"The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there." --George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950
I agree with the playwright. I grew up on a small farm near Morton, Washington, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. Our big garden was just below the milking barn, which produced a daily pile of manure. The resulting compost created a rich, black earth in which we grew all the vegetables and fruit for our table and cellar. As a child, I remember sitting amidst the rows, with the juice from tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries dripping from my chin. It was truly heaven. It was also a haven for me as an adolescent, as the hard work with a shovel and hoe also helped me to figure how to "weed" a path in life to manhood.
Six decades later, as I noted in my last blog, the subject of food has grown much more serious. Some people grow fat while others starve. The world's population has increased to 6 billion and is projected to grow to 9 billion in 20 years. This continuing growth means that one third of arable land has been lost in the past 40 years ( Recent report by University of Sheffield's Center for Sustainable Future).
There is another story about food beyond the misery of starvation which is so prevalent in the news. It is a positive story about how people are striving, often heroically, to produce more food on a sustainable basis and succeeding with new and old technologies.
For instance, one portion of the last United Nations annual World Food Day (Oct. 16) report click here focuses on the International Atomic Energy Association's use of radiation to boost produce with radiation breeding (sometimes referred to as "variation breeding" or "mutation breeding"). It is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation in order to generate mutants with desirable traits to be bred with other cultivars. Wikipedia says "From 1930 to 2014 more than 3200 mutagenic plant varieties were released that have been derived either as direct mutants (70%) or from their progeny (30%). Crop plants (rice, wheat, barley, peas, sunflowers, peanuts, grapefruit) account for 75% of released mutagenic species with the remaining 25% ornamentals." The UN report also notes the effect of mutagenics in Iraq: "Iraqui scientists have developed four improved varieties of traditional crops that tolerate both drought and salty soil...". In addition, the report revealed how nuclear techniques saved the citrus industry in South Africa by large reductions in the insect pest population. Speaking of insects, how about chompin' down on some? No kidding, check out these tasty morsels suggested by National Geographic Magazine. There is a culinary review in the magazine of ants, stinkbugs, tree worms, beetles, butterflies and crickets, to name a few. (This reporter dined on crickets in DC. They had a satisfying salty crunch, but were way too spendy).
Many countries are helping to increase food stocks. Sweden has created a valuable source of nutrition called FoPo click here . It turns otherwise unusable produce into nutritional food powder which can "easily dropped into disaster zones to provide non-refrigerated goods."
The WFP report on Nicaragua last year chronicles the increase in school gardens and the efforts to convince people to trust the land's ability to produce food.
A brand new technolgy called Cold Hubs is now available to Developing Countries. Small-scale farmers have historically produced the majority of the world's food on just 25% of farmland. The problem in the past has been the unavailability of electricity for refrigeration of fresh produce. Cold Hubs provides solar powered cold rooms to preserve freshness up to 21 days. The company promotions state that "Cold Hubs offers farmers with a flexible pay-as-you-store subscription model. In preparation for storage, farmers transfer their perishable foods into our reusable crates, which fit neatly onto the shelves. Farmers pay a daily flat fee for each crate of food they store."
Check this link to see how England "....is committed to creating 3 million high quality food and farming apprenticeships by 2020, including many more at degree level - with a target to ensure 2.3% of workers in the public sector are apprentices."
America is the most prolific contributor to increasing the availability of food at home and abroad. Here are but a few of the ongoing efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in promoting and funding the small family farms which make up a whopping 88 percent of the farms in America:
From a blog posting on Sept. 29, 2016 by Elanor Starmer (a USDA Marketing Service Administrator): "With sales of over $11 billion in 2014 and projected growth of 10 percent annually, local and regionally-produced food is the fastest growing sector of American agriculture. At USDA, we hear a lot from communities interested in strengthening the connection between farmers and consumers. That’s why we’re investing in projects across the country to help farm and food businesses tap into this growing market."
Here are some of the resources available to American farmers:
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) click here and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) click here are the backbone of the outreach programs for small farmers. FMPP
grants invest in marketing activities for farmers markets, roadside stands and other direct producer-to-consumer businesses. LFPP
funds projects that support local food businesses that distribute and or store locally or regionally produced food products. LFPP funding also targets a diverse rural economy through projects that develop, improve, and expand local and regional food business.
communities. A significant number of these grants—82 percent—will help increase marketing opportunities for new and beginning farmers. 72 percent of the grants will help support women in agriculture. And few would deny the long history link here of the USA World Food Program, in there efforts to save millions from famine.
My analysis of the types of food available world wide lead me to two conclusions. (1) For decades, nations have supported some 30 traditional crops (such as sugarcane, rice, wheat, corn, potato, barley, oat, tomato, apple, and bean) with vast subsidies, tax advantages and research. But new advances in biotechnology are focused on major crops because it's the best way to increase returns on investment. (2) My research found that most plant experts have counted some 350,000 plant species of which it is estimated about 80,000 are edible. and only 180 species are actively grown, while only 30 produce 95% of human calories and proteins. What Professor of Horticulture Jules Janick at Purdue University said almost 20 years ago remains true: "We are, in fact, dependent upon Stone Age crops and animals."
Some of the minor plant species are being utilized, primarily by poor people who have faced starvation or famine famine food link here. Here is a partial list on Wikipedia---
There is another story about food beyond the misery of starvation which is so prevalent in the news. It is a positive story about how people are striving, often heroically, to produce more food on a sustainable basis and succeeding with new and old technologies.
