Sustainable Food

[Afriendof B]

There is a discussion that has started over at Not Dabbling In Normal about taking charge of your food supply. As I rant about semantics and Monsanto duping the public into thinking it is a green company, it is conversations like this that remind me of the realities. Our food system is incredibly fragile, because of the distances food is shipped, the limited number of producers, the limited number of actual inputs used to create the "cornucopia of abundance" we live on, and the absolute dependence on fossil fuels to make it all happen. There are so many ways the system could crash on a global scale that the people in charge won't even talk about it. It is too terrifying.

The really scary thing for me is the time it will take to build a new system. Everyone thinks we can just go back to the way things were before we went global. We were doing alright then, and if we need to we can do that again until the world sorts it's self out. Except we can't. At least we can't do it very quickly. Almost all of the small scale, local production capacity and infrastructure that supported our country well into the 60's is gone. There are very few small, local farms producing food. There are almost no local dairies, creameries, slaughter houses, butchers, etc. For the ones that exist there are no avenues into the market, only barriers. There is no research being done to support the small diversified farm, or local agriculture. There is no equipment to make it more efficient or aid in production. There are only an unending list of regulations and restrictions that drive small producers out of business and prohibit most forms of local production, economies, and sharing. All it would take is a sustained spike in energy costs, or the failure of one of the major gm crops we all depend on, or a truckers strike, or... and the whole world's food system would crash and there would be nothing to fill the void.

I've had this conversation with lots of people, and they say I am a fear monger. "It won't happen," they say. But it almost did. And it will soon. I only write and speak of what I know. I know how much work it is to build a locally sustainable farm out of an abandon five acre field. I know what supports there are for such a project. I know how long it takes to rebuild soil, build the infrastructure, and get a product to market. In a world where food producers can't cheat with artificial inputs and genetic modification the time lag from where we are now to where we would need to be to survive is too long.

I'd disagree with the post by matronofhusbandry on the point of walking quickly. We should run. We have such a long way to go before there is a viable option. It isn't a sprint, but we better be picking up the pace, taking responsibility, and creating another option before it is too late.

[Jeffrey V.]

Thanks for the post! The Bioneers Dreaming New Mexico has been working on a Food & Farming project - A central element of the Dreaming New Mexico project is to help build a far more self-reliant local food system including a community-based, restoration economy:

Research is underway to propose a more self-reliant local food system for New Mexico. Look for solutions in 2009. A central element of the Dreaming New Mexico project is to help build a far more self-reliant local food system including a community-based, restoration economy that:

* Strengthens the vitality of the environmental and social fabric of the state and region
* Builds local prosperity, creates good jobs and locally owned businesses
* Places a central emphasis on providing food security while honoring vital cultural traditions and bio-cultural diversity

Why are local food systems important?

The Governor’s Climate Change Advisory group report issued in December 2006 sought to address carbon emissions from agriculture by setting a goal of 25% locally produced and consumed food by 2020. We will examine a multiplicity of strategies to help understand how to achieve that goal, help evolve the dream, map the moving parts and gaps as well as strengths, and help facilitate the networks that can realize such a food system.

New Mexico is third in the nation in “food insecurity” and fifth in hunger. Over 300,000 New Mexicans experience food insecurity and/or hunger. Only 6 states have a higher poverty rate than New Mexico. Hunger and poverty have a disproportionately negative impact on indigenous and rural communities in New Mexico.

Areas of focus for the food systems work include: local food economy, preservation of bio-cultural diversity, ecological agriculture, food access, preservation of farmland, and stewardship of water. The “uniting enemies” or issues around which to organize the work are: food insecurity, global warming, hunger, loss of farmland and farmers, loss of vital cultural traditions and foods, genetic engineering, and exploitive land and water policies - all issues that have enormous impact on local communities.

The food systems aspect of this initiative focuses on the questions:

* What would a sustainable, just, and more self-reliant and localized food system look like - one that fosters a sustainable economic base that provides for our grandchildren, honors the land, and supports vital bio-cultural traditions and the diversity of people and place?
* How do we create pathways to realize that vision?

[Charley Quinton]

One little hopeful about your statement: "There is no research being done to support the small diversified farm, or local agriculture."

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service may have a "faction" that is thinking about actual sustainability and small farms. (here's some evidence). Could there be a coup?

Also another gleam of light is ASAP at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There is some research being done.. but yeah... Ya gotta dig.