Big Bad Agrilculture

So what are the issues with modern agriculture? The biggest looming one (excluding GM) is probably the shortage of oil which is going to hit us sometime. Experts predict around 2012, but no-one is really sure. Oil is used to make fertilizer and a large percentage of the world’s food is now grown in mono-culture farms (ie only one product) and heavily reliant on the use of oil based fertilizers. Take for example one of the worlds biggest crops – corn. When I think of corn I think of those bright yellow corn cobs, slathered in butter. But corn is in just about every processed food you can think of from soft drink to biscuits to bread! Good old corn is everywhere (usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup). Take for example your McDonalds meal of the ‘carbon’ (ie non-water, organic stuff in the item) in the meals the following %* comes from corn:

Soft drink 100%
Milk shake 78%
Salad dressing 65%
Chicken nuggets 56%
Cheeseburger 52%
French Fries 23%

So there is loads more corn in a chicken nugget than chicken!!!
(*these figures come from “The Omnivore’s dilemma” by Michael Polan)

Corn is grown using a large amount of fertilizer and then the processing of corn into the myriad of products on our supermarket and fast food shelves also takes oil. So that by the time you eat your McDonalds meal 10 times as much calories of oil have been used to make the meal than you consumed – very energy intensive.

And then there is the environmental pollution from using excessive amounts of fertilizer. The fertilizer used on corn contains large amounts of nitrogen, which when the excess runs off into water ways it creates ‘dead zones’ of algae where nothing grows. Some of it also evaporates into the air where it acidifies the rain and contributes to global warming (via ammonium nitrate turning into nitrous oxide – an intensive ghg).

So what are there alternatives? Obviously eating less processed food helps the energy balance, but also supporting farmers that use no ‘man-made’ fertilizers such as organic & biodynamic farmers. There is also the ‘grow your own’ option, which while unlikely to supply all your vegetable & fruit needs can supply some. And you can also trade the excess. Across Melbourne there are a number of ‘food swaps’ where people meet regularly and swap there excess produce for other home grown stuff, So if your tomato trees are growing excessive amounts, you can take the excess down to CERES park in Brunswick every Saturday, and swap your tomatoes for some one else’s beans or zucchinis! Very cool! It is called the Urban Orchard and they are popping up all over Melbourne. Another one is:
Westside urban orchard swap
10-11.30am : first saturday of every month
211 Nicholson St, Footscray



Some definitions:

Organic Framing
"A production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible organic farming systems rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks, and aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilth, to supply plant nutrients and to control insects, weeds and other pests."

Biodynamic Framing
Takes organic farming one step further
Biodynamic farming is a system of farming based on the teachings of German philosopher Rudolph Steiner. Initially developed in Germany in the 1920s, its use is now world wide including Australia. Biodynamic farms strive to be a self-sustaining organism within the surrounding ecosystem and is generally stricter than organic standards and emphasizes farm animals, soil and plant sprays and compost preparations which enhance and regulate plant growth and fertility.


Permaculture
"Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way". (Mollison, 1988, Design Manual IX).