1 Feeding the World and Climate Change: The Crisis of Industrial Agriculture and the Two Paths ForwardDouglas H. Constance Professor of Sociology Sam Houston State University Paper presented at the summer meeting of Southern SARE Nashville, TN August 3, 2017
2 Rural Sociologists We research how social forces affect the life chances of rural peoples, and how this process changes over time. The discipline – is part of the Land Grant System (LGU) in the United States. Created in the late 1800s and early 1900s to modernize agriculture and rural America Doctors of Rural Society How is our patient doing? Diagnosis, prescription, and prognosis?
3 Alternative Agrifood MovementsAlternative Agrifood Movements: Patterns of Convergence and Divergence. Douglas H. Constance, Marie-Christine Renard, and Marta Rivera-Ferre (eds.) 2014: Emerald Publishing.
4 The Crisis of Industrial AgricultureProblematic ecologically Soils, water, monoculture, genetics, chemicals, diversity Problematic economically Consolidation, market power, market failure Precarious producers in global commodity chains Problematic socially Rural depopulation, the “disappearing middle” From “middle class” to “owners/workers”
5 The Four Questions in Agrifood Studies (Constance 2008)Environmental Question – Industrial Agriculture Major ecological externalities Agrarian Question – Quality of Life Concerns Food from Nowhere Food Question - The Quality Turn Food from Somewhere Emancipatory Question – The Justice Turn Social justice and extended rights
6 The Premise: 9B people to feed by 2050Lots of them will want to eat meat. Have to increase food production significantly But current system of industrial agriculture not sustainable Negative enviro externalities Major contributor to climate change Extensification – problematic Intensification – preferred, but sustainably
7 Extensification Expand the land base in agricultureVery old pattern: Civilization and food surplus Hunter Gatherer – Horticulture – Pastoral – Agriculture – Industrial Most of the fertile land now in agricultural use Remainder is mostly forests, grasslands Enviro hazards to further extensification. Climate change - GHG Biodiversity loss Soil erosion, water use/pollution, chemical contamination, pest resistance Cultural hazards: loss of indigenous food systems
8 Intensification Proto-farmers (late Paleolithic – 40K) – manipulate environment to encourage useful plants/animals. Neolithic Revolution – (12k) – cultivate crops and domesticate animals Agricultural Revolution – (5k) – link crop cultivation and animal domestication 1600s – Modernism: scientific, political, economic, and industrial revolutions. From Fertile Crescent, to Romans, to Europe, to Britain, to US Use science and technology to increase yields, with overt support from nation-state. : Mechanization and irrigation : Chemicals used as pesticides/fertilizers : Agroecology and IPM : Mendelism and selective breeding : Plant biotechnology : Organic agriculture
9 1996 World Food Summit UNFAO ReportNew round of intensification needed to feed the world, but avoid the negative environmental consequences of industrial agriculture ala the Green Revolution. Responsibilities of national governments to support and facilitate the task utilizing all technologies available. Numerous practical and ethical challenges involved, to intensify sustainably.
10 The Africa Connection Green Revolution did not work in AfricaStill lots of “non-intensive” agriculture Small holders; low technology Evidence of quick yield increases with expanded fertilizer use. Some candidates for extensification Sustainable Intensification: an agro-ecological approach to increase food self-sufficiency in Africa without the negative social and environmental costs of the Green Revolution (Pretty 1997) Appropriate Technology Culturally Embedded
11 Sustainable Intensification: TimelineJules Pretty coined the term in his article The Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture 1 SI described as the use of technologies to encourage “local processes of innovation and adaptation.” The byproducts of each cycle should become the inputs to another, reducing external inputs and environmental impact 1 1997 The World Bank defines SI as a combination of production practices such as Integrated Pest Management, Conservation Farming, Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Agriculture, Precision Agriculture and Diversification 2006 The Royal Society publishes a report describing SI as a system where ‘‘yields are increased without adverse environmental impacts and without the cultivation of more land’’ 2 2009 A report from the UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) stated a need to "enable EU farmers to achieve 'sustainable intensification'" to help mitigate the imminent crises of The Foresight report described SI as increasing yields while also increasing the efficiency of inputs and reducing negative environmental effects 3 2011 The UK Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, documented the potential of SI to be "…the most promising means of simultaneously increasing food production while achieving land-based mitigation [of greenhouse gases]…’’ 5 2012 Agriculture for Impact released a database to provide "evidence based" details on approaches in African agriculture 6 A group of researchers from universities, global organizations, government organizations and the UN attempt to redefine SI. The new definition broadens the scope to "ecosystem services, biodiversity and human health". 7 2013 Petersen and Snapp find that the term is not well defined or understood among researchers. They state the term "has become a buzzword" that allows people to put "…a positive spin" on solutions that are truly unsustainable. 8 2015 Sources: Pretty, J. N. (1997), The sustainable intensification of agriculture. Natural Resources Forum, 21: 247–256. doi: /j tb00699.x p 247(There are several claims that this is the first use of the term including Jeremy R. Franks who’s article was used in this research) Baulcombe, D., Crute, I., Davies, B., Dunwell, J., Gale, M., Jones, J., Ptetty, J.,Sutherland, W., Toulmin, C., Reaping the benefits: science and the sustainable intensification of global agriculture. The Royal Society, Policy document 11/09, London. p. ix Franks (…) referencing: (Foresight, The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and Choices for Global Sustainability. Final Project Report, London. pp. 34–35). Franks (…) referencing: (EFRA, The Common Agricultural Policy after Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Fifth Report 2010–11 Vol. 1 Report together with formal minutes.
