From Injury to Breakthrough

In September 2022, Sergio fractured his fibula and tore his ankle ligaments on a soccer field in his beloved Menorca. For a farmer who had spent eight years building an organic market garden, five months off the land could have felt like a disaster. Instead, it became an opportunity for innovation and a new beginning that changed the farm’s trajectory.

“I was off work for five months and used this time to learn new production methods. That’s when I discovered regenerative agriculture. My eyes saw the solution for the future of horticultural production,” Sergio recalls.

Productes Ecològics Santo Domingo sits in Sant Lluís, a sun-drenched village in the south of Menorca, a small Spanish island in the Mediterranean and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The 1.6-hectare farm, which has been in Sergio’s family for generations, supplies restaurants, a farm shop, an online store, and farmers markets with seasonal vegetables, legumes, root crops, herbs, and edible flowers.

Small Farm, Big Impact

At age 20, Sergio began transforming his family’s farm to organic, powering it entirely on solar energy and disconnecting it from the electricity grid. His goal is for the farm to become an ecosystem synonymous with regeneration while producing goods with the least possible impact on the planet.

So far he’s converted 10% of the farm to regenerative management. “Besides improving our soil and the life within it, regenerative farming allows us to produce a lot in a small space,” he explains.

The results came quickly. Within the first year, soil organic matter increased from 2.8 to 3.1, and revenue rose from €4 per square metre under conventional organic methods to €17. Today, it stands at €22 per square metre.

“I believe regenerative farming is the model of the present and the future. It is economically sustainable, profitable, and makes the best use of space.”

Working alongside his father and a part-time employee with a disability, Sergio runs the farm with a tight-knit team, no outside investment, and no large machinery. He keeps the team intentionally small, maintaining a spirit of curiosity and continuous learning while creating a positive impact on the community.

Composting is Key

Productes Ecològics Santo Domingo’s method for regenerative market gardening centers around standardized raised beds, or bancales, that are 15 meters long and 0.75 meters wide, with 0.40-meter aisles.

“We build the beds using compost, adding a depth of 15 cm. This makes them ready to start producing right away. Every year, we add about 5 cm of compost as maintenance,” Sergio explains.

Compost plays a crucial role in increasing soil life and reducing irrigation needs, as it acts like a sponge, retaining and slowly filtering water. “When we get heavy rains, the compost prevents significant soil erosion. It absorbs water up to ten times faster than soil without compost, which helps prevent waterlogging,” Sergio notes.

This approach has also enabled tighter planting density. “We went from planting two lines of radishes in a 0.7-meter bed to seven lines. We’re now able to produce more food in the same space.”

The team cuts every harvested crop 1 cm below the compost, never pulling it out. This leaves the roots in place to feed the soil life and allows immediate replanting. “All crop residue is shredded and used to make compost, returning nutrients back to the soil,” Sergio shares. “This way, we practice a 360° cultivation cycle. Whatever is not used is composted and returned to the soil.”

The Farm as a Classroom

In 2024, Onda Cero Menorca awarded Sergio its prize for environmental stewardship, and in 2025, BBVA Spain named him one of its Best Sustainable Producers.

Sergio shares his knowledge with customers, chefs, and community partners alike. Visitors are invited to walk the terraces and see exactly where their food comes from. “This builds trust in what they’re eating,” Sergio explains. “Chefs also learn to tell the story behind every dish.”

In 2024, Sergio taught more than 100 people through guided tours and workshops and regularly speaks on local radio to educate the public about regenerative farming. Soon, he will launch formal courses for other market gardeners, teaching the terrace method and the 360° cycle to any small producer willing to learn.

Planting for a Future Generation

Sergio’s twenty-year vision is to transform the farm into a regenerative reference center: a full soil laboratory, a digital educational platform with national and international reach, and eventually a seed bank preserving traditional Menorcan plant varieties for future generations.

His message to other farmers is simple: you do not need a lot of land. Many small producers can sustain families, earn a real living, and make a meaningful difference for the environment.

“Regenerative farming is the direction we must take to produce goods with the least impact on the planet while capturing as much CO₂ as possible to reduce climate change,” Sergio says. “I’m happy to be part of Top 50 Farmers to raise awareness about what’s working for us, so that other small farmers can do what we’re doing here on our island.”

Written by Juliana Bonatto