The Future Of Farming

The issue is not the way that farms are owned but where they are. The issues around food shortages in parts of the world relate to poor arable land. The reality is that for hundreds of thousands a year the populations of places like Ethiopia were low because the land could not support a bigger one, now we provide 'aid' thereby increasing a problem we are trying to solve. The former head of UNESCO said it well in a 2007 speech,

"We don't live at the North and South poles in large numbers for a good reason, the same reason we should not live in other parts of the world.

Farm land in the UK is not developed often because the farmer is paid not to produce as Europe has massive OVER production of food.

The Farming Paradigm Is Changing...

The title of the article refers to a BBC documentary about a young who specialises in wildlife documentaries and returns to her family farm. She explains how modern farming techniques are inefficient in so many ways, including exhausting the soil that then requires synthetic [oil based] fertilisers that are expensive and toxic.

She then gets to know some permaculture experts that have been developing methods that are more intensive, but do not exhaust the land... in fact, they enrich the soil the more they are used. It is a mixed agricultural method, similar to the "Food Forests" that our ancient ancestors developed and are capable of supporting dozens of people for each acre of land.

Indeed, one of the agricultural teams challenged the Jordanian government in the middle east to give them some of the worst land they have, and that they would cultivate it for them... which they did very successfully.

Fruit and nut trees can be grown in the same 'field' as vegetables, along with hedges that contain berries and nuts, etc. This mixed method not only enriches the soil, is more productive, more community based [saving transport costs], but also encourages wildlife that contribute to the ecosystem... such as insects that consume parasite that grow on the plants.

The documentary is well worth watching, along with associated videos and literature.

Mixed crop farming is hardly new (the Eqyptians invented it in around 4000BC) and it is always interestting to see a new generation of reporters who 'discover' the benefits. I am aware of the Jordanian experiment, it uses the Mitchell-Cohen techniques first adopted by the Israelis in the 1960's to use desert land for food production, the problem is the nutriant store briefly soars before dropping back over the following four years. This is why the Israeli farmers use the 4 and 3 rule for crop rotation and rest.

People need to understand there are no easy solutions to world food production but we can make a start by recognising that farming is easier, more productive and cleaner in a Northern European climate for a reason.

Yes we can move away from intensive farming, yes we can abandon man-made fertilizers for natural chemicals, we can make a massive switch to organic farming. All of these things are possible but there is a price.

Food production will fall leading to a greater number of inputs with the subsequent increase in carbon footprint

Food costs will rise at a time when people are already struggling to pay bills

the country loses the food security of supply that has been developed since the end of the war


Why should we do this ?

Some people do not want things to change... they are living very well off the slave labour and misery of others. They will tell lies and spread misinformation on forums like Indymedia to prevent change. But people ARE waking up and realising that things can be done a better way to benefit the majority, not the minority.

Just in Britain there are millions of acres of agricultural land that are not being used for the benefit of society. This does not include things like massive private estates and golf courses that are used by the ruling scum for pleasure, while millions of kids that live in high rise blocks in the cities have nowhere to play.

It is a running joke in farming circles that a 10% drop in production means a 50% increase in profits... they thrive on shortages, they love food shortages and the misery of others means nothing to them. Fuck them all!

It is time for the people around the world to wake up and take back the land from their oppressors. Plant trees and hedgerows... and never need state welfare or slave labour jobs again. This is a reality... and the establishment is crapping themselves in fear that the people will arrive at a mass realisation.

Just in Britain there are millions of acres of agricultural land that are not being used for the benefit of society.

-- Depends what you call "benefit of society". I don't play golf but I like walking my dog on the local course which is well maintained, has many wild flowers and small animals as a result of the maintenance .

while millions of kids that live in high rise blocks in the cities have nowhere to play.
-- If you are referring to the UK that's simply not true, as a percentage of land use the UK has more open green land than most countries. In a country where it is impossible to be more than 57 miles from the sea at any point, it is doubtfull open green land is ever more than a 45 minute bus ride away at the very most.

It is a running joke in farming circles that a 10% drop in production means a 50% increase in profits... they thrive on shortages, they love food shortages and the misery of others means nothing to them.
-- Could you give some details of these statistics and how you know of them because I would hate to think you just made them up

It is time for the people around the world to wake up and take back the land from their oppressors.
-- Who is oppressing them ?

and never need state welfare or slave labour jobs again.
-- I doubt there will be a time when vulnerable people will never need social help.

This is a reality...
-- far from it

and the establishment is crapping themselves in fear that the people will arrive at a mass realisation
-- any details of this impending revolution ?

thats desperately needs a total upgrade.But he is right farming can change&use best of old& new techniques.
Permaculture takes abit longer to start on a farm, but it then produces alot more longterm for all& is generally easier+ can be less carbon intensive,
I come from generations of organic farmers from uk& ukraine its vpossible.

Perma culture infact arguably goes back way further than eygptians, with some hunter gatherers ,but we can combine it with the best modern sustainable techniques& appropriate high tech

Also perma culture can help more naturally geoengineer the climate. current farming methods especially meat& ploughing release tonnes of carbon etc.

it will cost society far less in the near future& needs support from all in society,especially government, who should invest in that rather than certain very questionable weather modification.