12 USDA Science Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan - 2014Goal 1. Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural Production We are leveraging our strong foundational research and statistical information capacity, including a sustaine We are leveraging our strong foundational research and statistical information capacity, including a sustained investment in research that supports sustainable intensification of production agriculture, to spur innovation and respond to emerging issues and opportunities. d investment in research that supports sustainable intensification of production agriculture, to spur innovation and respond to emerging issues and opportunities.
13 The Critique of SI Poorly defined: intensification privileged over sustainable. Intensification – easy to define Sustainable – contested definition Original focus in Africa very similar to agro-ecology. But now increasingly focuses on enviro-dimension, to exclusion of social and economic sustainability. Continues to advance productivist approach, with bias for techno-solutions. (GMOs) Very problematic for animal production. Issue is not production, it is access, distribution, waste. Global consumption patterns are unsustainable.
14 The Critique of SI Food security not solved with narrow focus on production; requires systems approach. Agro-ecology can feed the world, sustainably. IAASTD (2008) and IPES (2015) Increasing role of and support by government, NGOs, large donor orgs, and industry. Charges of: “Greenwashing” “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” “Oxymoron” “Sustain the Unsustainable”
15 Monsanto Monsanto Defines Sustainable Intensification:Reoccurring Themes "We feel a deep responsibility to help ensure the world’s current population as well as future generations have enough of the right foods to eat." (4) Produce enough food to make a balanced meal accessible to all (3) “By finding ways to help farmers manage the challenges that impact our environment, we can help conserve the earth’s resources and preserve the natural ecosystem.” (5) Conserve resources and preserve the environment (3) “Our ambition is to help improve lives around the world by procuring goods and services in ways that conserve and protect natural resources and are ethically and socially responsible." (6) Improve lives & communities (3) Monsanto Defines Sustainable Intensification: "…sustainable agriculture means growing the right amount of food on less land using resources in an efficient manner that preserves natural ecosystems, addresses water scarcity and climate change, improves farmer livelihoods and benefits society. This approach is often referred to as sustainable intensification..." (1) “…sustainable intensification is key to meeting food security needs for our growing planet while also reducing agriculture’s impact on the environment.“ Dr. Robb Fraley, Monsanto Chief Technology Officer (2) Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report (page 17) Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report (page 20) Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report (page 14) Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report (page 57) Monsanto 2014 Sustainability Report (page 48) Monsanto Fall 2013 Progress Report (page 5) (The fall 2013 report may be named with a typo as it references results for 2014) - https://s3.amazonaws.com/SustainabilityCSR/CSR_FallProgressReport.pdf Goal of this slide is to show: How Monsanto views SI how they define SI . Reoccurring themes MISSING: Primary countries: Why is SI necessary for these countries? “We’ve pledged to improve our resource efficiency and continue to participate in landmark collaborations…We continue to innovate with products and services that help farmers grow food sustainably. (3) Collaboration and Innovation
16 DuPont DuPont on Sustainable Intensification (food security):Reoccurring Themes “…’what gets measured gets done,’ DuPont announced in 2012, corporate goals to enhance global food security that would be realized by the end of 2020.”1 Committed to achieving global food security by “…DuPont Businesses … are addressing food security with science-based innovations” 1 “There is a Science to Feeding the World & Ensuring Food Security” 3 Science can address global food security 1 “Increasing food quantity, improving food quality and reducing food waste will make a significant impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.” 3 Safe, more nutritious and easily available food 3 DuPont on Sustainable Intensification (food security): "One in eight people on earth goes to bed hungry. From advancing the nutritional content of crops to helping farmers and growers around the world increase their yields, we're working every day to get more safe, healthy food to the world’s growing population.” 2 (pg 1) Goal of this slide is to show: How DuPont views SI: how they define SI . Reoccurring themes Missing Info that could be helpful: Primary countries : Why is SI necessary for these countries?
