Sustainable Food & Agriculture Systems
As our world grapples with existential issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity, it is becoming more and more clear that the current predominant agricultural system is contributing to these problems. The Canadian Government has disclosed that “10% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are from crop and livestock production” though this number omits emissions from the use of fossil fuels and the production of on-farm inputs such as fertilizers and thus, it is very likely that the true figure greatly exceeds 10% of Canada’s GHG emissions.102 In the face of rapidly advancing climate change, it is clear that agriculture in Canada, and across the world must quickly and decisively shift to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Salina Edwards discusses initiatives to support research and programs in strengthening the resilience of rural farms to climate change effects (1:32)
Sustainability, in the context of agriculture, is described by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) as “a holistic, long-term approach to business on-farm, that means maximizing economic and environmental stability, equity and health of the farm, business and family.”103 In simpler terms, agricultural stability depends on our ability to meet the current needs of our society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.104 Fortunately, researchers and farmers alike have spent decades studying and testing alternatives to conventional agricultural techniques and have developed a promising and sound approach to lead the transition to more sustainable agricultural and food systems: agroecology.105
The National Farmers Union of Canada defines agroecology as “a holistic approach to food production that uses – and creates – social, cultural, economic and environmental knowledge to promote food sovereignty, social justice, economic stability, and healthy agricultural ecosystems.”106 In other words, agroecology is a framework that seeks to apply ecological and social approaches to the design and management of food systems, bringing our food system back into harmony with equitable social structures and our natural environment.107 Agroecology, it is important to note, is not a new ideology. It can be dated back to scientific literature in the 1920s and has been implemented into the farming practices of many small-scale farmers, grassroots social movements for sustainability and social justice as well as various public policies around the world over the last decade.107
Agroecology champions ecological farming practices including crop rotations, minimum tillage, cover cropping, integrated pest management, and agroforestry techniques, among others. These land management practices promote better stewardship of ecological systems, natural resources and agricultural land that farms rely on by building healthy soil and preventing erosion, sustainably managing water, minimizing air and water pollution, increasing resilience to extreme weather events, sequestering carbon, and promoting biodiversity.108 Furthermore, as explained by SeedChange, a Canadian non-profit supporting food and seed sovereignty, Agroecology “borrows from both the scientific tradition of ecological sciences and the traditional knowledge and expertise of small-scale farmers, especially women and Indigenous farmers,”109 adding to its ability to foster social inclusivity in the just food system it seeks to create.
Examples of initiatives to achieve the objectives of agroecology include promoting low-cost, local and ecological alternatives to commercial seeds as well as synthetic pesticides and fertilizers which allows small-scale farming operations to remain independent of corporate supply chains which might take advantage of them.109 In addition, agroecology seeks to strengthen local food systems in order to build more resilience to local economies as well as to encourage local traditions and culture. Finally, in another example, agroecology gives special attention to the wisdom of female farmers and Indigenous farmers who typically possess a wealth of knowledge on local seeds and plants, traditional practices and ecosystems, furthering efforts to achieve gender equality and the decolonization of food systems.109
In their article “The 10 Elements of Agroecology”, the UN Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) describes that “rather than tweaking the practices of unsustainable agricultural systems, agroecology seeks to transform food and agricultural systems, addressing the root causes of problems in an integrated way and providing holistic and long-term solutions.”107
Agroecology, with its focus on the rights of women, youth and Indigenous peoples, provides a unique framework for change as it proposes totally restructuring our current agricultural system and replacing it with one that has environmental health, social justice and sustainability at its core.107 Based on this description, agroecology proposes a system transformation in line with the principles of transformative resilience. Rather than simply adjusting certain aspects of a broken agricultural system, Agroecology proposes transforming the agricultural system to one based on socio-ecological, rather than economic principles.
Kate Feldman discusses promoting local food production in order to build food system resilience against climate change (2:12)
