Aside from agroecology (Miguel Altieri), there are many other well-documented strands of sustainable farming.
They differ in terms of emphasis, but they are all generally earth-friendly. These include Korean natural farming (Han Kyu-Cho, emphasizes the role of microorganisms and how to culture and multiply them); natural farming/do-nothing agriculture (Masanobu Fukuoka, emphasizes minimum labor application); permaculture (Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, emphasizes the design of farms as ecological systems); biodynamic farming (Rudolf Steiner, emphasizes the remote--including cosmic--influences on farming); organic farming (IFOAM, focused on a commonly-agreed set of written rules and standards that farmers must observe and follow in a verifiable way); soil food web approach (Helen Ingham, focus on aerobic soil organisms and compost teas); biointensive gardening; etc. It is important to keep in mind and to inform the public about this diversity, so that practitioners and beginners who want to leave the chemical approach behind can choose the methods/approaches that they are most comfortable with. Roberto Verzola On Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:05:23 +0700 Michel Bauwens <[email protected]> wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Great Transition Network <[email protected]> > Date: Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 8:21 AM > Subject: Farming for a Small Planet: Agroecology Now (GTN Discussion) > To: [email protected] > > > > From Greg Watson <[email protected]> > > ------------------------------------------------------- > Dear GTI Colleagues, > > Frances Moore Lappé’s GTI contribution “Farming for a Small Planet: > Agroecology Now” is an incredibly powerful and timely articulation of > an unprecedented opportunity for humanity to rescue itself from > itself. It comes none too soon. > > Her essay has a special resonance for me. > > Just under a year ago, I helped launched the Cuba-U.S. Agroecology > Network (CUSAN) at the Schumacher Center for a New Economics with the > goal of connecting members of the Cuban and U.S. agroecology > movements. We established the network following a trip to Cuba in > October of 2014 – two months before Presidents Obama and Castro > announced that talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations between > the two countries would commence. > > One month following that historic announcement, the U.S. Agriculture > Coalition for Cuba (USACC) came into existence. USACC is chaired by > Cargill and comprised of more than 30 American agricultural trade > organizations and companies. The coalition wants to open Cuba up > further as a market for U.S. agriculture exports. The formation of > this organization was a cause for some concern among sustainable > agriculture stakeholders who anticipate and fear a big push to > reestablish industrial farming in Cuba with all of its trappings. > > The Cuba-US. Agroecology Network offers an alternative face of U.S. > agriculture to Cuba – one whose members support the incredible > agroecology system that emerged there out of dire necessity following > the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. CUSAN seeks to create a venue where > Cuban and U.S. agroecology advocates can learn from and collaborate > with one another. Our network consists of rural, suburban, and urban > farmers who are committed to supporting, developing, and using > ecological agricultural practices that are sustainable, resilient, do > not undermine the Earth's ecological integrity and meet the needs of > local citizens. We are also the stakeholders who help make the larger > food system more accommodating for sustainable farmers and farm > products. We believe that agroecology holds the key to feeding the > world’s population while avoiding the worst-case climate change > scenario. > > Bringing about the systemic change that Ms. Lappé advocates for so > persuasively begins with educating both policy makers and the general > public about our agroecology options. My hope is that her essay will > help galvanize that national dialogue. > > Greg Watson > > Schumacher Center for a New Economics > > Cuba-U.S. Agroecology Network > > www.agroecologynetwork.org > > ************************************************* > > February 29, 2016 > > From Paul Raskin <[email protected]> > ________________________________________ > GTN Colleagues: > > The MARCH DISCUSSION will focus on a key dimension of transition: the > future of agriculture. I am pleased to kick it off by sharing with you > Frances Moore Lappé’s GTI essay, “Farming for a Small Planet: > Agroecology Now.” Please access it at > www.greattransition.org/publication/farming-for-a-small-planet. > > Frankie’s best-selling “Diet for a Small Planet,” first published in > 1971, mapped the way to better eating; her new essay points to a > better way of farming. The essay sharply critiques the system design > and dire consequences of industrial agriculture, and finds hope in > the alternative agroecological model now gaining traction. This > debate about farming systems defines a critical field of struggle for > the larger Great Transition movement. > > The essay touches on many key questions: Is the industrial model > doomed? Can ecological farming meet the nutrition needs of a large > and growing world population? What’s the scope for change within the > reigning political economy? What are the implications for development > in poor countries? > > Let’s extend our winning streak of rich, animated discussions! If you > work in this neck of the woods, please draw from your experience to > comment on the essay and the issues it raises. The rest of us will > have questions to ask and connections to make. Remember, both > expansive and brief comments are appreciated. > > Comments are welcome through MARCH 31. Frankie’s essay and selected > comments will be published in April, along with an interview with Wes > Jackson and a review by Randy Hayes, both long-time leaders of the > effort to forge a society in harmony with the land. > > Looking forward, > Paul Raskin > GTI Director > > GTI’S PUBLICATION CYCLE: > ODD-NUMBERED months are for discussions of new essays or viewpoints > for GTN eyes only. EVEN-NUMBERED months are for publication and > distribution of the piece. You will receive discussion comments by > email. You can also access them on-line at > www.greattransition.org/forum/gti-forum, where you will find, as > well, an archive of previous discussions. > > ------------------------------------------------------- > Hit reply to post a message > Or see thread and reply online at > http://www.greattransition.org/forum/gti-discussions/173-farming-for-a-small-planet-agroecology-now/1535 > > Need help? Email [email protected] > > > > > _______________________________________________ P2P Foundation - Mailing list Blog - http://www.blog.p2pfoundation.net Wiki - http://www.p2pfoundation.net Show some love and help us maintain and update our knowledge commons by making a donation. Thank you for your support. https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/donation https://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation
