Sustainable Food & Farming Systems Some thoughts on agricultural ecosystems.
Sustainability is. providing for the NEEDS of ALL people alive today, without jeopardizing future generations.
A sustainable form of agriculture must be. Economically viable Environmentally sound Socially just
The Sustainability Triangle Social Equity The quest for sustainability Economic Environmental Vitality Integrity
UMass Sustainable Ag Class PLNTSOIL 265 Fall Semester
Environmental Sustainability Biological fertilizer Integrated Pest Management Renewable energy
Biological fertilizer green manures for fertility
Biological fertility Got Earthworms?
Biological fertility Animals cycle nutrients
Cows provide a bit more manure
Ecological Insect Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Renewable Energy Biodiesel fuel
More Progress on Environmental Sustainability 1. Compost for fertility 2. Pastures to feed animals & soil 3. Cover crops used 4. Legumes for nitrogen 5. Windbreaks 6. Conservation tillage
What about economic sustainability? Are you in debt? Are you making a profit?
Borrow or repair? Keeping up with the neighbors
Going Retail
The food in the US travels an average of 1300 miles and changes hands a half dozen times before it is consumed. The Packer, June, 1992
More Progress with Economic Sustainability 1. Equipment is used and repaired 2. Yields are good 3. CSA provides money for investment 4. Interns can trade work for education 5. Farm supports other farm businesses 6. No waste
So is social justice important to you?
Where is the diversity?
Where is the opportunity?
Where are the good jobs?
Who is making a profit?
U.S. agriculture is industrial
Sustainable farming. involve the neighbors!
U-Pick means You are involved
The farmers are your neighbors
The kids are involved.
Farm meetings..are fun!
It takes a village. Community Supported Agriculture
More Progress with Social Sustainability 1. Donate food to the Food Bank 2. Working with apprentices 3. Pleasant environment 4. Healthy employees 5. Vacation time for family 6. Simple living 8. No machine noise 9. Farm products stay local 10. Supports neighbors
So what s not sustainable about agriculture today? Well, lets ask There is plenty of food - isn t there? We ve cleaned up the environment - haven t we? Farming is hard work nobody really wants to farm - do they? There will always be enough food for me - won t there?
Is agriculture economically viable? Well. 1935 6.8 million farms Today 2.1 million farms with 1.3 million part time McDonalds increased from 1000 restaurants in 1968 to 28,000 today, with 5 new ones each day The suicide rate among farmers and ranchers is 3X national average
Is it environmentally sound? Well Chemical fertilizer use has increased 10X since 1950 The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico from nitrogen fertilizer
Is it safe? Are we eating what we want to be eating? What exactly are we eating?
Well, maybe.. Food The twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Rank Crop 1 Strawberries 189 2 Bell Peppers (tie) 155 2 Spinach (tie) 155 4 Cherries (USA) 154 5 Peaches 150 6 Cantaloupe (Mexico) 142 7 Celery 129 8 Apples 124 9 Apricots 123 10 Green Beans 122 11 Grapes (Chile) 118 12 Cucumbers 117 Score (200 = most toxic) Source: Environmental Working Group, compiled from FDA and EPA data
Is it socially just? Farm workers Health care Meatpacking plant workers Injury rates Fast food workers 3.5 million with a turnover rate of 300-400%/yr
Agriculture Did you know that. Eighty-four percent of farm household Eighty-four income comes percent from of off-farm farm household sources income comes from off-farm sources Fifty-two percent of farm workers in Fifty-two the US are percent illegal of immigrants farm workers in the US are illegal immigrants Center for Sustainable Systems, University, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Did you know that. The Economics 20 cents of every dollar spent for food in 1996 went back into the farm (In 1975 it was 40 cents) Americans enjoy an abundance of cheap food. We spend about 10.7% of our disposable income on food. This is far lower than most industrialized and nonindustrialized countries Center for Sustainable Systems, University, Ann Arbor, Michigan
And lets look at the future Population Water Soil Oil
Human History
Water Shortages Today Major global problem areas
Water Shortages in the US We are pumping down geological water reserves which are not being replaced. Agriculture consumes about 85% of fresh water in the U.S.
Soil is running away! About 75% of US topsoil has already been lost. If you stepped from the original prairie to an Iowa corn field today, it would be a 6 foot step down.
And the big one! Humankind expends in one year an amount of fossil fuel that it took nature roughly a million years to produce.
Is that all? No, but its enough to make the point. The way we grow food in the United States is not sustainable.
We are a non-sustainable society Food production, land use, water use etc. are part of a larger problem affecting every aspect of our lives, including: Energy use Waste handling Pollution Population and on and on..
But how do I know if its sustainable? Ask. Is it cyclic? and. Is it solar powered Is it equitable?
Two paradigms Industrial Agriculture = linear Sustainable Agriculture = cyclic
Industrial System A Farm
Industrial System Fertilizer Sunshine Pesticides A Farm
Industrial System Fertilizer Sunshine Pesticides A Farm Fertilizer Food Pesticides
Industrial System A Farm is a factory
Cyclic System Sunshine A Farm Food
Cyclic System - nutrients cycle A Farm
Cyclic System bugs eat bugs A Farm
Cyclic System A Farm is an ecosystem
Industrial Agriculture is Efficient in the short term Provides relatively cheap food at what cost?
Can we consider agriculture sustainable if.. one child is hungry?
Isn t it successful?
2003 Census Data 2.1 million farms in US ($ > 1,000) 940 million acres But where are they? Two-three tenths of 1 percent in MA 6 percent in Northeast (NY & PA) 37 percent in the Midwest 42 percent in the South Rest in the West
Industrial Agriculture video
Sustainability requires more eyes per acre Got Earthworms?
Is agriculture in New England sustainable? Not yet, but Lots of local products Mostly environmentally sound Relatively healthy economically Lots of experiments to improve Good but could be better, especially Conditions for migrant labor Use of fossil fuels
Is the US food system sustainable?
What do you want?
Grapes from Chili Tomatoes from Mexico Lettuce from California Apples from New Zealand
The food in the US travels an average of 1300 miles and changes hands a half dozen times before it is consumed. The Packer, June, 1992
Foodshed The flow of food from an area where it is grown to the place were it is consumed The Wisconsin Foodshed Project, www.foodshed.wisc.edu/
You are having it your way!
You can help! http://www.buylocalfood.com/
Challenges to buy local Difficult climate to grow Urban populations are disconnected Price Convenience Social equity Fair Trade
What else can I do? Demand local foods in the dining halls Don t take more than you can eat Avoid fast foods and.
And Know a local farmer Know where your food comes from Grow your own Take kitchen wastes to a compost Make a worm compost in your kitchen
To learn more.. PLNTSOIL 265 Sustainable Ag Fall PLNTSOIL 290S Sustainable Living -Spring