperature
is to place mulch on top
of the bed and in between
plants within the bed.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
A boundary and alleys of gliricidia (kakawate) helps reduce
garden temperatures both above and below the ground:
helps cope with rising temperatures.
 The planting of trees around the
periphery of the garden (Kakawate or
Gliricidia sepium or Cassia siamea) is an
absolutely essential element. Leaves of these
nitrogen fixing trees serve as source of
green fertilizer. If trees are not planted on
all four sides of the plot, then we don’t get
the advantage of cooling
effects of trees. If you don’t have trees, the
wind tends to dry the soil. Moreover, trees
can serve as barriers against strong wind.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 Planting of kakawate (gliricidia species)

KAKAWATE
 easier access to
fertilizer
 Cooler climate within
the garden
 protection against
strong winds
 The advantage of using
green leaves as fertilizer is
that it is a way of storing
carbon in the
soil, unlike when one uses
chemicals where we
contribute to the greenhouse
gases (trees absorb carbon).

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
Calliandra residues on the soil break
down very slowly helping feed soil life.
 In summer, when your
gardens are generally not
actively maintained, the
entire garden should go into a
cover crop of legumes (i.e.
cowpea, rice bean, etc.). This
keeps the microbes alive and
reduces weed growth and most
important of all, it keeps soil
temperature low.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 Adoption of cover
cropping and green
manure

COVER CROPPING

Cover cropping and green

manure help build up
organic matter to sustain
soil life. GREEN MANURING
 Adoption of cover crop in summer
 Helps sustain garden plots
during dry months when other
crops are hard to grow.
 Dense foliage of cover crops
(legumes) protects soil from
wind and water erosion; and
keeping soil temperature low.
 Provide large amounts of
nitrogen and increases soil’s
organic matter through time.
 Conserves soil biological life
Gardens mimic
nature: birds,
butterflies and natural
predators. Both below
and above ground
biodiversity is
featured.
Source: Benefits of a healthy soil food web. Soil Foodweb Institute (Australia). https://www.soilfoodweb.com.au/about-our-organisation/benefits-of-a-healthy-soil-food-web
Biodiversity below ground

Functional groups in the soil come from Swift, M. and Bignell, D., 2001. Standard methods for assessment of soil biodiversity and land use practice.
UCDavis, Agricultural Sustainability Institute. https://asi.ucdavis.edu/programs/rr/research/biodiversity-below-ground
 Role of microorganisms

Source: AA BIO-TEKH Enterprises Company, https://xtekh.aabiotekh.com/nutri_cycle.htm

Diversity in a garden results in an immediate drop
in pest populations, creates micro-climates
(evaporation rates differ) and different demands on
soil nutrient nutrients. 
 With rising temperatures
we can expect more pests
and diseases. That is a
reality. This is the reason for
increasing the intra-species
diversity to reduce risks
from
crop failure (e.g. Different
kinds of sweet potato).

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 … the interspecies
diversity is also
important. Diverse
gardens ensure
dietary diversity.

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
 Green or blue net
tunnels help reduce
temperature and protect
the crop from
rain and insects

Source: IIRR. Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG): A climate and nutrition smart agriculture approach
Nutrition sensitivity can be achieved via a diverse
garden: at least 12 to 15 crops (inter-species and
intra-species diversity).
Amaranth/Kulitis (Amaranthus spp.)

Amaranth leaves
◆ Excellent source of calcium, iron, vitamin C & fiber and a good source of
phosphorus & amino acids.
◆ “found to contain some of the highest levels of beta-carotene and lutein”, which
both promote eye health
Amaranth grains
◆ Reduces blood pressure and lowers total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL aka
“bad cholesterol”
◆ Contains Lunasin, “a peptide widely thought to have cancer-preventive benefits,
and possibly blocking inflammation that accompanies diabetes, heart disease,
and stroke.”
◆ One of the most nutritious vegetable-based protein- comparable with animal-
based protein.
◆ A research in Peru showed that protein uptake of children fed with amaranth
flour was favorable, and combining amaranth with corn provided for better
protein uptake than consuming corn alone.

Source: wholegrainscouncil.org
 Indigenous Legumes are high in protein, iron and fiber

Patani Paayap Tapilan Kadyos Bataw

Lima Bean Cow pea Rice bean Pigeon pea Hyacinth bean
(Phaseolus lunatus) (Vigna unguiculata) (Vigna umbellata) (Cajanus kajan) (Dolichos lablab)
• High in calcium • Excellent source of • Excellent source of • Source of calcium,
phosphorus calcium & phosphorus • High source of vitamins B1 which
• Fiber helps prevent for healthy bones and cancer fighting inhibits heart diseases
heart disease & • Anti-oxidant teeth
contents help fight vitamin C & heart failure
manage blood • Seed oil fed to
cancer diabetic rats resulted • Good source of • Has zinc which
sugar levels among • Magnesium to decrease in blood phosphorus- also prevents cancer and
diabetics improves bone glucose, total important for boosts immunity
health and sleep cholesterol & increase
growth & repair of
patterns in good cholesterol
body cells
Yes, school gardens and family farms can feature
vegetables and crops too especially vanishing
crops so children can learn (millets, corn, upland
rice, peanuts).
 Root crops

