I return to The Local, Sustainable, Organic Series to begin to answer the question that I proposed in my introduction to the topic : can an entire nation purchase and consume solely local and organic foods, in order to lead more healthy and sustainable lifestyles? In the introduction, I proposed that “yes”, it is possible; it is, however, highly improbable. I moved on to present eight challenges to that stance, the first of which I seek to explore in part 1 of this series.
The first challenge to an entire nation purchasing and consuming solely local and organic foods is the current systems and infrastructure in place supporting the status quo. Since the other challenges I will present in Parts 2-8 focus on the broader social, political, and economic barriers to the proliferation of local, organic farming, I will focus here on the current systems and infrastructure in place on an individual farm level.
The conversion from conventional to organic farming is one that requires significant planning. A conventional farmer moving toward an organic practice faces an entirely new set of challenges: how does one fight pests without the use of pesticides, and insects without the use of insecticides? How does one fight weeds without the use of herbicides? An organic farmer must plant rotating crops in their fields in order to promote the health of the soil. Which crops will grow best on a given plot of land, and what is the best crop rotation to employ?
For the conventional farmer, there must first be an interest in converting to an organic practice. Next, there must be incentive. With significant investment in farm machinery and equipment, existing crops, and systems of distribution of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides to the fields, there must be a strong impetus to convert to an entirely different style of agriculture.
This challenge is imposing, since the conversion to organic farming is a process that is lengthy and complicated. There are, however, resources for farmers who want to move toward an organic practice. Agricultural scientists have conducted research and published findings on the most efficient and effective ways to farm organically. The transmission of such knowledge is a potential barrier to gains, as well as the initial transmission of information regarding the benefits of organic farming to both farmers and consumers.
A farmer must not only realize the benefits of organic practice to their own fields and to themselves, but also to the health of the ecosystem in which they practice and to the consumers who purchase their agricultural commodity. Without recognizing these benefits, there is even less motivation for them to change the systems and infrastructure on their farm in order to convert to an organic practice.
3 Spoons Full of Story 