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Food for Thought on Earth Day
SAN DIEGO, California - As Earth Day celebrations kicked off around the world last weekend, the event has evolved from teach-ins on park lawns into a multi-day media extravaganza replete with corporate sponsorship.
In 1970, when the idea of Earth Day was first born in the United States, global warming was barely a blip on the radar, and the green revolution still held promise for sustainably feeding much the world's population.But as the recent three-year International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report on food security indicates, if anything, the livelihoods of farmers in both North and South are becoming more and more precarious.
Confronted with rising food and fuel prices and an unpredictable climate, the substance of sustainability will be sorely tested in coming decades if the findings of the IAASTD bear out.
The report highlights the need for a radical transformation of the global food network, which will have to feed an estimated additional three billion people by 2050.
"This report is a wake-up call for governments and international agencies," said Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, a senior scientist at the Pesticide Action Network and one of the lead authors of the IAASTD report.
"The survival of the planet's food systems demands global action to support agro-ecological farming and fair and equitable trade," she told IPS.
The report calls for a back-to-basics approach that rings true for food advocates, many NGOs, and scientists working on the front lines of food security issues. And while the prevailing model of big, input-intensive agribusiness won't be disappearing soon, there are many innovative projects currently underway to change the way the world feeds itself.
Development in Gardening (DIG): Hospital food has never been famous for its high quality, but the situation at one West African facility was especially bad. Peace Corps activist and health-care worker Steve Bollinger worried that inadequate nutrition was further weakening his patients living with HIV and AIDS. So he and colleague Sarah Koch came up with the idea of DIG, which teaches patients basic gardening skills and how prepare their own meals. They started three kitchen gardens at medical facilities in Senegal, and each lot now produces up to 600 pounds of food per month.
They've also trained dozens more Senegalese urbanites on how to set up home gardens, a skill that's been lost among city transplants with very little connection to rural life. Home gardens are not only a source of sustenance but provide much-needed income for households often surviving on less than one dollar per day. DIG has plans to expand to orphanages in South Africa and perhaps even Asia.
Tilapia in Brooklyn: As worldwide demand for fish increases, aquaculture is booming. Unconcerned that he lived in the middle of a bustling metropolis, Dr. Martin Schreibman decided to cultivate tilapia, a hardy breed of fish, on the campus of Brooklyn College in New York. He's been doing so for years. Schriebman envisions tilapia as an engine of economic development for regional markets -- taking abandoned warehouses, for example, and converting them into urban fish farms.
The advantages of harvesting tilapia are obvious. They are fast-growing, disease-resistant and require very little space to thrive. They're not flesh-eaters, eliminating the criticism of feeding fish pellets to fish, as is often done with farmed salmon. Raising tilapia in tanks also eliminates the contamination associated with penning fish in open water, as fish excretions drift into adjacent areas.
Cheap overseas production has so far hindered the widespread adoption of Schriebman's tilapia project -- but he has proven that fish farming can be sustainable in urban areas.
Organoponicos: In 1989, a then four-decades-long U.S. embargo and the collapse of the Soviet Union left Cuba's economy in shambles. Staples like eggs, meat and vegetables became scarce. Moreover, Cuba lacked the cash to import fossil fuels, fertilisers, and pesticides, needed to operate modern farms.
Instead of starving, Cubans began urban farming, stitching together a food system from the nation's decaying infrastructure that wasn't dependant on fossil fuel or crop subsidies.
Today, Cuba is dotted with thousands of organoponicos, urban allotments that produce healthy food at a low cost. Much of Havana feeds itself on locally grown produce. In the process, Cuba has reinvented back-to-basics farming techniques relying on compost, natural pesticides and beneficial insects, producing solid harvests year after year.
Smart Breeding: After decades of research, scientists are discovering plants that have long dormant traits for resistance to disease, drought and blight. Without relying on genetic modifications, it is possible to turn these traits on and off.
Farmers have been tinkering with plants for thousands of years to produce desirable results. It has brought us staples like corn, apples and tomatoes. A better understanding of a plant's genome can speed up the entire process. The technique was first introduced by Nadem Kedar, who cross-bred beefsteak tomatoes that would ripen on the vine and remain firm in transit.
It doesn't stop with tomatoes. Commercial applications hold the promise of applying smart breeding to crops that can withstand extended dry spells and hot, arid conditions. Scientists are looking for ways to produce resilient crops in a manner that pleases both agronomists and food activists.
"Clearly significant gains have been made in terms of productivity," noted Greg Jaffe, director for biotechnology policy at the Centre for Science in the Public Interest and a co-author of the IAASTD report.
"But industrial farming has an enormous environmental footprint. In order to feed current and future generations it has to become more sustainable," he told IPS.
If the benefits of agricultural technology and trade continue to be distributed unevenly between the North and South, much of what has been preserved in terms of biodiversity and open space will be lost as a hungry planet attempts to feed itself -- giving Earth Day revelers something to think about.
