[compost_tea] Fwd: [SANET-MG] U.N. Report

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:13:01 EST

In a message dated 11/15/2003 2:06:28 PM Pacific Standard Time,
benbrook_at_HILLNET.COM writes:

this recently posted on SANET by Chuck Benbrook -

Notes on the recent U.N. report on
restructuring economic activity to make it more sustainable. I found it
really interesting; accessible at --

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu24ee/uu24ee00.htm#Contents

Chapter 9 covers agriculture and has some surprising content and
remarkable conclusions. E.g. --

"...China will increase per capita consumption of food, especially meat,
while losing half its arable land to urbanization and industrialization by
2030."

"There is overwhelming evidence that 'efficient' (industrial) agriculture
is not only mining the natural resource base but also influencing other
parts of the environment in ways that are detrimental to the well-being of
humankind." (Lots of examples noted).

"The consequences of disregarding sustainable patterns [of resource use]
have been more serious in agriculture than in any other sector of the
economy; 'modern' industrialized agriculture has turned out to be
unsustainable within two generations."

"There is a general tendency to underestimate the productivity of organic
agriculture for four reasons...(1) It still has relatively little
scientific support...(2) a 'learning' period of about 10 years is typically
necessary...(3) ..initial yield-lag during the transformation phase...(4)
shortages of labor..."

"Comparisons between conventional and organic agriculture, assuming similar
endowments of labour and machinery, suggest a much higher energy efficiency
for organic agriculture...from 48 percent to 63 percent [more
efficient]...soil erosion can be drastically reduced....[much more
efficient use of plant nutrients, much less groundwater contamination with
nitrogen]...further increases in the effectiveness and productivity of
organic agriculture can be expected."

         All the above discussion and conclusions then lead to this
remarkable conclusion --

"Based on the above evidence, it can be said that pragmatic* organic
agriculture is a realistic pathway to feed the growing world population and
to secure the natural resource base needed for a long term sustainable
future. But it has to be complemented by other measures, especially
efficiency of food distribution...[and population stabilization]."

* You might wonder what they mean by "pragmatic" organic agriculture. The
text makes clear that pragmatic organic farmers allow use of some inputs
and technology from off the farm, consistent with organic principles,
whereas some purists reject almost all inputs.

         It will be interesting to track the discussion set off by this
report. It is notable, as well, that FAO head Jacques Diouff recently gave
a major speech re needs in Africa to meet regional food security challenges
-- number 1, water development; 2, better roads and infrastructure -- and
NOT biotech. The U.N. system seems to be more attune to (and willing to
admit) the basic changes needed in agriculture than any U.S. based
government institutions.

                 Chuck
_________________________________________________________________

Charles Benbrook Ag BioTech InfoNet <http://www.biotech-info.net>
Benbrook Consulting Services CU FQPA site <http://www.ecologic-ipm.com>
5085 Upper Pack River Road IPM site <http://www.pmac.net>
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
Voice: (208)-263-5236
Fax: (208)-263-7342
E-mail: benbrook_at_hillnet.com

---------------------------

Interesting, yes?

Elaine
President, Soil Foodweb Inc, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Australia
Soil Foodweb Inc., New York
Soil Foodweb Inc., New Zealand
Soil Foodweb Inc., The Netherlands
Soil Foodweb, Inc., Mexico
Board Member, Sustainable Studies Institute, Eugene, OR


attached mail follows:



         Thanks to Joel for alerting us to the recent U.N. report on
restructuring economic activity to make it more sustainable. I found it
really interesting; accessible at --
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu24ee/uu24ee00.htm#Contents

         Chapter 9 covers agriculture and has some surprising content and
remarkable conclusions. E.g. --

"...China will increase per capita consumption of food, especially meat,
while losing half its arable land to urbanization and industrialization by
2030."

"There is overwhelming evidence that 'efficient' (industrial) agriculture
is not only mining the natural resource base but also influencing other
parts of the environment in ways that are detrimental to the well-being of
humankind." (Lots of examples noted).

"The consequences of disregarding sustainable patterns [of resource use]
have been more serious in agriculture than in any other sector of the
economy; 'modern' industrialized agriculture has turned out to be
unsustainable within two generations."

"There is a general tendency to underestimate the productivity of organic
agriculture for four reasons...(1) It still has relatively little
scientific support...(2) a 'learning' period of about 10 years is typically
necessary...(3) ..initial yield-lag during the transformation phase...(4)
shortages of labor..."

"Comparisons between conventional and organic agriculture, assuming similar
endowments of labour and machinery, suggest a much higher energy efficiency
for organic agriculture...from 48 percent to 63 percent [more
efficient]...soil erosion can be drastically reduced....[much more
efficient use of plant nutrients, much less groundwater contamination with
nitrogen]...further increases in the effectiveness and productivity of
organic agriculture can be expected."

         All the above discussion and conclusions then lead to this
remarkable conclusion --

"Based on the above evidence, it can be said that pragmatic* organic
agriculture is a realistic pathway to feed the growing world population and
to secure the natural resource base needed for a long term sustainable
future. But it has to be complemented by other measures, especially
efficiency of food distribution...[and population stabilization]."

* You might wonder what they mean by "pragmatic" organic agriculture. The
text makes clear that pragmatic organic farmers allow use of some inputs
and technology from off the farm, consistent with organic principles,
whereas some purists reject almost all inputs.

         It will be interesting to track the discussion set off by this
report. It is notable, as well, that FAO head Jacques Diouff recently gave
a major speech re needs in Africa to meet regional food security challenges
-- number 1, water development; 2, better roads and infrastructure -- and
NOT biotech. The U.N. system seems to be more attune to (and willing to
admit) the basic changes needed in agriculture than any U.S. based
government institutions.

                 Chuck


_________________________________________________________________

Charles Benbrook Ag BioTech InfoNet <http://www.biotech-info.net>
Benbrook Consulting Services CU FQPA site <http://www.ecologic-ipm.com>
5085 Upper Pack River Road IPM site <http://www.pmac.net>
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
Voice: (208)-263-5236
Fax: (208)-263-7342
E-mail: <benbrook_at_hillnet.com>

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Received on Sat Nov 15 2003 - 17:52:36 EST

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