Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

Pie in the sky or pie on your plate?

Please read the board!

What are the consequences of What are the consequences of monoculture?monoculture?

Food Forward! A different vision!

Sustainability Sustainability considerationsconsiderationsProcessed foodTransported foodStored foodMonoculturePesticidesInorganic

FertilizersMechanizationShort term gainsCost minimization

priority over human rights

Whole foodsLocal foodSeasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietalIPM pest strategiesOrganic fertilizersPeople/animal

powerLong term soil

fertilityFair trade = fair

wages for fair work

SustainableSystem that can

go on and on into the future because it doesn’t use up its resources faster than they are created.

Conserving our balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.

Sustainable =◦ Good for the

environment◦ Good for your

health◦ Good for your

wallet

Options! Organics in Options! Organics in mainstream grocery storesmainstream grocery storesOrganics sales have increase by

20% every year for the past 5 years (other foods 2-4% increase)

Organic agriculture is $28 Billion/2012 (+11% increase from 2011)

Organic Foods production Organic Foods production Act 1990Act 1990Farmers must develop an organic

management plan, be inspected annually by certification agency

Fields must be free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers at least 3 years

No use of GMO’sNo use of sewage sludge No irradiationNo antibiotics or growth hormones

Organic advantagesOrganic advantagesHealthier for farmers, consumersSafer for wildlifeDoesn’t require as much fossil

fuel for fertilizer/pesticidesEncourages companies to pursue

more sustainable practicesLegal definition creates reliable

label (unlike “natural”)

Organic disadvantagesOrganic disadvantagesCost (short shelf

life, lack of subsidies)

AvailabilityMay be grown in

monoculture, may not be local, can be highly processed

Look for organics!Look for organics!

So where can you get the good So where can you get the good stuff?stuff?Grocery Stores – look for local Grocery Stores – look for local foodsfoods “local” means

the source of the food is near by.

It does NOT mean the grocery store is near by!

Salinas California is 1,850 miles from Houston!

Compare/contrastCompare/contrast

Organic

Local

Eating local = eating Eating local = eating seasonally!seasonally!Tradeoffs? Local vs. Organic

– the throwdown!

Options! Grow your own!Options! Grow your own!

Community gardens/Urban Community gardens/Urban Ag Ag (ff12:49) (ff12:49)

Vermicompost!Vermicompost!

CSA’s – Community CSA’s – Community supported agriculture supported agriculture (ff15:50)(ff15:50)

Share holders pay annual fee; pick up produce regularly from central location or drop off

Wood Duck farmThis week’s share:Two big spaghetti

squashMixed salad

greensGreen beansOnionsSweet potatoesZucchiniYellow squash

Farmer’s markets Farmer’s markets (FF 5:16)(FF 5:16)

Houston:◦ Rice Tues pm ◦ 3000 Richmond◦ St.Cyril on Westheimer

@beltway

All $ directly to farmer

All local = all seasonal

Interactions increaseOften organic, but

not certified

The question of access and The question of access and equityequity3,200 farmer’s

markets now take SNAP! (suplemental nutrition assistance program)

Farmer’s market food costs reflect a real wage for the farmer

Compare/contrastCompare/contrast

Farmer’s

MarketCSA

Sustainability Sustainability considerations – considerations – Processed foodTransported foodStored foodMonoculturePesticidesInorganic

FertilizersMechanizationShort term gainsCost minimization

priority over human rights

Whole foodsLocal foodSeasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietalIPM pest strategiesOrganic fertilizersPeople/animal

powerLong term soil

fertilityFair trade = fair

wages for fair work

Current sustainability Current sustainability choiceschoicesAdvantages Disadvantages

““Organic farming is a Organic farming is a crucial WME (weapon of crucial WME (weapon of mass enlightenment).mass enlightenment).

- Gary Hirshberg CEO of Stoneyfield organic yogurt

Farmer’s Market Farmer’s Market ChallengeChallengeSo GO already!Visit a farmer’s market and talk

with a vendor.Post a picture and your interview

on the HUB by Dec 12th.