SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: SOCIAL

DIMENSIONS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

A module of the Globalizing Agriculture Education Project

Module Learning Outcomes

To be able to describe several critical social issues related to agricultural sustainability

To be able to explain and apply these issues in a site-specific context using international examples, and compare and contrast with the US. International Case Study: Basque Farmers

in the French Pyrenees

The USDA definition of ''sustainable agriculture‘’, as defined in the 1990 Farm Bill

“An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term: * Satisfy human food and fiber needs. * Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base

upon which the agriculture economy depends. * Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-

farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.

* Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. * Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

(U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)

What is “sustainable agriculture?”

An ‘umbrella’ for programs & practices

“Sustainable agriculture” is a general term for programs and practices that pursue the goals of balancing economic profitability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Sustainable Agriculture

Certifications or programs

Practices

USDA Organic

Certified Naturally

GrownBiodynamic

NRCS Conservation

programs

Rotation

Conservation tillageReducing

external inputs Integrated

Pest Management

& many others

Community-based food

systems

An interdisciplinary perspective

Sustainable Agriculture integrates economic, environmental and social goals.

Understanding ‘social responsibility’Healthy food is

not accessible for everyone.

The farmer population is

aging.

There is increasing

pressure on farm lands for

development and other non-

agricultural land uses.

There are many labor issues in the agricultural

sector.

Farm families often have at

least one member working off-farm to make

ends meet, changing

traditional rural family dynamics.

What are some of the social issues in our food and

agriculture system?

Can you think of more?

Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Aging farmer

populations The average age of a

Kentucky farmer is 56½. Across the US, 57% of

farmers are over 55. The number of young

farmers is decreasing. Many young people are

leaving rural areas to live in cities and pursue non-agricultural livelihoods.

Who will grow our food in the

future?

Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Agricultural lands are

under pressure from a variety of non-agricultural land uses. In Kentucky, changes in

the tobacco economy, rising land prices and development pressure make it difficult to keep farm families on the land. In Kentucky, 132 acres of

rural land were developed every day from 1992-1997.

Where will we grow our food in the future?

Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Changes in the global

agricultural economy make it more difficult to make a living on the family farm. In Kentucky, the average

farm size in 163 acres. Traditionally, stable tobacco prices helped maintain small farm acreages.

With the decline of tobacco, many farmers are looking for alternatives, including ‘scaling up’ livestock and crop operations.

How will this affect farm

families in the future?

What about new farmers?

Social responsibility: a global issue

These issues are not unique to US agriculture. The salience of each of these issues may vary by region of the world, but agricultural communities everywhere are facing these same issues.

By comparing and contrasting the ways communities deal with social issues, we learn about these general concepts, and the ways communities share or diverge in their approaches to dealing with them.

Example: Basque Farmers in Soule, France.

Case Study: Farmers in the Basque province of Soule,

France

What is the geographic context?

France is a member of the European Union, an affiliation of 27 countries united in a common currency and agricultural policy.

The study region is circled in red.

27 countries in 2005 (including Bulgaria &

Romania

*For backgroun

d on the history of

the EU and it’s

member states,

see the Economics module of

this section.

EU Agriculture: Overview

(USDA ERS data).

Major agricultural products Livestock products (including

dairy), grains, vegetables, wine, fruits, and sugar

Major exports Grains (wheat and barley), dairy

products, poultry, pork, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and wine

Major imports Soybeans and soybean products,

cotton, tobacco, tropical products, off-season fruits and vegetables, coffee, cocoa, tea, and spices.

Average Farm Size (acres)

US (2007

)

EU -15

(2007)

EU – 27

(2008)

418 46.2 34.1

EU Agriculture: Farm size

Farms in the EU are often a patchwork of small parcels spread across a broader area (that is, they are not contiguous). Why might this be?Region Average

Farm Size

(acres)European

Union84

France, Nation-wide

113

Soule (Case study

Province)

61

US,Nation-wide

418

Kentucky 163

Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France

The Basque language is distinct from any other European language.

