The progress of high-input oil-based The progress of high-input oil-based agricultureagriculture

Agricultural output of industrialised countries Agricultural output of industrialised countries doubleddoubled

Global use of nitrogen fertiliser tripled between Global use of nitrogen fertiliser tripled between WW2 and 1960WW2 and 1960

… … tripled between 1960 and 1970tripled between 1960 and 1970 … … doubled again by 1980doubled again by 1980

BUT POPULATION GROWTH KEPT BUT POPULATION GROWTH KEPT PACEPACE

Modern efficiency?Modern efficiency?

On traditional farms 10 kcalories of On traditional farms 10 kcalories of food energy for every 1 kcalorie food energy for every 1 kcalorie expended on the cultivationexpended on the cultivation

On the modern farm for every 10 On the modern farm for every 10 kcalories put in we get 1 kcalorie in kcalories put in we get 1 kcalorie in food food

Agriculture becomes an industryAgriculture becomes an industry

Agriculture becomes an industryAgriculture becomes an industry

Worldwide, 95 per cent of all food production depends Worldwide, 95 per cent of all food production depends on oil!on oil!Maybe a third of this goes to make artificial fertilisers. Maybe a third of this goes to make artificial fertilisers. Another third fuels tractors and combines.Another third fuels tractors and combines.The remaining third is irrigation, pesticides and so on. The remaining third is irrigation, pesticides and so on.

73 million people in 78 countries 73 million people in 78 countries now depend on the now depend on the

United Nations World Food United Nations World Food ProgrammeProgramme

2008: food riots in Egypt, Haiti, El Salvador2008: food riots in Egypt, Haiti, El Salvador

A glimpse of what lies aheadA glimpse of what lies ahead

A great bargain?A great bargain?

Greater productivityGreater productivity It resolved the nutrient bottleneck It resolved the nutrient bottleneck

easily and cheaplyeasily and cheaply It did away with drudgery of working on It did away with drudgery of working on

the landthe land BUT … at what cost?BUT … at what cost?

THE PRICE WE PAYTHE PRICE WE PAY

The price of industrial The price of industrial agricultureagriculture

The cost in terms of global warming from The cost in terms of global warming from all the oil consumed (all the oil consumed (agriculture agriculture consumes 30% of oil use). consumes 30% of oil use).

… … and all that methane from ruminant and all that methane from ruminant stomachsstomachs

Abandonment of rotation-based fertilityAbandonment of rotation-based fertility Pollution and depletion of water resourcesPollution and depletion of water resources

Deeper costs Deeper costs

Loss of vocational dignity and idealismLoss of vocational dignity and idealism Downgrading of farming as a way of lifeDowngrading of farming as a way of life Losing sight of the dignity and fulfillment of Losing sight of the dignity and fulfillment of

meaningful labourmeaningful labour Loss of the skills and insights central to a fully Loss of the skills and insights central to a fully

intelligent and sustainable agricultureintelligent and sustainable agriculture Loss of contact with the natural worldLoss of contact with the natural world

Look at the real priceLook at the real price

Hundreds of millions forced off the landHundreds of millions forced off the land

… … to add to the billions in urban slumsto add to the billions in urban slums

Beijing

We need a new agricultural revolution, an agrarianWe need a new agricultural revolution, an agrarianeconomy that is based on local adaptation of economiceconomy that is based on local adaptation of economic

activity to the capacity of the land to support suchactivity to the capacity of the land to support suchfarmingfarming

Farming with brains rather than by habit Farming with brains rather than by habit or convenience …or convenience …

IT CAN BE DONEIT CAN BE DONE

Crop rotations Composting and manure (soil organic

matter critical) Greater national and local self-reliance in

food production A more balanced diet with less meat

Floodplain farming in South China

Retaining soil organic matter is the key to sustainable farming

The modern organic movement

‘The slow poisoning of the life of the soil by artificial manures isone of the greatest calamities thathas befallen agriculture and mankind.’

Sir Albert Howard

Organic farming takes up where Howard left offOrganic farming takes up where Howard left off

Enhancing and building soil fertility by Enhancing and building soil fertility by growing diversified cropsgrowing diversified crops

Crop rotationCrop rotation Adding animal manure and green compost Adding animal manure and green compost Using natural pest control Using natural pest control

Simple steps such as … Simple steps such as …

Straw mulching can Straw mulching can triple the mass of triple the mass of the soil biotathe soil biota

Application of Application of manure can manure can increase the increase the abundance of abundance of earthworms and earthworms and soil micro-soil micro-organisms five-fold organisms five-fold

Rice paddies in Bali, Indonesia

Rice terraces in the Philippines

Local ingenuity: diagonal storm channels in Java, Indonesia

Conservation tillageConservation tillage

Edward Faulkner: no-till farming

Disk harrow replacing the mouldboard ploughDisk harrow replacing the mouldboard plough

Community-supported agriculture (CSA)

Urban farming is part of the answerUrban farming is part of the answer

800 million people800 million people 1 in 10 families in 1 in 10 families in

some US citiessome US cities Two-thirds in MoscowTwo-thirds in Moscow One-sixth of mid-19th One-sixth of mid-19th

century Paris farmedcentury Paris farmed … … making it self-making it self-

sufficient in greens, sufficient in greens, fruit and vegetablesfruit and vegetables

Urban farming is part of the answer

In 50 years time we will need every hectare In 50 years time we will need every hectare of agricultural land we haveof agricultural land we have

The challenge facing the agriculture of The challenge facing the agriculture of the futurethe future

To merge traditional To merge traditional knowledge and knowledge and experienceexperience

with the modern with the modern understanding of ecologyunderstanding of ecology

in order to sustain in order to sustain agricultureagriculture

in a way that can feed the in a way that can feed the population of the 21st population of the 21st centurycentury

… … and all the centuries and all the centuries after. after.

More people are needed on the land, practicing intensiveMore people are needed on the land, practicing intensiveorganic farming on smaller farms, using the best of science and organic farming on smaller farms, using the best of science and appropriate technology, but not high capitalisation appropriate technology, but not high capitalisation

The future of humanity may depend on it … The future of humanity may depend on it …

If countries such as Angola and Ethiopia – even – had newIf countries such as Angola and Ethiopia – even – had newAgrarian economies geared to their own variety of enlightenedAgrarian economies geared to their own variety of enlightenedagriculture …agriculture …

They could be self-sufficient They could be self-sufficient in food several times overin food several times over

There are so many areas where real progress can be made. There are so many areas where real progress can be made. ‘‘Agriculture in poorer regions can be improved through investmentAgriculture in poorer regions can be improved through investment in rural infrastructures, a better organization of local or national in rural infrastructures, a better organization of local or national markets, systems of irrigation, and the development of techniques markets, systems of irrigation, and the development of techniques of sustainable agriculture. New forms of cooperation and community of sustainable agriculture. New forms of cooperation and community organization can be encouraged in order to defend the interests organization can be encouraged in order to defend the interests of small producers and preserve local ecosystems from destruction. of small producers and preserve local ecosystems from destruction. Truly, much can be done!Truly, much can be done!

Laudato siLaudato si, 180, 180

To read:To read:

Farming in IrelandFarming in Ireland: the last : the last chapter (The Future of Farming)chapter (The Future of Farming)