Sustainable agriculture: Environmental dimensions in a global context

1. Sustainable agriculture: Environmental dimensions in a global context A module of the Globalizing Agriculture Education Project

2. Module Learning Outcomes • To be able to describe several critical environmental issues related to global agricultural sustainability • To be able to explain and apply these issues in a site-specific context using international examples and their relationship to the US. • International Case Study: Basque Farmers in the French Pyrenees

3. What is “sustainable agriculture?” The USDA definition of ''sustainable agriculture‘’, as defined in the 1990 Farm Bill “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.” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)

4. Why ‘environmental stewardship’? Chemicals used in agriculture can pollute surface and ground waters, reducing water quality. Land conversion to agriculture can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction and reduced biodiversity. Etc…Can you think of more? What are some of the environmental issues in our food and agriculture system? Agriculture is the primary human activity responsible for methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which are potent greenhouse gases. Water withdrawals for irrigation can lead to water scarcity and subsequent conflict over water use. Intensive cultivation and grazing can lead to declining soil fertility and plant productivity.

5. Exploring environmental issues in US Agriculture • Intensive cultivation can lead to declining productivity. • Tillage exposes soils to wind and water erosion. • Erosion leads to topsoil loss and sedimentation in waterways. • Extensive tillage destroys soil structure, exposing soil carbon to oxidation and leading to long-term soil fertility loss and CO2 releases to the atmosphere. • Lack of productivity increases needs for imports. • Picture of degraded pasture, overgrazing.

6. Exploring environmental issues in US Agriculture • Intensive grazing can lead to declining productivity. • Overgrazing leads to soil compaction, which limits oxygen and plant root growth. • Not allowing pastures sufficient time for recovery after grazing decreases their productivity, leading to overall loss in forage quality. • Picture of degraded pasture, overgrazing. • Stats on overgrazed lands? Maybe a caption on ideal forage height?

7. Exploring environmental issues in US Agriculture • Water quantity and quality • In the eastern US, abundant rainfall leads to agrichemical runoff from farm fields and subsequent water quality issues. • In the western US, large water withdrawals for irrigation leads to insufficient water quantity for humans and agriculture downstream. • Picture of Mississipi River Dead Zone and Rio Grande.

8. Exploring environmental issues in US Agriculture • Land conversion to agriculture • Historically, conversions of forests and prairies to agriculture has led to high biodiversity losses and loss of the ecosystem services these native habitats provided, such as water regulation and carbon sequestration. • This is a current issue in many areas of the world – can we name a few? • Map of US Agricultural lands and % of US land in ag.

9. Environmental stewardship: a global issue • These issues are not unique to US agriculture. The salience of each of these issues may vary by region of the world, but agricultural communities everywhere are facing these same issues. • By comparing and contrasting the ways communities deal with environmental issues, we learn about these general concepts, and the ways communities share or diverge in their approaches to dealing with them. • Example: Basque Farmers in Soule, France. Maybe pics from all the case studies?

10. Case Study: Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France

11. Where/what is the European Union? • An affiliation of 27 countries united in a common currency and with the goals of: *For background on the history of the EU and it’s member states, see the Economics module of this section. 27 countries in 2005 (including Bulgaria & Romania

12. EU Agriculture: Overview • Major agricultural products • Livestock products (including dairy), grains, vegetables, wine, fruits, and sugar • Major exports • Grains (wheat and barley), dairy products, poultry, pork, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and wine • Major imports • Soybeans and soybean products, cotton, tobacco, tropical products, off-season fruits and vegetables, coffee, cocoa, tea, and spices. (USDA ERS data).

13. EU Agriculture: Farm size • Farms in the EU are often a patchwork of smaller parcels

14. Case Study: Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France

15. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition • A traditional grazing system of moving animals to high mountain pastures in the summer months • In Soule, animals move up in May, down in September • Traditionally animals led up on foot, often a 10-12 mile walk. Now mostly transported in trucks, except in remote pasturage • System developed in the middle ages, and continues today, but area has shrunk dramatically • Mostly sheep, but increasingly more cowsand horses

16. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition • Historic land use change in Basque Country • The first shepherds arrived in the region of Soule 7200 years ago. • The landscape was forested, but increased grazing pressure between 2000 years and 700 years ago led to clearing of forest lands to lands used for grazing and hay making. • What effects might deforestation had on the environment? • Can we draw any parallels to Kentucky or US agriculture?

17. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition • For the past 700 years, traditional grazing practices have maintained grazing lands like those at the right. • Farm size has remained relatively small, due to social traditions and mountainous terrain.

18. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition Why transhumance? - Farm sizes too small to support grazing year round in lower valleys. - Resource use changes based on land ownership and time of year. • Traditional grazing patterns in Soule • Winter – in town on family farm lands • Spring and fall – move to lands owned by villages (the coteaux, or hills). • Summer – move to regionally-managed high pastures (estives), first to lower areas and then to high mountain areas; shepards stay in permanent cabins.

19. Transhumance: Changing Traditions • Tragedy of the commons. • Farmers are relying less on the commons • Herd size is getting larger, and farmers having to buy more feed, quality of the commons not reliable. • Buying more hay and imports to support larger herds/flocks.

20. Increasing farm size • Average farm size in Soule is less than 20 ha, and so farmers rely on use of the commons. • Having to bring in • Soule • Change in farm size in KY.

21. Increasing farm size • The role of policy and economics in increasing farm size… • Stocking density, etc. in the EU and subsidies. • Subsidies in the US and economic forces. • But policy can also be used to meet conservation goals in both the US and EU.

22. Conserving Biodiversity on Ag Lands • Habitats directive • Voluntary • NRCS – CRP and other programs.

23. Conserving Resources on Ag Lands • Water tanks in the high mountains. • EQIP programs.

24. Decreasing agrichemical usage • Water tanks in the high mountains.

25. Summary slide Summary questions that tie to learning outcomes/overall project goals.

26. Supplemental Readings & Resources • Cornell Primer on Sustainable Agriculture • An introduction to sustainable agriculture and community food systems • Welch-Devine and Murray, 2010. • Reading on community based food systems