GOOD MORNING!

Please get out your sustainable agriculture notes from last Tuesday and the hand out “A Healthy Food System Defined”

Please read the board!

BRAINSTORM GAME!

In 60 seconds, write everything you can think of about . . . .

WHAT PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY OUR FOOD SYSTEM?

WHAT’S THE OPPOSITE OF THESE?WHAT’S THE OPPOSITE OF THESE?

Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREAGRICULTUREHOW WOULD HOW WOULD YOUYOU EXPLAIN THE TERM EXPLAIN THE TERM “SUSTAINABLE”?“SUSTAINABLE”?

FOOD FORWARD! (24MIN)

SOLUTIONS?SOLUTIONS? Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

COMMUNITY GARDENS/URBAN AG (FF12:49)

VERMICOMPOST!

SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Inorganic Fertilizers Mechanization Short term gains Cost minimization

priority over human rights

Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal

power Long term soil

fertility Fair trade = fair

wages for fair work

EATING LOCALLY = EATING SEASONALLY

Most plants grow, produce food and then die at certain times of the year.

Houston crops NOW: Greens Green beans Squash Cabbage Oranges

ORGANIC FOODS PRODUCTION ACT ORGANIC FOODS PRODUCTION ACT 19901990 No inorganic fertilizers or pesticides No use of Genetically Modified Organisms No use of sewage sludge No irradiation (kills bacteria on harvested

food) No antibiotics or growth hormones

ORGANIC ADVANTAGES

Healthier for farmers, consumers Safer for wildlife Doesn’t require as much fossil fuel for

fertilizer/pesticides Encourages companies to pursue more

sustainable practices Legal definition creates reliable label (unlike

“natural”)

ORGANIC DISADVANTAGES

Cost (short shelf life means more potential waste, so more must be sold to break even)

Can be highly processed

LOOK FOR ORGANICS!

FARMER’S MARKETS (FF 5:16)

Houston: Rice Tues pm 3000 Richmond

Sat/Sun am St.Cyril on

Westheimer @beltway Wed pm

All $ directly to farmerAll local = all seasonalInteractions increaseOften organic, but not

certified

THE QUESTION OF ACCESS AND EQUITY 3,200 farmer’s

markets now take SNAP! (suplemental nutrition assistance program)

Farmer’s market food costs reflect a real wage for the farmer

EATING LOCALLY = EATING SEASONALLY

Most plants grow, produce food and then die at certain times of the year.

Houston crops NOW: Greens Green beans Squash Cabbage Oranges

SOLUTIONS?SOLUTIONS? Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

CSA’S – COMMUNITY SUPPORTED CSA’S – COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

Share holders pay annual fee; pick up produce regularly from central location (ff 15:50)

WOOD DUCK FARM This week’s share: Mixed greens Summer squash BIG cabbage! Satsuma oranges Cucumbers Kale Basil Green Beans Cherry tomatoes

SOLUTIONS!SOLUTIONS! Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal power Long term soil fertility Fair trade = fair wages for fair work

““ORGANIC FARMING IS A ORGANIC FARMING IS A CRUCIAL WME (WEAPON OF CRUCIAL WME (WEAPON OF MASS ENLIGHTENMENT).MASS ENLIGHTENMENT).- Gary Hirshberg CEO of Stoneyfield organic yogurt

SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Inorganic Fertilizers Mechanization Short term gains Cost minimization

priority over human rights

Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal

power Long term soil

fertility Fair trade = fair

wages for fair work

A SPECTRUM OF CHOICES – ALL GROWERS DEAL WITH PESTS!

Industrial Integrated Pest Organic/

Agriculture management traditional

Least sustainable most sustainable

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Overarching philosophy: Eradication of pests is not possible, so the goal

must be pest suppression.

General practice: Monitor pest populations. When damage of crops will cost more than the cost of action, IPM managers take steps to control pests. Pesticides will be used only as a last resort.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: PESTS AND DISEASES GENERALLY ARE PLANT-SPECIFIC. Examples –

Boll weevil attacks cotton plants

Rust and smut fungus attack corn

Yellow rust fungus attacks wheat

DIVERSITY PROTECTS HARVESTS FROM PESTS AND DISEASES BECAUSE THEY RUN OUT OF FOOD.

MONOCULTURES ARE LIKE A BANQUET!

CULTIVATION/PHYSICAL APPROACHES Crop rotation – non-legume, legume, fallow field/cover crop

EACH CROP DEMANDS A DIFFERENT MIX OF SOIL NUTRIENTS

Root/fruit/flowers: high Phosphorous demand (nucleic acids)

Leaves: Nitrogen (photosynthesis proteins)

CULTIVATION/PHYSICAL APPROACHES

Hedge rowsprovide shelter forbeneficial insects,

insectivorous birds and other pest predators (preying mantis, ladybugs, bats)

BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL

Release beneficial insects purchased in quantity (pest

predators), encourage

insectivorous birds

OTHER PREDATORS

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS

CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL Pheromones: used in

bait traps to lure insects away from crops

CHEMICAL CONTROL As a last resort,

IPM farmers will use pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides)

Find your definition of Organic Food. Put a star next to the IPM practices that an organic farmer COULD use legally.

PRACTICE – WHICH IS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WHY?

Potatoes bought at the grocery store vs. potatoes bought at a farmer’s market.

Homemade french fries vs. fast food french fries

Inorganic pesticide vs. crop rotation