Sustainable Food Production Sustainable Food Production

Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable agriculture: an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long- term: ◦ Satisfy human food and fiber needs. ◦ Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends. ◦ Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. ◦ Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. ◦ Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. USDA Legal term:

Sustainable Ag Practices Sustainable Ag Practices Crop rotation ◦ Planting a series of different crops in the same field over a period of years Conservation Tillage (no-till) ◦ Residues from previous year’s crops are left in place to prevent soil erosion Strip Cropping ◦ Alternating strips of different crops along natural contours Terracing ◦ Creating terraces on steep slopes to prevent erosion

Sustainable Ag Practices Sustainable Ag Practices Shelter-belts (wind-breaks) ◦ Row of trees planted to reduce wind erosion of soil Cover Crops ◦ Non-essential plant placed near the crop to suppress weeds, add nutrients to the soil, and control pests/diseases Polyculture ◦ Growing multiple kinds of crops Drip Irrigation ◦ Irrigation pipes that use less water and trickle water into the soil

Green Manure & Fertilizers Green Manure & Fertilizers Green manure comes from cover crops which act as a living mulch. ◦ Examples: alfalfa, clover, hairy vetch, winter wheat ◦ Helps with soil erosion, adds nutrients. Natural fertilizers ◦ Examples: organic compost, powdered seaweed or kelp, mushroom compost ◦ Amendment improves the quality of the soil, drainage and structure, microbial activity, and increases plant nutrient availability

Sustainable Poultry Sustainable Poultry Cage-free Free-range Pasture-raised Poultry Benefits: ◦ Provide natural insect control ◦ Droppings enrich the soil ◦ Scratching aerates the soil Sustainable practices can be applied with all domesticated animals.

Urban Farms Urban Farms Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city. ◦ Popular in the Rust-belt cities: Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee (big Midwest Cities that used to be big steel cities) ◦ Detroit is the leader in Urban Agriculture. City Farm in Chicago (Chicago Ave & N. Hudson)

Local Foods Local Foods Locavore: someone who is interested in eating food that is locally produced, not moved long distances to market. ◦ USDA defines as within 400 miles of where it is grown. Find local food online:

Vertical Farming Vertical Farming Cultivating plant or animal life within skyscrapers, or on vertically inclined surfaces. ◦ Our living wall in the Aquaponics Lab is a vertical garden. Maximizes crop output using limited horizontal surface area.

Seasonal Growing Seasonal Growing Buying and growing produce within the season in which it is naturally intended to grow Required less pressure on resources, reduces to need to grow items thousands a miles away and ship them View simulation at:

Farmer’s Markets Farmer’s Markets Retail markets featuring foods sold directly by farmers to consumers. Provides fresh locally grown food and adds value to communities.

Co-ops & CSAs Co-ops & CSAs food cooperative (food co-op) is a grocery store or organization collectively organized, run, and owned by members (consumers). ◦ Decisions are made by shareholders (members) so cooperatives often exhibit a higher degree of social responsibility than corporations. Community supported agriculture (CSA) food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. ◦ Consumers typically buy "shares" in a farm's harvest in advance.

Foraging Foraging Foraging is searching for food that grows naturally in the native environment (ex. morel mushroom hunting or picking weeds for a salad) Goes back to the principles of hunting-gathering Similar concepts have emerged for urban landscapes and people publish locations where you can find free food growing