[P2P-F] Fwd: Farming for a Small Planet: Agroecology Now (GTN Discussion)

Fri Mar 25 07:59:02 CET 2016

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 <michel at p2pfoundation.net> wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Great Transition Network <gtnetwork at greattransition.org>
> Date: Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 8:21 AM
> Subject: Farming for a Small Planet: Agroecology Now (GTN Discussion)
> To: michelsub2004 at gmail.com
> 
> 
> 
> From Greg Watson <gregwatson at centerforneweconomics.org>
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------
> 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 <praskin at tellus.org>
> ________________________________________
> 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 jcohn at tellus.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 