_________________________________

 

 

Three systems that provide us food:

1. Croplands
2. Rangelands
3. Oceanic Fisheries

Since 1950, there has been an great increase in productivity known as the "Green Revolution." It is heavily based upon:

1. increased use of farm machinery

2. inorganic chemical fertilizers

3. irrigation

4. pesticides

5. cereal crops

6. densely populated feedlots and pens

7. intensive ocean fishing

 

Some major problems associated with high-imput agriculture:

1. soil and water pollution from pesticides and fertilizers

2. soil erosion and loss of fertiltiy

3. salinization of irrigated soils

4. deforestation and loss of biodiversity

5. pest resistance to pesticides

6. pesticide residues in our food

7. aquifer depletion

8. genetically uniform crops and livestock (monocultures).

____________________________

Sustainable Agriculture

The 1850 Sturbridge Farm

The Farmer in North Dakota

Salina Land Institute

The Rancher in Australia

Holistic Range Management

___________________________

Some associated concerns:

Undernutrition

Malnutrition

Overnutrition

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

________________________

Government Policy:

Keep food prices low

Provide subsidies to farmers

Eliminate price controls and subsidies

Many environmentalists believe that instead of eliminating all subsidies, we should use them to reward farmers and ranchers who:

protect the soil
protect and land and wildlife habitat
restore degraded land
conserve water
practice more sustainable methods