Green Eyes On: President Obama, How About Organic Farming?
by Sara Snow on 11.10.08
Photo: IowaPolitics.com via Flickr
With the election behind us it’s time to focus again on solutions, wouldn’t you say? It’s time to move forward and to accomplish great things. Now that we know who will lead us, the question is “where will we go?”
I’d like to see us slow global climate change and increase our supplies of fresh, local, and organic foods. I’d like to see families everywhere eating healthier fare and living in chemical-free home environments. I’d like to feel comfortable running through cornfields and I'd like it to be safe for the families raising kids next to factory farms. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Mr. President Elect, sir, you have a big job before you. If I may, I’d like to offer up one solution: organic farming methods.
Photo: iLoveButter via Flickr
Organic Farming Protects the Earth
Let’s not overlook the powerful tools of organic farming and organically farmed foods. Will these cure all of the world’s problems tomorrow? No. Will they cure your ills overnight? No. But can they help to protect us and the world around? Yes!
When crops are farmed organically, carbon dioxide is snatched from the air and secured in the soil. This is just one way organic farming methods battle climate change. In fact, according to Tim LaSalle, CEO of the Rodale Institute, in an interview with OnPoint, if organic farming practices were applied to all cropland in the United States, “we could mitigate 25 percent of our (fossil fuel) emissions in this country alone.”
That, my friends, is nothing to turn a blind eye on.
Organic Farming Can Produce More Food
What else could it do? Organic farming methods could result in higher yields, especially in very dry or wet conditions, helping us meet our world’s food demand. A large scale transition to organic farming on U.S. farms could cut our carbon emissions and related energy usage significantly (by some estimates energy usage could be cut in half). It will help protect our air and our most valuable supplies of fresh water. And, of course, it can protect the health of our environment and the most precious people around us.
Photo: bigbold via Flickr
Chelsea Art Museum Hosts Organic Fundraiser
Tomorrow a crowd will gather at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York for an event called Ripe for Revolution; The Organic Solution. The fundraiser evening will support the research and educational programs of The Organic Center and Rodale Institute, making all of the above more possible for all of us.
I hope to see you there. And if not, then I’ll look for you in the aisles among the ever-increasing supply of organic foods at our grocery stores or amongst the tables of organic produce at the farmer’s markets across this country.
Our nation is ready for change. Here’s to organics as at least one solution.
More on Organic Food from TreeHugger and Planet Green
Organic Food: Healthier for You and the Planet
Is Organic Farming Good For Africa or Not?
TreeHugger Picks: Organic Food is Better
Some Organic Food Is Cheaper Than Regular
7 Foods You Must Eat Organic
Sara Snow is a green living expert and regular contributor to TreeHugger via her Green Eyes On column. She can also be seen on CNN.com on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her new DVD Growing Green Babies is now available through SaraSnow.com.
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Power Up Canada Offers Citizens Easy Activism
- Will the Real Green Movement Please Stand Up?
- Great Debate Tackles Climate Change
- Has Obama's Inauguration Speech Been Leaked?
What's Next? The Environmental Movement Post-Election
|
Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2008: Hypermiling
|
The only way for organic produce to be affordable to the average consumer is to locally source it rather than transport it hundreds (or thousands) of miles by petroleum-powered transport. Also, we need to see more direct selling from farmers and growers rather than Whole Foods stepping in the middle and making a profit while at the same time overcharging the consumer.
With all due respect, a 18-wheeler gets 5 mpg and carries 40,000 lbs. of cargo.
To ship 200 pounds of cargo 1000 miles requires 1 gallon of fuel.
Assume that food sells for $2/pound and one day diesel costs $20/gallon--fuel to ship 1,000 would represent 5% of the total cost of the food.
Transportation makes up a very small portion of the total cost of the food. Fuel for farming and fertilizer likely represents a higher precentage of total costs; but those are regardless of whether it's local or not.
Ken-
Local production does not take advantage of economies of scale, which will greatly reduce the cost of production.
I'm all for localism. However, in this case cost is not one of its merits. It has plenty of others, like building community and reducing emissions.
I can't wait for Obama to take control. Organic farming is a great idea in my opinion, as well as fuel ideas other than drill baby drill.
We can't just rely on Obama to do what we want. He will be facing immense pressures from people like Agribusiness and food processors and the meat industry. We need to counter that pressure with organizations of our own, like the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, organic farming organizations, and even something like http://www.november5.org (which will promote progressive causes to Congress).
We need to go full speed ahead now that the election is OVER.
This would be a turn for the better. I am still confused why people think Whole Foods is so expensive. I live in DC and pay less for fresh local food at Whole Foods than the farmer's markets. Whole Foods had numerous programs that have given local farmers money to keep farming and I think they should be thanked and not criticized for getting the movement going for us. We complain about socially irresponsible companies and I think it's time to give kudos to a company that is progressive and for the people and can turn a profit too. That's an America I want to be a part of.
We have been working through the idea of localism in the northeast. With the development of our local currency Berkshares (www.berkshares.org) local farmers and food Coop’s have a way of supporting one another.
Another project that has just launched is www.otoyk.com – which connects individuals with green workshops, seminars, csa, coops and other sustainable businesses.
The “Small is Beautiful” movement is strong.
I went to Change.org (Obama's web site) a week ago to check on the proposed Ag and Rural policies. They all sounded well rounded and thoughtfull, with a definite bent toward local, sustainable and organic.
Saddly this was removed yesterday.
As to economy of scale, the idea of gigantic farms exploiting huge tracts of land goes back to the Nixon administration. "Go Big or Get Out" was the clarion call. Read the Michael Pollan artical in the NY times on this subject.
Farms begin to lose efficiency at 250 acres. Gigantic farms rely on Government subsidies, the ability to control prices, and thier ability to borrow billions from banks based on inflated land prices. The huge farms do little to support rural communities, causing economic and population decline. The idea of our food supply being in the hands of a few board members does not give me confidence that they care about the soil they are farming or it use by future generations. Controling runoff to save the land and protect the steams is a bottom line cost, not something your niegbor is going to bug you about when you walk into the store.
Mike Z.:
With all due respect, 1000 miles / 5 MPG = 200 Gallons.
200 pounds of cargo, by your numbers, takes 200 Gallons to ship; or in other words 1 pound of cargo takes 1 gallon to ship.
Assuming we use the same vehicle (unlikely, more likely a smaller and more fuel efficient vehicle) to do the "100-mile" thing,
100 miles / 5 MPG = 20 Gallons.
Shipping that 200 pounds of cargo suddenly takes a tenth (or less if the source is closer) of the fuel to ship.
We sure would like Obama to plant an organic farm right at home.
Sign the petition at The White House Organic Farm Project.
Petition for Pollan as Secretary of Ag
http://www.petitiononline.com/MPoll4Ag/petition.html