Gabi (White/San Fernando) Gabi (Tagalog) Burmese canna

Ginger/Luya Turmeric/Luyang dilaw Turmeric/Luyang dilaw

(Tagalog/Native) (Big Variety) (Tagalog/Native)
Legumes

Hyacinth bean Hyacinth bean Hyacinth bean

(Bush Batao) (Red Batao) (Green Batao)

Cowpea Nigeria Pigeon pea String bean

(Paayap) (kadios) (Sitao)
Fruit bearing vegetables

Eggplant/Talong Eggplant/Talong (Mistisa) Eggplant/Talong

(Araw-Araw) (White)

Eggplant/Talong Eggplant/Talong (Cambodia) Eggplant/Talong (Guinyangan)

(Pepito)
Leafy vegetables

Water leaf Spinach Horse raddish tree Long Fruited-Jute

(Talinum/Talilong) (Malungay) (Saluyot)

Tree Spinach Japanese Malungay Rosselle Native

(Chaya) (Sauropus) (Labug)
 Seed exchange
events

To maintain interest,
cross visits should be
organized between
schools. New materials
should be frequently
collected.
 Two seed exchanges
can be facilitated
every year: one within
a school district and
the other between
school districts.

Tinabunan ES, Imus City

 Seed exchange events

 Schools will distribute “diversity” kits that has 20 small packets containing 5-20 seeds.
 Each school district will label the seed packets with information about the source of seeds (e.g.
Antipolo City, Ivisan, etc.)
 Seed exchange events

 Seedlings and cuttings may also be exchanged

Tinabunan ES, Imus City Lipa City Division

 Seed exchange events
Batangas Province Division

Take the case of the Division of Batangas Province

They conduct province-wide seed exchanges every year, alongside the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program Orientation,
through the leadership of Education Program Supervisor in EPP/TLE-
Ms. Macaria Carina Carandang (for more tips you may contact her at mccc0104@yahoo.com)
 Crop museum
Crop museums in schools serve as a focal point
for saving crop varieties. This is a garden where
teachers, students, and community members
can view a diverse range of nutritionally
relevant and climate hardy vegetables. It can
include trees, shrubs, root and tuber crops,
vines, and short-season annual crops.
It also serve as nurseries (source of planting
materials) for surrounding schools and
communities. Mother plants are preserved in
crop museums throughout the year.

Source: Crop Museums in Schools: Conserving Agrobiodiversity of Nutritional

Importance . A primer for school teachers in public elementary and secondary
schools.
Utilization of garden produce

(School-based feeding
program)
Potential Income in 200sqm area in 3 sentinel schools for
Aug. 2017 to May 2018 Harvest
Potential income (PhP) in the 3 sentinel schools Php
Peso Value

Php 49,259.00
44,370.00
Php
30,534.00

SENTINEL 1 SENTINEL 2 SENTINEL 3

 School garden production in 200sqm area in the 3 sentinel
schools
Yield in kilogram s

Garden Output (kg) from Aug. 2018 to May 2019 Average yield in 21
LS is 192 kgs in 599
sqm average garden
818 kgs
size
796 kgs

Potential yield/
528 kgs
production up to 818
kilograms can be
attained planting and
harvesting is
SENTINEL 1 SENTINEL 2 SENTINEL 3
maximized.
 Lighthouse school
A Lighthouse School (LS) is a
designated focal point for
decentralized and location-specific
action research (site) of integrated school nutrition
model.

Every LS features a regular school feeding program,

a well maintained/sustained bio-intensive garden,
and related school-based nutrition education
activities. A LS is a
demonstration of what is possible using locally
available resources and human power.
Source: Lighthouse Schools: Decentralized platforms for outscaling school nutrition intervention
 Why are crop museums
important?

Over the centuries, backyard

gardeners and farmers collected
and preserved a diverse range of
vegetable types and varieties. We
are rapidly losing this diversity
(agrobiodiversity) because once
lost, we can never regain these
important heritage varieties. Crop
museums serve as living gene
banks.

Source: Crop Museums in Schools: Conserving Agrobiodiversity of Nutritional Importance A primer for school teachers in public elementary and
secondary schools. December 2017. IIIRR, IDRC, CGIAR CCAFS.
 Schools can serve as
custodians of biodiversity
heritage in the
Philippines. Schools can
also
serve as community seed
banks.

Source: Crop Museums in Schools: Conserving Agrobiodiversity of Nutritional Importance A primer for school teachers in public elementary and
secondary schools. December 2017. IIIRR, IDRC, CGIAR CCAFS.
 Schools are effective platforms
for promoting nutrition.
Integrated approaches which
feature feeding, gardens and
nutrition education rely on
evidence for wider promotion. A
Lighthouse School (LS) is a
designated focal point for
decentralized and location-
specific action research (site) of
integrated school nutrition
model.

Source: Lighthouse Schools: Decentralized platforms for outscaling school nutrition intervention. IIRR, DepEd, DA, IDRC. April 2018.
Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at juliangonsalves@yahoo.com
Credits

Special thanks to the IIRR staff who contributed to this

presentation:
◆ Irish Baguilat
◆ Ma. Sheila Anunciado
◆ Kirstein Itliong
◆ Ronnie de Castro
◆ Dulce Dominguez
◆ Emilita M Oro