Jules Pretty

The growing of food is far more then just a price tag as the article clearly shows. Along with this, it includes different types of assets, or capitals, for its success. -Natural Capital- This includes things like natures goods and services. Food, wood, water, water supply, waste, control of pests, pollination etc. -Social Capital- This gives a flow of natural benefits. This includes things like norms, values, attitudes, and other beliefs.

Human Capital- In essence, this is the total capability residing in the individuals. This includes knowledge, skills, heath, nutrition etc. This can be enhanced by schools, training etc. Peoples Capital can increase given these trainings. Physical Capital- The store of human made resources, buildings, irrigation, and anything that can help make labor more productive. Financial Capital- This is exactly what it sounds like. It is an accounting concept. It facilitates the role rather then a source of productivity. It is all things like welfare, grants, and subsidies.

Almost all activities affect the environment in some way, either by using it for agriculture, or using it as a sinkhole. This is what is called an externalities, or a side effect of economic activity. These are generally not included in prices of the item. What this does is it can encourage the free market to buying something that seems harmless even though its damages are extremely large. They are often neglected, and with time get worse.

Donald Worster’s three principals of good farming uses these different capitals. Farming makes people healthier Farming Promotes more than just society Farming that preserves the earth Good farming protects the land and preserves the earth, and we are not absolved from our ethical duties. For instance, good farming protest the land, and has a positive effect on natural, social, and human capital. However, bad farming practices hurt all forms of capital which puts stress on farmers. This in turn makes practices worse, and the downward spiral continues.

An example of this is where a study showed that modern rice growing is costly to human life. The workers are exposed to pesticides, and herbicides and often fall ill with eye, lung, and neurological disorders. Another example is the estimated external cost of the UK agriculture. It was about 2 billion euros. 316 million euros to clean the air 231 million euros to clean the water More than 9/10 th of all wildflower-rich meadows have been lost in the past 60 years.

Stpehen Gliessman

Agriculture is no longer simply a farmer trying to survive. Farming now is more like a pool. There are streams ‘flowing’ into a farm There are also many different streams flowing from a farm. There are now many different things upstream that affect the farm.

An agroecosystem is created when man manipulates an ecosystem, ie. Rainforest, for the use of agriculture. This results in several main changes.

In natural ecosystems there are many different kinds of energy that go into an ecosystem. Things like solar power, dead plant mass etc. In an Agroecosystem, there is much more Fossil fuels Solar power Biomass

Generally, in a natural ecosystem, nutrients are gradually introduced into the environment by hydro-chemical processes. In Agroecosystems we pump nutrients into the soil that can harm an ecosystem Things like Pesticides Herbicides Fertilizers Fossil Fuels Also, they introduction of non-native plants has a strong affect on disrupting the ecosystem.

Again, human interference has had a very negative affect on the natural ecosystems Things like genetic selections by humans can introduce unknown illnesses and disease into a population. They can lose diversity. Natural Pest control is destroyed

Having many different species in an ecosystem helps protect it from many different issues. Pest control Population Control Etc. This equilibrium can easily be displaced and the entire ecosystem can be destroyed, or harmed greatly.

What this means is our way of life is not sustainable. If we continue on this trend, an unlimited amount of things can happen, very few of them good. Loss of nature Loss of our way of life Loss of Species

Its fairly simple There are two main kinds of sustainable agraculture. Natural ecosystems Traditional ecosystems, generally speaking. Natural ecosystems are not fully understood But there is much research being down about how we can take what goes on in nature, and replicate it to make a more sustainable farm.

Traditional ecosystems, sometimes called indigenous, are far different from natural They are still changed by humans, but generally are more sustainable. They are concerned about how to have sustainable agriculture instead of simply getting the largest yield. Many times, they are more productive, and sustainable.

Truthfully, its tough. As the article states, there are no silver bullets Instead we must focus on redesigning the whole system, learning form both natural, and traditional ecosystems. Maintain natural relationships Try not to disrupt natural processes. Ultimately, we must maintain nutrient dynamics, energy use, and use day to day management of the farm