Editor:
A lot of news on agricultural issues has been surfacing lately, much of it confirming forecasts made years ago.
The southwest United States are experiencing drought conditions. The Farmland Defense League of B.C. tells us that B.C. currently obtains 52 per cent of its food supply from that region, and accordingly, we can expect prices to rise and shortages to occur.
With only five per cent of B.C. land being suitable for agriculture, it should be obvious that we cannot afford to pave one more inch of that land.
Another piece of news: a long-held myth about organic farming has finally been laid to rest. A recent study by the United Nations states, "Today's scientific evidence demonstrates that agro-ecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live, especially in unfavourable environments."
Results of a 30-year side-by-side trial of conventional and organic farming methods at Pennsylvania's Rodale Institute show organic farming outperformed conventional farming. Organic yields equaled conventional yields after a three-year transition period. Even more important: organic corn yields were 31 per cent higher in years of drought.
This study found that organic systems used 45 per cent less energy than conventional ones. Soil health in the organic systems has increased over time while the conventional systems remain essentially unchanged. Organic fields increased groundwater recharge and reduced water run-off. A very important finding was the 30-year comparison showed organic systems are almost three times as profitable as the conventional systems.
None of these findings will be welcomed by large, multi-national companies that market patented, genetically modified seed and chemical fertilizers.
Large companies and investors have been purchasing agricultural land on the African continent. Does anyone want to take a chance that healthy, affordable food will result from this development?
We need to preserve all the agricultural land we have left and develop government policy that supports healthy farming.
Wilma Haig
