rainforest news
Good news on environmental initiatives for sustainable agriculture would be welcome
Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Cross
It can be a can be a depressing business for a writer to follow the evolution of the fight against climate change and sustainable agriculture, environmentally friendly and the food shortages.
Only occasionally, however, there are indications that perhaps the message is through getitng and there are flashes of hope. In the face of relentless efforts bad news as it should have more publicity than they sometimes receive.
It tends to assume that global agribusiness and particularly the producers of fertilizers based chemicals that contributed to the success of the Green Revolution of 1960 and 1970 have also been major contributors to environmental problems environment and food shortages that we face.
While it may be true that better scientific knowledge from those days has identified the disadvantages and consequences longer term agricultural techniques many of us have become very suspicious of all the companies involved in global agriculture.
Approach skeptical of new scientific innovations of large multinational companies may be understandable, but ultimately may be counterproductive in making us also risk aversion, choking the openness to innovation we need to tackle the enormous problems facing the world.
One of these problems is FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization) estimates that increased food production to feed 70% of nine million people are expected that inhabit the planet by 2050.
What can be done without tearing even forests, green areas and natural habitats for agriculture is a serious problem.
There are some proposed solutions such as the use of biotechnology in plant breeding, plant protection techniques Integrated pest management using next generation in chemical biopesticides biofungicides and performance enhancers. If used properly these products can increase yields by 25% and reduce yield losses between 40% and 80%.
The key, however, is whether we will accept and if used properly.
Science industry plant was committed to a proper, appropriate ethical conditions for research and development through of waste disposal. This includes minimizing the risks of plant protection products such as pesticides. It is represented worldwide by CropLife International.
Recently CropLife CropLife Asia and India, with support from CropLife International, launched a project in Andhra Pradesh, India, to train more than 100,000 families of farmers across the state in the proper handling and use of pesticides. Will be delivered by local partners, including local NGOs with experience called EFFORT.
Hopefully that will translate into improved profit margins status of many small farmers, to improve sustainable agriculture and income from agriculture, and do something to reduce the high rate of suicides among farmers that has made headlines around the world.
The Rainforest Alliance another organization that should perhaps be more public.
Works to promote sustainable agriculture in 25 tropical countries worldwide, with a scheme certification of sustainable agriculture that has so far benefited more than two million farm workers and their families.
It sets out criteria achieve strict certification label can then put in their products. The label is a green circle containing a green frog and one to be careful when buy at your local supermarket.
The objectives are to show water pollution and soil erosion, reduction of threats to the environment and human health, protection of wildlife habitats and less exploitation of waste products (using things such as orange peel, banana leaves and other foliage unsaleable as natural fertilizer). Farmers must also demonstrate reduced water use, better working conditions for workers agricultural. Local NGOs audit of farms, large and small, on these criteria before gaining their certificate.
The certificates also shown by companies such as Chiquita (bananas), Unilever, Kraft and Nestlé Nespresso as a backup independent third of its commitment to sustainable agriculture.
In addition, the journal Nature recently published an article suggesting that there is the need for a global network of research centers with data on the best use of land to the government and farmers to help them make decisions towards more sustainable methods of food production while preserving biodiversity.
Finally, although not strictly an agricultural issue, as this article was being written, it was announced that the Government of India had refused permission for the UK mining company Vedanta to mine bauxite in Orissa because the site had identified land was sacred to two local tribes in Orissa.
Indian Minister of Environment, Jairam Ramesh, said the project had violated two laws on environmental protection and the rights of indigenous peoples who depend land and forests for their livelihoods.
Hopefully there will be more such initiatives and decisions in time for some of the damage repair activity human has done to the planet before it is impossible to reverse.
About the Author
Positive initiatives are happening around the world to tackle environmental damage and sustainable farming, including projects to train farmers in ethical use of biotechnology and low-chem agricultural products from
Biopesticides Developers
, They need more publicity, says writer
Ali Withers
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