Farming Solutions - the Future of Agriculture
by Warren McLaren, Sydney 
on 08.20.07
“Farming Solutions brings examples of successful, environmentally responsible farming systems to life from all over the world, illustrating how farmers can protect the environment while at the same time increasing food supply where it is most needed.” So begins the intro for a fascinating site.
Winnowing information from all around the globe, it shines a light on both the issues, and some of the solutions that are being developed or rediscovered. For instance the site profiles,Tony Vidler of Australia, who promoted a microbial-based natural nitrogen, which can product a 20% better yield of tomato crops with a reduced chemical use.
Seemingly, it is possible to get 160% yields in some soils, with a chemical reduction of 50% chemical nitrogen. Success stories like this abound on the site.
Also of note is the country-by-country agricultural profiles. Like the comparison the figures showed between Australia and, say, Malawi. The former has 15% of its population living in a rural setting with agriculture representing 3% of GDP (gross domestic product).
And interestingly applying 2,535 kg of pesticide per hectare of land, while having 8.5% of its known species (birds, mammals and reptiles) considered ‘threatened.’ Contrast this with Malawi, where 79% of the population is rural, and agriculture makes up 49% of GDP. Only 136 kg of pesticides used per hectare of land, with a corresponding 2.6% of species threatened.
But the site is not just full of interesting data and case studies. It exudes hope. That with sustainably practiced agriculture we find genuine solutions to hunger and poverty.
::Farming Solutions, via some Google surfing.
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Thank you for this information. It is very useful for me.
I do like this top, its amazing how the content of the soil is effecting the animals / plants growing on an area of land. Wacking lots of chemicals onto our food land is ofcourse not a very sensible way to go