Shplainin' Some Sustainin'

If you read this blog somewhat regularly you are forced to hear me yap on and on about sustainable this and sustainable that. We all know that we are facing many challenges to feed an ever growing population with less and less farmland.

In order to make sure that the process by which we set out to feed that population will work we need to use processes that are sustainable over the long term. A report from Johns Hopkins found that conventional farming practices require 3 calories of energy for each calorie produced. That is the dictionary definition of unsustainable practices and it doesn't even account for transportation after growing and harvesting.

The other issue not covered in the Johns Hopkins report is the damage to the soil and soil organisms by the rampant use of herbicides and pesticides. So what are we to do, Paully?

The United Nations reported in 2010 that agroecology (basically organic practices) have more ability to feed the world for a number of reasons. They can be more specific to climate concerns as well as terrain issues. The practices provide more opportunity for the neediest people. The practices are sustainable over the long term and offer more opportunity to breed higher producing varieties.

In a 30 year research trial the Rodale Institute found that organic practices used 45% less energy, built rather than depleted soil, and outperformed conventional practices in drought situations. That is what is meant by sustainable.

No matter which future we face there is no process for producing beef that is anywhere near a sustainable process. They simply require more food and water than they produce in food. The grain fed to raise one head of cattle would feed 4 people for one year and the beef produced would not. There's no magic to that. If your car cost you more to drive to work than you could earn you'd take the train or the bus wouldn't you? There's the beef folks.

What can we do Paully? Vote with your dollars and cents folks. When you buy organic at the store the produce manager has to order more and then the wholesale produce company needs to order more and the farms need to add more acres to organic - and sustainable - production. It is one of the things we can all do to make the future a little easier for those who will follow.

More soon....