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.