MN

Sustainable Agriculture Overview

Sustainable Agriculture

  • Soil Loss

    • Soil loss is preventable, not inevitable

    • Solutions also conserve other nutrients

    • Reducing nutrient loads entering waterways recommended

    • Prairie Strips: Effective solution particularly for farms in the Midwest

Conservation Practices

  • Contour Farming: Technique to conserve topsoil

  • Terracing: Farming practice that reduces soil erosion on sloped land

  • No-Till Farming:

    • Soil disturbance is minimal when planting seeds.

    • Benefits:

    • Conserves soil moisture

    • Reduces erosion

    • Enhances carbon sequestration in soil

    • Challenges include:

    • Investment in specialized equipment

    • Potentially higher costs for weed and pest management

  • Cover Crops:

    • Defined as crops that can be cash crops (e.g., soybeans) or non-cash crops (e.g., groundcover)

    • Benefits of cover crops include:

    • Soil retention

    • Nutrient replenishment post-death of crop

    • Pest management and weed competition

    • Capturing excess nutrients

  • Agroforestry:

    • Definition: Planting trees and shrubs in crop fields

    • Benefits include:

    • Preserved soil fertility

    • Erosion prevention

    • Increased biodiversity

    • Reduced need for pesticides and fertilizers

    • Note: More labor-intensive and may not match Green Revolution output per acre

Example: Sembrando Vida Program

  • Launched in 2019, engaging 450,000 farmers

  • Farmers paid $400/month for planting trees

  • Goals include:

    • Preservation of biodiversity

    • Reduction of rural poverty

    • Access to government specialists for assistance

    • Ensuring long-term program sustainability

    • Consideration of distribution for produce from remote areas to markets

Upcoming Lecture Rules

  • Opportunity to vote for the topic of Wednesday’s lecture

  • No material from the lecture will be assessed in exams, except for graphs or facts if reused in future lectures

Topics to Vote On:

  • Lawns

  • Trains

  • Nuclear Energy

  • History of Environmental Movement

  • Future of Economic Growth

Restoring Soil Fertility

  • Approaches to restoring soil fertility include:

    • Use of organic fertilizers which include:

    • Animal manure

    • Green manure

    • Compost

    • Crop rotation methods

Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides

  • Types of biological controls include:

    • Utilization of natural predators

    • Use of parasites

    • Implementation of disease-causing bacteria and viruses

  • Caution advised when introducing new species as unintended outcomes can occur, such as the cane toads disaster in Australia.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

  • Concept that involves evaluating crops and pests within an ecosystem framework

  • Methods involved in IPM include:

    • Biological controls

    • Cultivation controls (e.g., altering planting schedules)

    • Judicious application of small amounts of pesticides

Hydroponics

  • Definition: A method of growing plants without soil

  • Components of a hydroponic system:

    • Timer

    • Drain tube

    • LED grow light

    • Grow tray

    • Nutrient pump

    • Nutrient solution

Aquaponics

  • Definition: Combines aquaculture with agriculture to create a symbiotic environment

  • The Aquaponics Cycle includes:

    1. Contaminated water with ammonia from fish food and waste is pumped into the grow bed

    2. Bacteria convert ammonia first into nitrites and then into nitrates

    3. Plants absorb nitrates as nourishment

    4. Clean water siphoned back to fish tank after ammonia removal

Vertical Farming

  • Vertical farming allows feeding the world while saving land

  • Often utilizes hydroponics

  • Plant growth focuses on stems and fruits over root growth

  • Energy demands due to artificial lighting and environmental controls must be considered

  • Potential savings on transportation, pesticides, and fertilizers might offset high energy costs

Organic Agriculture

  • Definition: "A production system managed to respond to site-specific conditions integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices fostering cycling of resources, promoting ecological balance, and conserving biodiversity" (USDA)

    • Characteristics: No hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetic modification allowed

Gradations of Organic

  • 100% Organic: No synthetic additives

  • Organic: At least 95% of ingredients must be organic

  • Made with Organic Ingredients: Minimum 70% of ingredients must be organic

  • Market Trends: Walmart's rise as a top seller in organic foods often sourced from overseas where standards are less stringent.

Organic Agriculture Market Insights

  • The organic movement emerged as a response to the Green Revolution

  • Organic farming may be monocropping (often the case)

  • The organic industry is valued at approximately $7.7 billion per year but consumer awareness of premium pricing is questioned.

  • Not all organic labeling ensures local sourcing, fair labor practices, or health benefits (citing organic packaged foods)

  • Issues with green labeling such as mislabeling exemplified by dolphin safe tuna.

Organic Industrial Complex

  • US organic produce demand rose by 6.4% in 2017

  • Only about 1% of US produce is certified organic

  • Small farms may find official certification at a cost ($200 - $1500 for USDA inspection) not worth pursuing.

Local Food Movement

  • Emerged with an emphasis on environmentally friendly and ethical food sourcing

  • Recent trend in the U.S. following decades of farm consolidation

  • Farmers’ markets increased from 1,755 in 1994 to 8,669 in 2016

  • Term “Locavore” coined in 2005, promoting the idea of consuming food grown within 100 miles.

Slow Food Movement

  • Initiated in Italy in 1986 as a reaction against fast food

  • Associated with anti-consumerism messages

  • Urban gardening seen as a solution to food deserts; provides local food access.

Involvement in Agriculture

  • Discussion on urban gardens and their importance in raising awareness about food sourcing.

  • Low current involvement: Only 1% of US population is engaged in agriculture; average farmer age was 57.5 in 2017.

  • Initiatives such as 4-H program promote agricultural engagement through farm ambassador programs.

  • Schools can promote local foods in cafeterias and have students partake in gardening experiences.