Does anybody out there know of a single-source, objective, broad-range report
comparing productivity of conventional agriculture with sustainable?
In talking with a new friend who has no connection with agriculture (other
than food), I made some rather negative comment on "conventional" agriculture
and agribusiness, and she said "But how else could we produce enough food for
everybody? And we have to feed people in other countries too!"
This friend is educated, bright, and compassionate - quite prepared to see
the U.S. feed the world if need be. I wished I could hand her a one-page
report about "how else."
I have read that while pesticide use has grown incredibly in the U.S., our
percentage crop losses due to pests have remained fairly constant. I have
read of farmers who switched to organic and found their yields - and profits
- increased. I have heard that Gallo grows all its own grapes organically,
although they also buy non-organic. I know rotational grazing has proved
economically beneficial for dairy farmers. I know the Vermont Ag Department
distributes printed reports on produce prices every week in season, organic
and non-organic, and if there is a difference between the two it is a few
cents at most. But these are isolated instances, not enough to persuade a
skeptic.
Thanks for any help that's offered.
B. Gras
P.S. I love this quote but can't find who authored it or who included it at
the end of a letter - my guess is Michele Gale-Sinex. It goes sort of like
this:
----- To define the limit of the possible, it is necessary to go beyond it
into the impossible. -----
B.G.
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