For instance, one portion of the last United Nations annual World Food Day (Oct. 16) report click here focuses on the International Atomic Energy Association's use of radiation to boost produce with radiation breeding (sometimes referred to as "variation breeding" or "mutation breeding"). It is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation in order to generate mutants with desirable traits to be bred with other cultivars. Wikipedia says "From 1930 to 2014 more than 3200 mutagenic plant varieties were released that have been derived either as direct mutants (70%) or from their progeny (30%). Crop plants (rice, wheat, barley, peas, sunflowers, peanuts, grapefruit) account for 75% of released mutagenic species with the remaining 25% ornamentals." The UN report also notes the effect of mutagenics in Iraq: "Iraqui scientists have developed four improved varieties of traditional crops that tolerate both drought and salty soil...". In addition, the report revealed how nuclear techniques saved the citrus industry in South Africa by large reductions in the insect pest population. Speaking of insects, how about chompin' down on some? No kidding, check out these tasty morsels suggested by National Geographic Magazine. There is a culinary review in the magazine of ants, stinkbugs, tree worms, beetles, butterflies and crickets, to name a few. (This reporter dined on crickets in DC. They had a satisfying salty crunch, but were way too spendy).
Many countries are helping to increase food stocks. Sweden has created a valuable source of nutrition called FoPo click here . It turns otherwise unusable produce into nutritional food powder which can "easily dropped into disaster zones to provide non-refrigerated goods."
From a Sept. 8, 2016 UN report: "In rural Liberia, thanks to the support of the Government of Japan, WFP and hundreds of farmers have transformed swamp lands into lush rice fields and created gardens heavily laden with vegetables. How did they do it? A mix of things. Learning, for one, to produce better rice, by using a better water and pest control mechanisms. Planting better seeds. All leading not only to grow enough food to eat, but also to have some to sale and make a profit."
In Kenya click here "...the effects of drought continue stifling crop production ... but some farmers .... have managed to beat this scourge. Having adopted small-scale dry-land farming technologies, these farmers are able to continue feeding their families with produce from their farms." Their simple but effective use of covered farm ponds is is an old trick, but it was a new means for them to harvest water.
The WFP report on Nicaragua last year chronicles the increase in school gardens and the efforts to convince people to trust the land's ability to produce food.
A brand new technolgy called Cold Hubs is now available to Developing Countries. Small-scale farmers have historically produced the majority of the world's food on just 25% of farmland. The problem in the past has been the unavailability of electricity for refrigeration of fresh produce. Cold Hubs provides solar powered cold rooms to preserve freshness up to 21 days. The company promotions state that "Cold Hubs offers farmers with a flexible pay-as-you-store subscription model. In preparation for storage, farmers transfer their perishable foods into our reusable crates, which fit neatly onto the shelves. Farmers pay a daily flat fee for each crate of food they store."
Check this link to see how England "....is committed to creating 3 million high quality food and farming apprenticeships by 2020, including many more at degree level - with a target to ensure 2.3% of workers in the public sector are apprentices."
America is the most prolific contributor to increasing the availability of food at home and abroad. Here are but a few of the ongoing efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in promoting and funding the small family farms which make up a whopping 88 percent of the farms in America:
From a blog posting on Sept. 29, 2016 by Elanor Starmer (a USDA Marketing Service Administrator): "With sales of over $11 billion in 2014 and projected growth of 10 percent annually, local and regionally-produced food is the fastest growing sector of American agriculture. At USDA, we hear a lot from communities interested in strengthening the connection between farmers and consumers. That’s why we’re investing in projects across the country to help farm and food businesses tap into this growing market."
Here are some of the resources available to American farmers:
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) click here and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) click here are the backbone of the outreach programs for small farmers. FMPP
grants invest in marketing activities for farmers markets, roadside stands and other direct producer-to-consumer businesses. LFPP
funds projects that support local food businesses that distribute and or store locally or regionally produced food products. LFPP funding also targets a diverse rural economy through projects that develop, improve, and expand local and regional food business.
communities. A significant number of these grants—82 percent—will help increase marketing opportunities for new and beginning farmers. 72 percent of the grants will help support women in agriculture. And few would deny the long history link here of the USA World Food Program, in there efforts to save millions from famine.
My analysis of the types of food available world wide lead me to two conclusions. (1) For decades, nations have supported some 30 traditional crops (such as sugarcane, rice, wheat, corn, potato, barley, oat, tomato, apple, and bean) with vast subsidies, tax advantages and research. But new advances in biotechnology are focused on major crops because it's the best way to increase returns on investment. (2) My research found that most plant experts have counted some 350,000 plant species of which it is estimated about 80,000 are edible. and only 180 species are actively grown, while only 30 produce 95% of human calories and proteins. What Professor of Horticulture Jules Janick at Purdue University said almost 20 years ago remains true: "We are, in fact, dependent upon Stone Age crops and animals."
Some of the minor plant species are being utilized, primarily by poor people who have faced starvation or famine famine food link here. Here is a partial list on Wikipedia---
- The breadnut or Maya nut
- In Polynesia, ʻape, when the taro crop failed.
- The fruit of the noni, sometimes called "starvation fruit,"
- The nara melon of southern Africa .
- Several species of edible kelp, stinging nettle, wild mustard, sorrel and watercress.[1]
- Sego lily bulbs were eaten by Mormon pioneers.
- Tulip bulbs and beetroots were eaten parts of the Netherlands during the "hunger winter" of 1944-45.
- Bark bread "pinewood bread") is a bread made from a combination of typical rye flour and the Scots pine. Scandinavian example of a famine food.
- cassava,
- Dandelions have a bitter taste, but can be stewed or eaten raw as a last resort.
- Nettles are edible greens,
My next posting will place me smack-dab in the middle of the battle over GMO's and organic crops. I will also report on what may be our true salvation--Agroecology.
I will leave you with this: "We still don't know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us." -- Albert Einstein
No comments:
Post a Comment