Copyright © 2008 IPS-Inter Press Service
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27 Comments so far
Show AllTilapia: going vegan is better.
Francis Moore Lappe wrote in the late 60s that using water and crop on livestock could go to starving masses.
Fish farming is still a blight-and ethically speaking humans cannot justify enslaving other species when it isnt necessary.
We dont need to eat fish.
Having urban gardens makes way more sense.
This Earth Day is a call beyond western science. It is a clarion call for understanding that technology cannot save us. It is a call for a unity of understanding that humans are about to evolve. The science of the Mayans was vibrational not the more limiting physical science to be experienced through the senses. Vibration determines physical form. Vibration is galactic in nature and unlimited in scope. Our star system is a part of a larger system. That system too exists in vibrations and cycles. It is one of these cycles that we will experience both the end and beginning of on December 21, 2012. That is when the Sun exists in the center of our Galexy. The power of our means to evolve rests in our ability to unify in harmony. The negative dissonance of our current death culture, if not harmonized, will likely end the human experience. Man will not evolve in disharmony but will destroy himself. So our possessions are really nothing more than different vibrations materialized. Materialism is transient and not worth dying over.
We have yet to recognize our human capabilities because of the limiting boundaries of western science. It is time to expand our minds into the world of Spirit, not the warped and bureaucratic spirit of organized religion but instead to the wider understanding of Spirit gifted to us by the Mayans. Let us understand the gift of the Mayans and unify in harmony and move on to a new human dimension. There is not much time so let us begin here and journey to a better humanity together.
I would encourage everyone to join or to at least look into Bread for the World. This is a wonderful organization that works for peace and justice from the ground up and the top down. The references to Cuba's sustainable food supply reminded me of some work that Bread for the World is doing in Africa. They are teaching people how to store water in the ground for the drought season, and to use dung and compost as natural fertilizers.
Happy Earth Day, Planet Earth. Prosperity does not depend on dirty, destructive industry. People prosper when they are motivated to produce. What motivates YOU to be productive? Dirty skies, contaminated water and declining biodiversity? You're probably MUCH more motivated when you can contribute to cleaner air, water, food, soil, streets, buildings, transport, and healthier bodies, societies and biosphere.
A few elements of the progressive platform:
1.) Land, water, food security/independence for all people is crucial. The people's dependence on elites is the big problem today. Independence should be expanded to healthcare, education, shelter and transport, and ultimately to general economics/politics. The people have to demand that their governments enforce peak value AND cosumption limits in these enterprises. The idea that the "free market" accomplishes this is now fully discredited. Peak value in markets usually requires limting enterprise size. Ultimate mass economic/political independence converges toward localism.
2.) Full costs in retail prices puts our experience to work for us. Our experience with market economies shows that externalized costs create hugely destructive distortions in demand. We have to put all costs into the retail prices which makes it extremely easy for people to protect people and planet with their economic exchange. This process does two things - pushes demand toward the most efficient products/methods, and limits demand for ultimately expensive production.
3.) Complete cycles in all processes, the main two areas being the human food cycle and the general industrial production cycle. So we have bathroom and kitchen waste returned to the soil. And all products returned to their manufacturer for recycling. Notice how complete cycles synergize with localism.
I recently read a statistic that the world must produce as much food during the next 50 years as it has during the past 10,000 years just to keep up with world population growth and a greater % of the population eating higher on the food chain. This much production may be technologically possible, however, the political track record of humans indicates that it won't happen.
At the risk of being convicted of heresy and treason, I advocate reactivating the zero population growth and appropriate technology movements of the 1970's.
Because of my conviction that ZPG was and is nessary to save the planet, I made a decision to not reproduce. Not having kids made me selfish in the eyes of my friends and family, but I do not regret my decision. I find it hard to sympathize with all those infertile couples who spend so much time,money and emotional energy trying to have "children of our own". There are so many children in this world who do not have parents of their own. Is it compassion or greed that drives the medical profession to take extra-ordinary measures to help conception? This is way off the subject, but who pays for the multiple births, premature births, and lifelong health and developmental issues caused by fertility treatments?
In 1970 not only wasn't global warming a blip, the worry then was global COOLING and a new ice age... maybe its just that the climate ALWAYS changes...
And it sounds like Cuba has figured out how best to survive once again, they should thank their lucky stars for the four decade long embargo... now they don't have the influence of a trade agreement to mess them up, and remember, they are number one in
healthcare... sounds like we could take some lessons from them... but I'm sure this silly, useless embargo will not end in my lifetime.
Happy Earth Day... Turn out a light and take a walk...
"Instead of starving, Cubans began urban farming, stitching together a food system from the nation's decaying infrastructure that wasn't dependant on fossil fuel or crop subsidies."
Now that is what you call real "leadership." Lack of it is the reason people run out of fuel and food.
"The report highlights the need for a radical transformation of the global food network, which will have to feed an estimated additional three billion people by 2050."
