1. Toward a Gaian Food System (Systems Theory Revisited) Soil and dirt Gaian Theory Food & waste Thinking in circles 1

2. Food Webs: Green & Brown Soil: the ground of agriculture Mechanical system? – Passive template for N, P, K Or complex living system? – Bacteria, fungi, microfauna, worms, insects decompose “waste,” mineralize nutrients “Virtuous cycles” 2

3. Vicious cycles: many small choices have large consequences 3 Source: http://www.theglobaleducationproje ct.org/earth/food-and-soil.php

4. China’s “Fifth Season” 4

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8. Living Systems Self-generative entities composed of dynamic symbiotic networks – Holism – Self-generativity – Symbiotic networks Independence - a biological impossibility Earth as living system Human systems are living systems. 8

9. The adaptive cycle of living systems 9

10. Gaia Theory Life itself alters a planet's geochemistry to favor its own continuation. – Falsifiable scientific theory – Basis of Earth System Science Earth like an adaptive super-organism. Emerges just as globalization & environmental destruction engender a planetary perspective. – From Holocene to Anthropocene 10

11. Gaia and Systems Theory Holism, self-generativity, & networks Living systems: self-generative entities composed of dynamic symbiotic networks Human systems, like other living systems, are embedded in the Earth system. – Contrary to liberal notions of independence – Climate change teaches interdependence 11

12. Human systems & Gaia Cyclical processes in Gaia – Gaia knows nothing of waste – Industrial society & the “ toilet assumption ” – Environmentalism & the rise of “ virtuous cycles ” Human purpose in the Gaian system – What is the purpose of current global human systems? Growth (?) 12

13. Learning from Gaia: The Gift of Photosynthesis Earth's first 'environmental crisis' 3.8 billion years ago – Bacteria consumed CO2, the greenhouse blanket Photosynthesis: production of oxygen opened way for more complex organisms – … which replenished the most important GHGs – … and led to creation of ozone layer People inducing a new kind of planetary crisis – Climate change, etc. as teacher – Can we trust the intelligence of the system? – Can we find it within ourselves? 13

14. Toward a Gaian Food System World food system as subset of Earth system – Nested living systems – EX: Bees Thinking in circles – All “waste” is food – Circular economy Rebalancing carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus & water cycles 14

15. A few simple ideas Relocalizing food economies – A few caveats Ecological grazing & growing practices – Rotational grazing – Mimic wild herds (Allan Savory) – Restoring soil fertility Compost, vermicomposting No-till agriculture Perennial agriculture Carbon sequestration in soils 15

16. 16 Source: http://www.wisegeek.org/why-do-mosquito-bites-itch.htm

17. O wonderful! O wonderful! O wonderful! I am food! I am food! I am food! I eat food! I eat food! I eat food! My name never dies, never dies, never dies! I was born first in the first of the worlds, earlier than the gods, in the belly of what has no death! Whoever gives me away has helped me the most! I, who am food, eat the eater of food! He who knows this shines like the sun. Such are the laws of the mystery! From the Taittiriya Upanishad 17