The Future of Agriculture (Peak Oil and A New Farming Paradigm)

[jpak]

http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/archives/0307InterviewHeinberg.htm

ACRES U.S.A. According to the biblical book of Joel, old men dream dreams and young men see visions. Are we looking at dreams or at visions in what you recently presented at the annual E.F. Schumacher lecture?

RICHARD HEINBERG. It’s probably more in the category of visions. It’s pretty clear what the world needs in terms of future agriculture and future food production. Whether we’ll actually get there is quite a different question, because right now we’re on exactly the wrong track. We’re going to have to make a pretty dramatic change in our agricultural priorities if we’re going to arrive at anything like a sustainable system that will actually feed future generations. What I’ve tried to do is lay out a vision of what’s possible.

ACRES U.S.A. What is possible?

HEINBERG. Using the knowledge that we’ve built up over the last several decades about organic farming, about small-scale food production using techniques such as permaculture and bio-intensive and so on, I think it’s possible for us to produce food in a way that doesn’t destroy topsoil, in a way that preserves fresh water and that feeds as many people as we have in the world today. But it’s going to require a lot more people doing the work of producing the food, because truly sustainable agriculture is a much more labor-intensive process.

<much more>

[peacebird]

1. Seed saving, growing diverse varieties including heirlooms, and growing organically

Buying as much locally as possible. Supporting small farm operations by joining CSA's. All these are good steps! I think it is important to expand out from the traditional grocery store paradigm of "no season" eating. Get back to growing some of our own food, and eating whats in season! Truly enjoy the wonders of fresh spring peas only in the spring, etc....

[mike_c]

2. "..it’s going to require a lot more people doing the work of producing the food..."

There's the rub, because ultimately THAT requires much more equitable land and other resource distribution.