Presented by: Mr. David Bynoe (BSc.), (MSc.) Agronomist & Environmental Economist

Transcription

1 Presented by: Mr. David Bynoe (BSc.), (MSc.) Agronomist & Environmental Economist

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3 REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY This can be defined as all people within region having access to safe and nutritious food that meets dietary requirements and food preferences at an affordable price. Key aspects of Water Security: Access/Availability Reliability Price/Cost Quality The degree of food security varies greatly across the Caribbean.

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5 REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY The food import bill in the Caribbean is generally high. The region s food import bill stood at US $3billion in 2006 By 2008 it was estimated at US $5billion as a result of the global surge in food prices that began in 2007 Barbados in 2009 over US $ 250 million The Bahamas spends around US $500 million on food imports annually

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7 REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY The Caribbean is highly dependant on certain food imports: Threats to Food Security include: Climate Change Natural Disasters Population Growth and Demand Urbanization Health Water Trade War & Terrorism

8 INCREASING FOOD SECURITY

9 REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY Regional Food security can be increased by the following: Improving/Changing Agricultural Production Systems Improving Food Distribution Regional Food Production Partnerships Recognition of the Role of Women and Youth A Food Aid Plan for times of Disaster Economic Growth & Trade Liberalization Agro-Processing Plants

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11 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Agriculture is generally referred to as the art and science of the growing of crops and rearing of animals. Sustainability refers to the ability to practice a particular activity in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.

12 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE For an activity to be regarded as sustainable it must meet the following criteria: Environmental Social Economic Sustainable Agriculture refers to agricultural activity that is environmentally, socially, and economically feasible.

13 ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE Environmental: AGRICULTURE Water Quality Soil Erosion Biodiversity Air Quality

14 ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE Social: AGRICULTURE Employee Welfare Community Based Societal Health Benefits

15 Economic: ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Foreign Exchange Generation & Savings Unemployment Reduction Increase in the Gross Domestic Product

16 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Organic Agriculture Perma-culture Biodynamic Farming

17 ORGANIC FARMING Organic farming is a holistic management system which promotes and enhances: Agro-ecosystem health Biodiversity Soil biological cycles Soil biological activity Its management practices focus on creating as much as possible a close cycle. Where possible external inputs are excluded and synthetic inputs are totally excluded or minimized. It provides economic, social, and environmental benefits.

18 BENEFITS Organic Farming Organic Farming Reduces erosion Promotes biodiversity Preservation of water, soil and air quality Reduced emissions of green house gasses Reduced contamination Efficient energy and resource use Conservation of genetic diversity Increase in beneficial nutrients No use of GMF s (prevents potential negative effects) No antibiotics are used Quality for human consumption is assured due to the certification requirements. Reduce employee health risk

19 FERTILITY MANAGEMENT

20 ORGANIC PEST MANAGEMENT

21 WEED MANAGMENT

22 ADDITIONAL ISSUES Water Availability Weather Variability Perceptions of Agriculture and Farmers Competing interest for land Lack of recognition and achievement

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24 CONCLUSION

25 Sustainable Agriculture for Regional Food Security The main agricultural production system used the Region is currently unsustainable. The current system must be drastically modified and new systems adopted. Sustainable agriculture is necessary to facilitate Regional Food Security.

26 THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

27 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS You are a private consultancy firm working on the behalf of CDB to: 1. Convince the Bahamian Government that organic farming is the most suitable production system for Bahamas to attain food security. 2. Highlight to the production and food security problems that could be faced if organic agriculture is adopted and conventional agriculture abandoned. 3. Provide a summary of why conventional agriculture is not sustainable. 4. Explain how conventional agricultural could modified to make it sustainable.