Bill:
It appears the author of the article in Slate is making the
claims about feeding and yields but the data he presents was the result of
research done by an economist at the USDA. The author lists the USDA web
site where the 2008 study is described. I read it and I do not see all of
the claims the author makes in the article on the USDA site. It thus appears
he is documenting the results in his article by mentioning the USDA site and
giving us the link. Thus I do not see how he is not trying to be biased.
Many authors in non refereed publications or all forms of media put their
own spin on things, I am not sure if that constitutes being biased? Some of
the authors claims seem plausible.
You mention many things in your response, some of which seem
possible. If you or Rodale could provide some documented or peer reviewed
science to better explain these statements this would be an excellent
rebuttal to the authors claims.
For example your mention "The average cost of 20 years of organic food
production in Italy remains less than conventional fruits and vegetables
with 55,000 certified growers who feed all the school systems" Has there
been a peer reviewed study done with documentation on this subject. I am
always hungry for good science based information on organic agriculture.
I think statements in the article like the following hurt scientists trying
to publish information about organic agriculture
As Jason Clay, senior vice president of the World Wildlife Fund,
<http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/a-hybrid-path-to-feeding-9-bil
lion-on-a-still-green-planet/> writes, "I think we need a new kind of
agriculture-kind of a third agriculture, between the big agribusiness,
commercial approach to agriculture, and the lessons from organic and local
systems." There are so many contradictions in this statement Is he saying
that we need agriculture that is not treated as an agribusiness or
commercial? In other words new agriculture is not supposed to generate
revenue or be operated at a profit? "And the lessons from organic and
locals systems?" Is he saying that all organic and local farmers are not
commercial and are not agricultural businesses. This is idiocy. There is
no one I hold in higher esteem than a local organic farmer who is commercial
and is a viable agribusiness that generates significant revenue and yields,
and make a acceptable profit.
Jerome L. "Jerry" Frecon
Agricultural Agent I (Professor 1)
Gloucester County Extension Department Head
Cooperative Extension, Gloucester County
1200 North Delsea Drive, Clayton, N.J. 08312
Phone 856 307-6450 Ext 1 Fax 856 307-6476
http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Sciarappa
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 3:57 PM
To: 'Dave Schmitt'; 'Apple-crop discussion list'; [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?
Thanks for the article Dave.
The main fallacy in it's undocumented and biased assertion (same as Rodale's
political advocacy approach) is extrapolating apples to oranges. Comparing
US certified production to anything gives a false impression. Our American
organic effort lags far behind Australia, China, South America and most
parts of Europe. Some certification in these countries is more stringent
than US and some is not certified at all yet better in quality than US.
Incorporating global organic uncertified would paint a very different and
more equitable picture.
Regardless, if unlimited human population growth occurs, there will be even
more food scarcity and food riots but largely because of a distribution
chain problem in less accessible places and human populations that cannot
economically afford to pay. The average cost of 20 years of organic food
production in Italy remains less than conventional fruits and vegetables
with 55,000 certified growers who feed all the school systems. That's
existing real world evidence that is gaining in European ag every year. USA
policy and economic development funding has done all it can to retard such
sustainable growth.
Bill Sciarappa
From: Dave Schmitt [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 2:54 PM
To: Apple-crop discussion list; [email protected];
[email protected]
Subject: Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?
Interesting piece in Slate:
http://www.slate.com/id/2287746/
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