"Giving priority to [farming] approaches that increase reliance on fossil fuels is agriculture committing suicide," so says Olivier De Schutter, the UN top official on the right to food in a statement marking World Food Day.
If you think De Schutter's words, reported by News 24, seem extreme, consider that agriculture is directly responsible for 14% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, and may even be responsible for up to a full third of these gasses, if we also include the carbon dioxide produced by deforestation solely to expand areas for cultivation or pastures. Not only that, but non-organic farming has far reaching implications such as organochlorine pesticides in our air, soil and water, not to mention our bodies.
De Schutter also notes that, "Current agricultural developments are threatening the ability for our children's children to feed themselves... A fundamental shift is urgently required if we want to celebrate World Food Day next year."
De Schutter, among other organic advocates recommends loosing our reliance on chemical fertilizers, supporting a global promotion of low-carbon farming and making grander moves to encourage and develop small-scale, family agriculture.
This must read News 24 article is packed with more tips and ideas surrounding organic vs. non-organic farming. I'd take a peek and forward it to pals. The healthy future of our planet, and the people occupying it, seriously depends on how quickly we can all adapt to organics.
Photo by Tim McCabe, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Comments
Love the sweeping generalizations here. Evil farmers, accounting for 14% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Oh, and 100% of food production. Should they stop producing food, so that the 14% is eliminated?
Let’s see. If they choose not to use synthetic everything-cides, they must use more fossil fuels to cultivate to keep the weeds at bay. Either way they’re using fossil fuels. There is room for both approaches–conventional and organic.
What is truly suicide is attacking conventional agriculture until it is eliminated. Huh. No food. At least no food for the masses–maybe the wealthy will still be able to feed themselves.