the dirt '07
An Important Revolution
By: Ben Sedlins
On February 24, 25 of this year, farmers, concerned citizens and community leaders from all over the world gathered in Mali for the first of several conferences on the issue of 'food sovereignty.' This growing movement is promoting a fundamental shift in how the agricultural community is organized, arguing that the farmers themselves need to have more control over how, when and where they produce their crops, rather than the huge transnational corporations which currently dominate the system.
In our modern world of globalization and massive transnational corporations, inefficient agricultural practices have become imbedded in system, much to the detriment of the environment and local agricultural communities. Environmentally, current large-scale 'industrial' farming disrupts ecosystems by introducing harmful fertilizers and herbicides. In addition, industrial farming destroys the biodiversity of the land by placing emphasis on large, monoculture fields. Socially, industrial farming is equally as destructive, not only because of the effects it has on the local agricultural communities, but also because of the disparity of food supply between profitable markets (generally in the developed world) and those who truly need it but cannot afford it.
The food sovereignty movement seeks to reverse all that. By removing agro-chemicals from the equation, using cover crops to boost water and nutrient retention and planting mutually beneficial crops alongside each other, farmers the world over have been able to undo much of the damage done on the environment. By focusing on smaller scales of production and local distribution, farmers are able to support their local and regional economies.
Another aspect of the food sovereignty movement is a new approach to research and development. In the past, industrial farming techniques for improving productivity and efficiency have been through the use of agro-chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides - all of which are harmful to the surrounding ecosystem. This new agricultural revolution blends scientific approaches with the first-hand experiences of farmers as well as the knowledge of indigenous peoples.
With the growing emphasis on environmental issues in today's world, believers in the food sovereignty movement have high hopes for success. What is important to understand is the inter-connectedness of all environmental issues. If our society were able to return to a focus on local agriculture, the effects would reach far beyond fresh produce. With less transcontinental distribution of food, there would be less trucks driving, which leads to less air pollution. In addition, less driving means less consumption of gas, which is beneficial for a number of reasons. Less agro-chemicals leads to healthier ecosystems and healthier foods, which in general improves the health of the local population. The ripple effects of such a revolution in agriculture are staggering. Still, there is much to be done before these sweeter fruits and vegetables will be served on the dinner tables of the world. While the task it daunting, the importance of such a change cannot be forgotten.
Works Consulted
Michel Pimbert Farmer power the key to green advance BBC 23 Feb. 2007
Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign. "Why Buy Local?"
http://www.buylocalpa.org/why.html