In Soule, Basques traditionally raise sheep using complex grazing systems have been practices for thousands of years.

Farmers in Soule are ethnically Basque, a traditional people that have been occupying regions of France and Spain prior to 1100 AD.

Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition

A traditional grazing system of moving animals to high mountain pastures in the summer months In Soule, animals move up in May,

down in September Traditionally animals led up on foot,

often a 10-12 mile walk. Now mostly transported in trucks, except in remote pasturage

System developed in the middle ages, and continues today, but area has shrunk dramatically

Mostly sheep, but increasingly more cows and horses

Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition

Traditional grazing patterns in Soule Winter – in town on family farm lands Spring and fall – move to lands owned by

villages (the coteaux, or hills). Summer – move to regionally-managed

high pastures (estives), first to lower areas and then to high mountain areas; sheppards stay in permanent cabins.

Why transhumance?- Farm sizes too

small to support grazing year round in lower valleys.

- Resource use changes based on land ownership and time of year.

The highlands of Soule.

Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition

Aging rural populations

Average farmer age – rising as in the US

Men significantly outnumber women in age categories above 30 years

Birth rates are one of the lowest in all of France Est.1.75 children/woman in

Soule (compared to 2.0 in France as a whole)

Population declined 12.5% from 1982-1999

Changes in farming communities

Basque grandfather making cheese. His son has 2 children, one of whom they hope will take up farming.

Why is the average farmer population aging? Children are moving to the cities, leaving

parents as primary farm operators. It is difficult for new farmers to get into

farming – why might this be? Land prices are high Input costs and infrastructure are high Traditional community- newcomers are seen as

outsiders.

What is similar or different compared to US agriculture?

Changes in farming communities

Traditionally farm families worked solely on the farm

Declining profits and land use pressure have led to changes in traditional farm structures Prices for as meat and cheese

are steady for past ~20 years Input costs have increased Infrastructure improvements

necessary Land and home prices have

risen steadily, in part driven by second-home purchases from urban people.

What can farmers do to keep family farm operations

profitable?

Changes in farming communities

Cooperatives as community assets Farmers

traditionally sold their milk to a regional milk company Kept some for

cheese making at home.

With declining milk prices, they organized and proposed to develop a cooperative to make cheese for local markets.

EU rural development funds (CAP money) was

used to build local cheesemaking

cooperative run by local farmers.

Pressures from non-agricultural land uses

With declining numbers of farmers and increasing land prices, many family farm homes as “summer homes” to other French or Europeans This is seen as an unwelcome intrusion of

“outsiders” to the region, but continued high prices make it difficult for families without farmers to justify not selling.

Challenges to traditional culture

Increased rural tourism

Ex. GR10 Trail runs the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coasts

Explosion in outdoor activity tourism, including hiking, birding, parasailing and food tourism

Tensions between recreational land users and farmers

Challenges to traditional culture

Increased rural tourism

How might farmers take advantage of this?

Agritourism Websites devoted to ec

o-tourism Some non-farming

residents are running bed-and-breakfasts or renting rooms to traveling hikers.

Photos courtesy of Ariege Pyrenees

Adapting to change

Governmental support “Mountain Charter” created

by regional governments to help promote the quality of the agricultural products from these ‘pristine environments.’

Promotes the co-existence of agricultural and recreational land uses, and includes mandate to evaluate land use from 2005-2015

Controversial with farmers – will it help of just bring more beaurocracy?

Relating to the US

What are some of the similarities you see?

What differences? What was interesting?

Summary questions

Summary questions that tie to learning outcomes for

specific class use.

Supplemental Readings & Resources Cornell Primer on Sustainable Agriculture

An introduction to sustainable agriculture and community food systems

Welch-Devine and Murray, 2010. Reading on community based food

systems