Sustainable Food Production Methods – The Future Of Farming?
As awareness of issues such as global warming, biodiversity, and food contamination rises in modern society, we are gradually stepping away from damaging chemical sprays and moving towards more organic means of food production.
Methods such as polyculture, terrace farming, and vertical farms, are becoming more widespread in modern agriculture as demand for organic products rises – between 2008 and 2018, the demand for organic food almost doubled, and the generational impact is unmistakable.
18-29 year olds comprise over 28% of the global organic food market, and demand continues to rise with each decade; for example, in 2018 the organic food market grew by 0.8%, largely led by the Millennial generation.
Meanwhile, the global organic food market is expected to grow at an 11.5% compound annual growth rate yearly, from just $122.8 billion in 2019, to $211.3 billion in 2024.
In order to supply this rising demand, we need to research methods of sustainable food production, and develop our understanding of how to cultivate foods which fit with our local environment.
Here, we will discuss both traditional and new methods of sustainable food production, and how they may be used in farming over the coming decades.
Why Buy Organic?
There are a number of reasons why people prefer to buy organic as opposed to industrially-farmed foods, from environmental grounds to personal health factors.
In particular:
- Organic fruits and vegetables contain 20-40% more antioxidants
- Organic food is not genetically modified, a process which may cause difficulties with the reproduction of certain fruits and vegetables (for example, certain bananas have been bred to not contain seeds, meaning they can no longer sexually reproduce)
- Organic food does not contain pesticides and growth hormones, which can contribute to cancers and other health conditions
- Antibiotics given to livestock bred and kept in industrial conditions, may produce drug-resistant bacteria – thereby creating a risk to human health
- Organic meat and milk are higher in certain nutrients, such as Omega-3
What Is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a general term for self-sustaining agricultural systems.
Industrial farming causes a number of damaging impacts to the environment, which may cause life to be unsustainable in that area – like soil erosion for example, or chemical pollution.
Permaculture, on the other hand, uses a number of sustainable disciplines including organic agriculture, agroforestry (growing trees and shrubs around crops), and integrated farming, to produce food in an ongoing fashion without damaging the local environment, and requiring only minimal human intervention.
Methods Of Sustainable and Organic Food Production
The Three Sisters
A type of companion planting permaculture originating from Mesoamerican indigenous civilisations, the ‘Three Sisters’ refers to combining corn, beans and squash. These plants, when grown together, give each other protection from pests, and maintains soil fertility.
This practice has been used for at least 3000 years, and can be adapted according to the local environment. Where the land is naturally damp, the Three Sisters are grown on elevated mounds to improve the drainage of the soil. In dryer areas, however, they were planted in ditches or depressions of the soil to help to capture rain.
In the North-East, they also added rotten fish and eels as an extra fertiliser, and in the South West, the Tewa peoples also included a fourth sister, the Rocky Mountain Bee plant, which attracted bees and other insects to help to pollinate the crops.
This method of farming deters pests, with the prickly hairs of the squash making it uncomfortable for animals and insects to eat. The leaves of the squash shields the ground from light, preventing the growth of weeds, and also seal moisture into the soil and surrounding microclimate, while the beans provide nitrogen, and the maize creates a structure for the beans to climb.
Food Forests
Food forests are, as the name may imply, a forest comprising of a variety of food-producing organisms, which should be self-sustaining; this, however, is not the same as an orchard.
Whereas an orchard contains only fruit trees, a food forest is biodiverse and contains at least seven levels of plants which all rely on each other for the forest to sustain itself.
These are:
The canopy layer – the top layer of tallest trees, typically fruit and/or nut trees. The protection of the canopy leaves help to seal in moisture and CO2 for the development of lower layers.
Dwarf fruit trees – smaller fruit trees, produce fruit and leaves, which help to fertilise the soil and reproduce when dropped, help to feed animals and insects which eat certain plant varieties, helping to prevent overpopulation of certain species.
Shrubs – often producing berries and currants; again, creating fertiliser, reproducing, and feeding animals which prevents over-population.
Climbers – plants which need upright support to grow. These include grapes, beans, peas, passion fruit, and certain berries.
The herbaceous layer – herbs, companion plants, bee-forage plants, poultry-forage plants. Creates ground cover, shelter, and foraging areas for small animals and insects. Helps to break down essential nutrients for recycling.
Ground cover plants – creates a ‘living mulch’, which seals in moisture, fertilises the ground, reduces water-loss and prevents weed-growth.
Rhizone layer – Root crops such as carrots, beetroot, ginger, yakon potatoes.
Hügelkultur Garden
‘Hügelkultur’ is a German word, which means ‘mound culture’. It is a method of farming from Germany and Eastern Europe which has been used for hundreds of years.
A hügelkultur garden comprises a ditch filled with planks of wood and/or branches and sticks. When the wood decomposes, it releases Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and water into the atmosphere, making the perfect breeding ground for new life.
Animal Agriculture And Embracing The Food Chain
One final way to reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides, is to keep animals alongside crop plants. As part of any natural eco-system, animals prevent overpopulation of certain species by consuming them, and provide natural fertiliser through waste, thus also helping matter to decompose. Certain animals, such as chickens and pigs, also help to turn the topsoil, keeping the top layer fresh.
Additionally, if you are involved in farming animals as well as fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs, new and innovative technologies are making meat production more sustainable than ever. For example, superground.com offer tools and systems that enable production lines to produce 30% more from poultry.
These are just a few examples of ways in which permaculture techniques can be incorporated into farming methods. Whether you are a farmer yourself, or simply have an interest in cultivating your own food garden, please consider the ways in which you can make your agriculture better for the environment and more sustainable for the future.
And who knows? You might love cultivating your own little ecosystem!
