Complementary soil cover practices have also been implemented using crop residues, grasses, and manure to reduce competition from weeds, conserve soil moisture, and lower soil temperature. These practices improve soil structure, increase the presence of organic matter, and create a healthy environment for beneficial microorganisms that are essential to agroecosystem fertility and functionality. Notably, soil covered with crop residues maintained high moisture levels of 31% even 20 days after watering.

Productive intercropping designs have also been promoted, allowing multiple species to be cultivated within the same plot. These systems provide economic benefits through crop diversification while maintaining living ground cover to protect the soil year-round. A representative example is the association of nopal with species such as purslane and mouse-ear. This strategy supports nutrient cycling, reduces erosion, and strengthens system resilience under adverse climate conditions.

In addition, biodiversity islands composed primarily of native plants—including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species—have been established to improve water infiltration, reduce water and wind erosion, provide wind protection, and create microclimates. These areas encourage beneficial insects, enhance pollination processes, and contribute to integrated pest and disease management by restoring essential ecological functions within the agroecosystem. Species introduced include ocotillo, sage, tehuixtle, Santa Anita, and flor de San Pedro, among others. This practice has also played a key role in raising awareness and strengthening producers’ understanding of biodiversity conservation.

Finally, organic inputs have been promoted for the management and control of common nopal pests and diseases, such as cochineal scale, with the goal of transitioning from conventional to agroecological management. This approach preserves ecosystem functionality, reduces dependency on external inputs, and improves crop productivity. As a result, infestations of cochineal scale were reduced by 80–90%, sprouting was stimulated, and both the size and quality of nopal improved. In one particular case (with the farmer Tomás), and under specific soil and location conditions, productivity increased by 33%, equivalent to approximately 70 additional kilograms of nopal per hectare..

Always hand in hand with producers

While regenerative agriculture represents a key response to environmental, productive, and climate-related challenges, it is essential to recognize that regeneration processes also involve social and community dimensions. In the Regenerate Mexico program, we promote this approach through capacity building in theoretical and practical workshops, as well as demonstration plots that serve as spaces for knowledge exchange and shared learning.