Alternatives to the modern agricultural system.
The modern agricultural system will eventually lead to an economic crash and a food crisis. To overcome the problems of the current system, some alternative systems have been developed. One of these alternative systems is permaculture. Permaculture is the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. It is a holistic approach. Permaculture believes that people can be adequately fed by localising agriculture and using organic methods. Some permaculture writers suggest food forest solutions as an alternative practice to monoculture. This is a polyculture, where a mixed variety of foods are grown together. In this system, tree crops replace cereals for basic carbohydrate supplies. This is beneficial, as if a pest does become a problem, it does not affect the entire farm, but it is confined to a limited number of crops, while the rest flourish. Companion planting is another technique used by permaculture. It uses specific plants in specific areas to deter and control pests or weeds that may affect a crop. Animals are also used in these food forests and provide benefits such as organic fertilisers and pest reduction.
This polyculture method has many benefits to the environment and to human health, although it is suppressed by the capitalist system. Conventional farmers are currently saving money on labour by specialising in one crop and using heavy machinery to get jobs done as efficiently as possible. In a system that is all about profit, polyculture would not be economically viable. Therefore, we need to change the current system to focus on the health and well-being of all individuals as well as the earth.
Another alternative is organic agriculture. In this system there is no use artificial fertilisers or synthetic pesticides. All inputs come from organic plant or animal resources, such as manure for fertiliser. This system was originally developed to be a healthy alternative for individuals who did not want to eat chemically tainted food. It is now recognised as an agricultural system that also protects the environment. Crop yields per hectare are generally lower in organic agriculture, although the costs of inputs are much less, so if farmers can sell their produce for a higher price, they may end up making a larger profit than if they were using conventional methods. After conversion to organic methods, yields will be low, although over the next five years, as the soil improves due the organic nutrients and micro-organisms returning, yields can be as high as conventional agriculture (Leahy 2008, p60). Organic produce can be up to 80% more expensive than conventionally grown food, but the market has still managed to grow very rapidly in affluent societies. Organic produce can be so expensive due to the added labour costs, such as producing composts, spreading manure, weeding by hand, companion planting, and resting fields to grow cover crops.
There are many challenges that farmers face when attempting to convert to organic methods. Farmers who neighbour conventional farms may not be able to get organic certification due to drift from the chemical sprays used. The five-year rehabilitation period of the soil, discussed above, can also prove to be financially crippling, especially when coupled with the added costs of investment in skills and knowledge that is required for organic agriculture. Leahy (2008, p61) argues that it is hard to imagine organics ever dominating the market, as it is currently only 1 to 2 percent of the current market, and seems to be levelling off.
Both of these techniques are far better alternatives to the modern agricultural system in regards to environmental sustainability and human health. This focus on health over wealth could be what leads us to an agricultural revolution, but it is also the biggest flaw with these systems. These practices do not fit into a capitalist system, meaning that its popularity is limited while the capitalist system still thrives. This will be further explored in a later article. While the food may be more expensive currently, by voting with your dollar for organic and/or permaculture grown food, in close proximity to you, you are showing the capitalist system that agriculture should not be solely focused on profit and that change is needed.
Sources:
Sustainable Agriculture’, in Environmental Science and Policy 55: 266-273.
Gunther, F. (2004) ‘Ruralisation a Way to Alleviate Vulnerability Problems’, In Ortega, E. & Ulgiati, S. (editors): Proceedings of IV Biennial International Workshop “Advances In Energy Studies”. Unicamp, Campinas, SP, Brazil. June 16-19, p. 37-64
Jordan, N. R. and Davis A. S. (2015) ‘Middle-Way Strategies for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture’, in BioScience 65: 513-519.
Leahy, T. (2008), ‘Unsustainable Food Production: Its Social Origins and Alternatives’, in John Germov & Lauren Williams (eds), A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: The Social Appetite, Oxford Press, pp. 58-77.
Pretty, J. (2005) ‘Sustainability in Agriculture: Recent Progress and Emergent Challenges’, Issues in Environmental Science and Technology 21, p. 1-15
