2025 WINNING PROJECT - AgriLoop System: Regenerating Mines into Circular Farming Hubs

“AgriLoop System follows a fully circular model that regenerates land, revalorizes agricultural waste, and supports sustainable food and feed systems. The core process transforms animal manure into high-quality compost, which is then used to restore abandoned mines and supply vertical farms.”

AgriLoop System is a regenerative farming concept that transforms abandoned open-pit mines into high-yield, circular agricultural hubs. By combining ancient terraced farming methods with modern vertical farming, it addresses land scarcity, food security, and agricultural emissions.

The system operates through four steps: manure from livestock farms is collected and composted, degraded mine soil is regenerated, crops are cultivated for animal feedstock, and distribution loops the benefits back to farmers and local markets. This creates a closed cycle of resource recovery and food production.

AgriLoop stands out by regenerating degraded land while supporting biodiversity, reducing methane emissions, and strengthening rural economies. By creating new jobs and reclaiming economic activity in former mining communities, it integrates environmental and social impact into one circular model.

The broader ambition of AgriLoop is to advance food security and climate action (SDGs 2, 12, 13, and 15) by rethinking land use and turning degraded sites into sustainable sources of growth. Though at concept stage, it demonstrates how circular agriculture can regenerate land and empower local communities.