food security and sustainable agriculture

1. Food Security andFood Security and
Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

2. Michael Pollan:
Twinkie vs. Carrot

3. Government Policies Can ImproveGovernment Policies Can Improve
Food SecurityFood Security
 Agriculture is risky – unpredictableAgriculture is risky – unpredictable
 Government approaches:Government approaches:

Control food prices – good for consumers, notControl food prices – good for consumers, not
farmersfarmers

Provide subsidies – good for farmers, but mayProvide subsidies – good for farmers, but may
produce too much foodproduce too much food

Can use subsidies that promote sustainableCan use subsidies that promote sustainable
agriculture, fishing, and aquacultureagriculture, fishing, and aquaculture

4. SOLUTIONS: SUSTAINABLESOLUTIONS: SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE
 Three main ways to reduce hunger andThree main ways to reduce hunger and
malnutrition and the harmful effects ofmalnutrition and the harmful effects of
agriculture:agriculture:

Slow population growthSlow population growth

Sharply reduce povertySharply reduce poverty

Develop and phase in systems of moreDevelop and phase in systems of more
sustainable, low input agriculture over the nextsustainable, low input agriculture over the next
few decadesfew decades

5. SOLUTIONS:SOLUTIONS:
SUSTAINABLESUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

6. SustainableSustainable
Agriculture:Agriculture:
Organic FarmingOrganic Farming
 Results of 22Results of 22
year studyyear study
comparingcomparing
organic andorganic and
conventionalconventional
farmingfarming

7. Solutions: Making the Transition toSolutions: Making the Transition to
More Sustainable AgricultureMore Sustainable Agriculture
 Eat more locally grown foodEat more locally grown food
 Community Supported AgricultureCommunity Supported Agriculture –– CSACSA
– purchase share from local farmer – often– purchase share from local farmer – often
organic – allows farmer guaranteed $ –organic – allows farmer guaranteed $ –
customer gets weekly producecustomer gets weekly produce

8. Solutions: Making the Transition toSolutions: Making the Transition to
More Sustainable AgricultureMore Sustainable Agriculture
 Cut food wasteCut food waste
 Grow food in urban areasGrow food in urban areas
 Community gardensCommunity gardens
 Asphalt gardeningAsphalt gardening – raised beds in parking– raised beds in parking
lotslots
 School gardensSchool gardens
 Vertical farmVertical farm::

9. SOLUTIONS: SUSTAINABLESOLUTIONS: SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE
 Food labels – legal terms:Food labels – legal terms:

Natural – means nothingNatural – means nothing

100% organic – no pesticides, synthetic100% organic – no pesticides, synthetic
fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, geneticfertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, genetic
modificationmodification

Organic – 95% of ingredients organicOrganic – 95% of ingredients organic

Made with organic ingredients – 70% organicMade with organic ingredients – 70% organic
 Agribusiness trying to weakenAgribusiness trying to weaken

10. Solutions: Making the Transition toSolutions: Making the Transition to
More Sustainable AgricultureMore Sustainable Agriculture
 More research,More research,
demonstrationdemonstration
projects,projects,
governmentgovernment
subsidies, andsubsidies, and
training cantraining can
promote morepromote more
sustainablesustainable
organic agricultureorganic agriculture