There's just too many people. Simple as that. Considering this, I'll never understand the Catholic Church's ban on birth control. Never. Makes no sense to me.
Well Said D&G...
Thank you Treefrog. What a slog huh? These are bright people here and they will understand it in time. This is something so radically new to them that it does not yet register in their minds. Building these understandings piece by piece over time will begin to take form. Their hearts are good and they will get it in time. Some of us here do make these introductory statements trying to build some background so that when the knowledge is presented as we get closer to 2012, they will not be overwhelmed by it's radical breath. They will have enough knowledge to make a wise personal choice. The cumulative energy of over five thousand years is carried in the 2012 understandings and the quickening will shorten the time it takes to grasp it. I hope people understand this is not ego talking but fundamental science of a different kind.
I think we've reached the point where "good for the planet" and "good for people" are irreconcilable.
100% sustainable organic agriculture, and 100% renewable energy, and consuming less with low energy buildings and transport systems will all help. This is all achievable, don't listen to the nay-sayers.
Doom and Gloom
I think that is the true meaning of peace, what you are talking about. There is the sorrow that no one wants to talk about or why it is here, that I do not think many understand. Even I tend to think about what was lost because I understand that and I am strong enough to have survived. You speak from a good heart.
Was pleased to see several people mention ZPG.The US needs to take the lead in this area-not to lecture other nations for their expanding populations-but to acknowledge that we've grown far too fast also.Will our grandchildren do anything but despise us if the US population hits aprox.600 million in 50 years?
sow some (organic) seeds! Happy E Day
Treefrog, no they do not yet understand why the sorrow is here.
Trying to get people prepared for the transformation to the Universal consciousness, the next stage in our evolution, requires that they dial in. The opening of the mind to the transformation from a galactic to a universal citizenship is an evolution for humanity. Returning to our pre-technological human capacity to be open to the forces touching our lives is a readiness I believe that many can achieve. It is in the increasing understanding that technology is limited and cannot save us that the human antennas will be raised again. The Ninth Underworld (creation cycle) will be completed on October 28, 2011. Balance will be created and a new enlightenment gifted to us. Those who cannot release the once necessary ego will experience personal collapse. The surrender of ego and adoption of humility is a process that should begin now. I hope that people here will awaken.
Whatever we come up with, it should be practical and realistic. It is not realistic to demand that everyone become a vegan and ride a bike. People in China and India want cars, refrigerators and other modern conveniences. You will not get far telling them that they can not have those things.
That being the case, it is better to work on sustainable energy, conservation and efficiency. The new jobs creating all of this can expand the economies of the world in healthy sustainable ways.
There is a relationship between energy and economy. A growing economy takes more energy, but using more energy does not create an expanding economy. That cause and effect relation should tell us that we can have a good economy without wasting so much energy.
Doom and Gloom
I am trying to follow what you are saying, are you talking about star knowledge? I think most people know how to survive as a spirit, they just don't see that everything has a spirit. I think it will be like the earth will be upside down. Does that make sense or can you say?
http://elexion.com/lakota/wisdom/texto10b.htm
The fact that America has been bit by the gardening bug is an indication that something is happening to her social psyche. 51% of Americans have something growing in pots/containers or their yards, and seed shops are doing brisk business.
We have the slow food movement & the organic Whole Food type movement (admittedly, they is populated by mostly well heeled). They're out seeking to protect rare breeds of domestic foodstuffs + eating local, pesticide free, GM free foods. The protest against these two is you must be well heeled to eat this way.
Then again, there's Cuba. Cubans are not noted for being rich or elitist! Thus proving, eating locally and wholesomely isn't entirely the domain of the rich. Tomatoes will pop out of a pot. Container gardens do not require land even.
Topsy Turvey pots grow tomatoes upside down even, from fence posts. A little hacking...
http://topsyturvys.com/
The reason most people demand having "kids of their own" is that most of us are (?) drowning in their private and societal fantasy worlds in which ego demands are the compulsive-obsessive "real thing". Let's have more active writing about the necessity of birth control in order for this planet to survive!
Food for thought...these animals are the largest land animal in North America:
http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0423-02.htm
Yep …"Yellowstone has lost sight of the fact that the park is supposed to serve the wildlife, not …"have them be served as dinner
namaste
That maybe true but at 1200 pounds, what if you lived in a place where there were no supermarkets and gardens will not grow anything at -20 degrees. Suppose all your kitchen ware was provided by the same animal, your clothing, your home, your water storeage, and several other things. Then consider thier would be pretty close to zero waste and nothing put into the environment that was not already there for thousands of years. Oh, you would also have a fuel source for cooking.
Americans spend more than $100 billion per year on lawn care. This in a world that does not have enough food to feed all the people. It is an odd situation, but self interest is a major factor in people's lives. Even when they have the basics, they want more. They will not give to charity and heaven forbid that you ask them to pay any taxes for roads or schools.
That is a very good point sjc, there is enough food but there is a lack of social justice.