G OOD MORNING ! Please get out your sustainable agriculture notes from last Tuesday and the hand out “A Healthy Food System Defined” Please read the board!

B RAINSTORM GAME ! In 60 seconds, write everything you can think of about....

W HAT PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY OUR FOOD SYSTEM ?

W HAT ’ S THE OPPOSITE OF THESE ? Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

S USTAINABLE A GRICULTURE HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE TERM “SUSTAINABLE”?

F OOD F ORWARD ! (24 MIN )

S OLUTIONS ? Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

C OMMUNITY GARDENS /U RBAN A G C OMMUNITY GARDENS /U RBAN A G ( FF 12:49)

V ERMICOMPOST !

S USTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Inorganic Fertilizers Mechanization Short term gains Cost minimization priority over human rights Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal power Long term soil fertility Fair trade = fair wages for fair work

E ATING LOCALLY = EATING SEASONALLY Most plants grow, produce food and then die at certain times of the year. Houston crops NOW: Greens Green beans Squash Cabbage Oranges

O RGANIC F OODS PRODUCTION A CT 1990 No inorganic fertilizers or pesticides No use of Genetically Modified Organisms No use of sewage sludge No irradiation (kills bacteria on harvested food) No antibiotics or growth hormones

O RGANIC ADVANTAGES Healthier for farmers, consumers Safer for wildlife Doesn’t require as much fossil fuel for fertilizer/pesticides Encourages companies to pursue more sustainable practices Legal definition creates reliable label (unlike “natural”)

O RGANIC DISADVANTAGES Cost (short shelf life means more potential waste, so more must be sold to break even) Can be highly processed

L OOK FOR ORGANICS !

F ARMER ’ S MARKETS (FF 5:16) Houston: Rice Tues pm 3000 Richmond Sat/Sun am St.Cyril on Wed pm All $ directly to farmer All local = all seasonal Interactions increase Often organic, but not certified

T HE QUESTION OF ACCESS AND EQUITY 3,200 farmer’s markets now take SNAP! (suplemental nutrition assistance program) Farmer’s market food costs reflect a real wage for the farmer

E ATING LOCALLY = EATING SEASONALLY Most plants grow, produce food and then die at certain times of the year. Houston crops NOW: Greens Green beans Squash Cabbage Oranges

S OLUTIONS ? Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Fertilizers Mechanization Few corporations control system Subsidies encourage unhealthy food Cost minimization priority over human rights

CSA’ S – C OMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE Share holders pay annual fee; pick up produce regularly from central location (ff 15:50)

W OOD D UCK FARM This week’s share: Mixed greens Summer squash BIG cabbage! Satsuma oranges Cucumbers Kale Basil Green Beans Cherry tomatoes

S OLUTIONS ! Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal power Long term soil fertility Fair trade = fair wages for fair work

“O RGANIC FARMING IS A CRUCIAL WME ( WEAPON OF MASS ENLIGHTENMENT ). - Gary Hirshberg CEO of Stoneyfield organic yogurt

S USTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS Processed food Transported food Stored food Monoculture Pesticides Inorganic Fertilizers Mechanization Short term gains Cost minimization priority over human rights Whole foods Local food Seasonal food Polyculture/polyvarietal IPM pest strategies Organic fertilizers People/animal power Long term soil fertility Fair trade = fair wages for fair work

A SPECTRUM OF CHOICES – ALL GROWERS DEAL WITH PESTS ! Industrial Integrated PestOrganic/ Agriculturemanagement traditional Least sustainablemost sustainable

I NTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Overarching philosophy: Eradication of pests is not possible, so the goal must be pest suppression. General practice: Monitor pest populations. When damage of crops will cost more than the cost of action, IPM managers take steps to control pests. Pesticides will be used only as a last resort.

G UIDING PRINCIPLE : P ESTS AND DISEASES GENERALLY ARE PLANT - SPECIFIC. Examples – Boll weevil attacks cotton plants Rust and smut fungus attack corn Yellow rust fungus attacks wheat

D IVERSITY PROTECTS HARVESTS FROM PESTS AND DISEASES BECAUSE THEY RUN OUT OF FOOD.

M ONOCULTURES ARE LIKE A BANQUET !

C ULTIVATION / PHYSICAL APPROACHES Crop rotation – non-legume, legume, fallow field/cover crop

E ACH CROP DEMANDS A DIFFERENT MIX OF SOIL NUTRIENTS Root/fruit/flowers: high Phosphorous demand (nucleic acids) Leaves: Nitrogen (photosynthesis proteins)

C ULTIVATION / PHYSICAL APPROACHES Hedge rows provide shelter for beneficial insects, insectivorous birds and other pest predators (preying mantis, ladybugs, bats)

B IOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL Release beneficial insects purchased in quantity (pest predators), encourage insectivorous birds

O THER PREDATORS

I NSECTIVOROUS BIRDS

C HEMICAL P EST CONTROL Pheromones: used in bait traps to lure insects away from crops

C HEMICAL CONTROL As a last resort, IPM farmers will use pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides) Find your definition of Organic Food. Put a star next to the IPM practices that an organic farmer COULD use legally.

P RACTICE – WHICH IS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WHY ? Potatoes bought at the grocery store vs. potatoes bought at a farmer’s market. Homemade french fries vs. fast food french fries Inorganic pesticide vs. crop rotation