17 Sustainable Intensification:Bayer Crop Science Reoccurring Themes “the crops of the future must also be better suited to more environmentally friendly and climate-adapted agricultural methods, using less water and producing higher yields.” 1 Innovate for the future 1 “Science and technology alone cannot tackle such a complex challenge … political environmental, infrastructure and education also play a crucial role.”” 4 Collaboration …We are committed to helping tackle these challenges through our expertise in high value seeds, innovative chemical and biological crop protection solutions, and services for modern, sustainable agriculture.” 5 Innovation and modernization are the answers Bayer Crop Science on Sustainable Intensification: Population growth. An increasing demand for food, feed, fiber and renewable raw materials. Limited natural resources. Climate change. We believe that sustainable farming is the best way to overcome these challenges … Sustainable farming can only be achieved on the basis of functioning ecosystems, which is why such as biodiversity, soil and water is on protecting natural resources e of our main objectives.” 1 “Realistically, the only way forward is to produce much more food from what land we have left in a more efficient, sustainable way … crop protection products are crucial” 2 “…what is urgently needed is a significant and sustainable increase in agricultural production worldwide.” 3 Goal of this slide is to show: How Bayer Crop Science views SI & how they define SI as well as the reoccurring themes Missing info: Primary countries --Why is SI necessary for these countries? Note: Bayer focuses it’s efforts on Rice, Wheat & Soybeans (http://www.cropscience.bayer.com/en/Commitment/Food-security.aspx) [no corn!! …Monsanto has a heavy focus on Corn & Soybeans)
18 Sustainable Intensification:Dow Reoccurring Themes “We are committed to increasing crop productivity through higher yields, better varieties, and more targeted pest management control.” 3 More and better food that is pest resistant “… boosting agriculture productivity to maximum sustainable levels to keep pace with the growing needs of our world's rapidly expanding population.” 3 Science improves nature and addresses the problem “… we believe in the power of collaboration to achieve an accelerated and broad-reaching level of innovation.” 4 Collaboration and Innovation Dow Defines Sustainable Intensification: “Pursuing sustainability means that future generations will be better off as a result of our decisions…On a path to a sustainable society and planet, we must combine our efforts into one proactive, comprehensive strategy and implementation blueprint. We must work together to achieve a sustainable tomorrow.” 2 “Science is developing a variety of solutions that is helping to address universal food security. These include technologies to: Maximize food production in limited space… Increase the availability of healthy food… Reduce food waste throughout the value chain... Advances in crop protection chemistry, formulations and traits…” 1 Goal of this slide is to show: How Dow views SI, how they define SI & the reoccurring themes DOW'S SOLUTIONS: Seed and trait technologies for higher crop yields Crop protection technologies for more effective pest control Omega-9 Canola and Sunflower Oils for healthier foods Gluten, fat and meat replacement Flexible and rigid packaging solutions for longer shelf life (1)
19 Sustainable Intensification:Syngenta Reoccurring Themes “… improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources.” 2 Help farmers to farm better “Innovation … lies at the heart of the Syngenta strategy. … we … are uniquely placed to provide growers with integrated solutions that will help them increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable way.” 4 Innovation and Integration “Innovation is triggered when experts interact across disciplines …Our collaborative approach extends to external partners whose expertise and technology complement our own.” 5 Innovation and Collaboration Syngenta Defines Sustainable Intensification: “We have only one planet, and we're using its resources 50% faster than it can take. What we're asking it to provide is simply not sustainable.” 1 “… bring greater food security in an environmentally sustainable way to an increasingly populous world by creating a worldwide step-change in farm productivity.” 3 Goal of this slide is to show: How Syngenta views and defines SI as well as the reoccurring themes Missing information that would be helpful: Primary countries: Why is SI necessary for these countries? Key Crops Syngenta focuses on (may require some digging as the list on the website is too long to be legitimate). “…the chemistry at the heart of Syngenta crop protection products and seed treatments are vital to sustainable agriculture. “ 6 Science is necessary for sustainability
20 Overview: Discourse for GMO FirmsThe Problem Food insecurity Symptoms Malnutrition / Starvation Why do we have the problem? Growing Populations Urban Sprawl = more meat consumption Climate change (droughts & floods) Nutrient poor soils How do we solve the problem? Science / technology/ innovation / modernization Tension between bringing more land into production (extensive) versus more intensive production on existing farm land is key part of the discourse how these two strategies (which will both be used) impact climate change Additional Information: See this for Syngenta: Collaborative, scientific innovations will improve nature and livelihoods globally. The only way to address global food insecurity is through integrating science and agriculture.
