Alternative Farming Methods

Sustainable Agriculture and Farming Techniques

Overview

  • Alternatives to conventional farming are based on sustainable agriculture and farming techniques.
  • These include:
    • Low input farming systems
    • Regenerative farming systems
    • Biodynamic systems
    • Organic systems
    • Conservation farming
    • Hydroponics
    • Genetic improvement
    • Polycultures
    • Integrative management
    • Permaculture

Permaculture

  • A method of organic farming that encourages the restoration of balance to our environment through the application of ecological principles.
  • Refers to land use systems which utilize resources in a sustainable way.

Crop Rotation

  • One of the oldest, effective cultural control strategies.
  • Involves the planned order of specific crops planted on the same field.
  • Planned rotations may vary from two to three years or longer.
  • Succeeding crops should belong to a different family than the previous one.
  • Interrupts the normal life cycle of some pests by changing their environment so their host plant isn't present.
  • Individual crops deplete particular nutrients from soils; rotation helps to salvage nutrients, decreasing the need for fertilizers

Advantages

  • Prevents soil depletion, erosion, and maintains fertility.
  • Controls insects and mites.
  • Reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals and costs of purchasing pesticides.
  • Prevents diseases.
  • Helps control weeds.
  • Legumes in a rotation protect water quality by preserving excess nutrients or chemicals from entering the water supplies.
  • Crop rotation adds diversity to an operation.

Biodynamic Farming

  • Oldest nonchemical agricultural movement.
  • Uses organic practices.
  • Does not rely on the use of artificial fertilizers, although some organic or natural mineral fertilizers may be necessary during the establishment phase.
  • Practices prefer to work with natural life processes and integrate knowledge from the mineral processes used in conventional agriculture.
  • Weeds and pests are seen as useful indicators of imbalances in soils, plants, and animals.
  • Approach to the land is one of respect for the ecology, culture, and traditions of a place.
  • Seeks collaboration between humans and nature so that both can flourish.

Hydroponics

  • The science of growing plants without soil; also known as soilless culture.
  • Plants are grown in nutrient solutions in water and other medium.
  • Has been used for centuries, but commercially used since the 1970s.
  • Aims to mimic the necessary elements of a plant's natural environment, including the delivery of precise quantities of nutrients at precise times.

Advantages

  • Regional diversity allows for growth of fresh foods that would normally be shipped in or stored for long periods.
  • Higher yields of calories per growing area.
  • Less water usage compared to traditional crop watering methods.
  • Continuous production regardless of season.
  • Reduction of chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides.
  • Minimizes infestations with pests or disease.

Disadvantages

  • Still requires accessibility to water and nutrients.
  • Environmental impact from large infrastructures, plastic use, energy use.
  • Soilless growing means no ability to contribute to replenishment of soils.
  • Mineral content can vary, and questions around phytochemical and other non mineral compounds that are beneficial to health.