21 Civil Society ResponseThe International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) ‘From Uniformity to Diversity: A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems’. (June 2016)
22 The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food SystemsWhat is required is a fundamentally different model of agriculture based on diversifying farms and farming landscapes, replacing chemical inputs, optimizing biodiversity and stimulating interactions between different species, as part of holistic strategies to build long-term fertility, healthy agro- ecosystems and secure livelihoods, i.e. ‘diversified agroecological systems’.
23 Agroecology (Food First 2017)The “science of sustainable agriculture” is a practice and a movement concerned with farm, field and food system sustainability. Originally based on ecological observations of traditional farming systems, agroecology starts with ecological principles that allow farmers and scientists to develop sustainable farming methods in accordance with specific environments and farming systems. These methods minimize the use of external inputs and enhance resiliency by building agrobiodiversity, conserving soil and water, and managing biological populations to control pests and diseases. Terracing, cover cropping, inter-cropping, relay cropping, agroforestry and integrated crop-livestock systems are common to agroecology.
24 Agroecology (Food First 2017)Pioneered by smallholders and scientists from the fields of ecology, entomology, and soil and water sciences, it has demonstrated scientifically-proven benefits to farmers and the environment, including, conservation of biodiversity, superior resilience to extreme weather events (climate resilience), avoidance of debt and the pesticide treadmill, stable and highly productive yields, improved incomes for farmers (allowing them to stay on the land) and healthier food.
25 Agroecology (Food First 2017)Sadly, agroecology continues to be dismissed by mainstream agricultural development institutions because it does not fit well with the high external input model of industrial agriculture and channels the wealth of the agroecosystem to farmers rather global agribusiness corporations. Funding for agroecological research continues to be dwarfed by funding for Green Revolution-style agriculture with its patentable, high-tech inputs pushed by corporate agribusiness.
26 Agrifood Transitions: RevisitedHow to feed the world? 9+ billion by 2050 Acknowledged negative externalities: Ecological, Economic, and Social
27 Two Transition Paths Sustainable Intensification versus AgroecologyFood Security versus Food Sovereignty Food as Commodity versus Food as a Right Incremental Change versus Transformative Change WTO/Monsanto versus Food First/La Via Campesina
28 Two Transition Paths One Future versus Many FuturesCopy Right versus Copy Left Closed Source versus Open Source Hi Tech versus Appropriate Tech
29 The Philosophy The Ethics of Intensification: Agricultural Development and Cultural Change Paul Thompson (Ed.) 2010: Springer
30 The Industrial Ethic The industrial perspective views agriculture as just another part of industrial society where commodities are produced at the lowest cost possible; the trend to consolidation in farms and firms is just economies of scale at work to lower cost. This system must be exported to ensure sustainable food production for the world. Landscapes are viewed in terms of the commodities they can produce and while there are some concerns with labor, community, environment, animal welfare, these externalities can be addressed without a severe departure from the model.
31 The Agrarian Ethic The agrarian perspective, sometimes called alternative and/or multifunctional, views agriculture as having important social functions beyond its efficient production of commodities, such as providing positive ecological services and protecting the integrity and functioning of the ecosystem. Agriculture should be embedded in the local community, and consolidation negatively impacts the sustainability of local community quality of life. This view includes “rights-based” arguments of Fair Trade, fair labor, animal welfare, and notes that a major departure from the conventional agriculture model is needed because that model is extractive and not sustainable
32 The Philosophy Agricultural Ethics Consequentialist/Utilitarian EthicsGreatest good for greatest number creates the greatest efficiency Deontological/Rights-based Ethics Social justice/rights versus efficiency
33 Ethical Considerations of SIProductivist/Positivist assumptions grounded in Consequentalist/Utilitarian philosophies Must feed the world: Benefits of intensification outweigh harms, externalities. Largely ignores Rights-based philosophies. Informed consent of participants (farmers/consumers) Indigenous cultures rights to exist, maintain foodways, protect their germplasm Environmental rights to not be degraded Animal rights
34 Sustainable Intensification“The upshot is the debate over agricultural intensification has ideological overtones that one neglect’s at ones peril.” Thompson, 2010: 7. The Ethics of Intensification
35 Sustainable Intensification“… some observers would argue that describing changes in terms of intensification only obfuscates the ecological, economic, and technological drivers of change. When obfuscation conceals exploitation, it becomes ethically problematic in itself.” Thompson, 2010: 2. The Ethics of Intensification
36 Sustaining the Unsustainable“We should not be surprised at the ability of the conventional food system to sustain the unsustainable.” (Buttel 2006).
37 BACK to the DOCTORS Agrifood Transitions Food from Nowhere RegimeFood from Somewhere Regime