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Can we create the "perfect" farm? - Brent Loken

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Can we create the "perfect" farm? - Brent Loken

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TED-Ed | 2020

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Can we create the "perfect" farm? - Brent Loken

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Miranda Paul | 2019
Amazon | NOT #OwnVoices

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Sigrid Schmalzer | 2018
Amazon

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Project Hero

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Climate change: What's it got to do with farming?

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Climate change: What's it got to do with farming?

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BBC | 2019

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Farming affects all of us in our daily lives, even if you might not realise it.

It's big business - from producing food we eat, to crops used in lots of different products as well produce being bought and sold to other countries.

But a lot has changed. British farmers have had to cope with a lot of uncertainty and the industry has had to adapt to the changing world we live in.

Let's take a look of some of the big issues today which have an impact on this important industry.

Climate change and farming are very often talked about at the same time.

Food production is said to be responsible for over one quarter of harmful greenhouse gas emissions - a direct driver of climate change.

Recently, a United Nations report said the amount of dairy and meat that people are consuming is fuelling global warming. While research varies, it is thought that cows, sheep and goats are responsible for up to 14% of all greenhouse emissions.

The National Farming Union says it understands that work has to be done to cut these emissions so that the farming industry doesn't have such a big impact on the planet.

It is pushing itself to become net zero (removing as many emissions as we produce) by 2040 though initiatives like encouraging farmers to capture more carbon on their land, changing how the industry is powered, and making food production processes more efficient and sustainable.

What does 'becoming net zero' mean?

For an industry to 'become net zero', it means it has to remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as the amount that it puts into it.

It is about achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions removed.

For example, initiatives like planting trees can help an industry to 'become net zero', as trees remove carbon from the atmosphere.

On top of this, experts are recommending that people should buy less meat, milk, cheese and butter, eat more locally sourced and seasonal food, and throw less food away. All of this could have an impact on demand for farmers' products.

But aside from the impact that the farming industry has on the environment, more extreme weather events have a direct impact on farmers too.

Last year, there were record high temperatures in June, July and August which caused widespread drought and crop failures.

The so-called beast from the East also played a huge part in reducing livestock numbers, as the cold spell hit during lambing season. It was reported that farmers in Scotland lost £161 million because of bad weather last year.

So tackling the issue of climate change, and dealing with extreme weather events, will undoubtedly be a huge part of what the future of farming looks like in the months and years to come.

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The UK produces almost two thirds of the food that the population eats, but that number has fallen. The rest is produced elsewhere and brought into the country.

There are lots of factors which have a direct impact on the farming industry and affect how much produce customers want to buy.

Firstly, the UK population is bigger than it's ever been, meaning there are more mouths to feed than ever before. This puts more pressure on the farming industry to keep up with demand and produce enough food.

The industry has warned that more and more of the food we eat may have to be brought into the country, rather than being grown here, unless governments help them.

Secondly, people's diets are continually changing. For example, veganism and vegetarianism have grown in popularity. Not only that, but there is more of a focus on healthy eating, which affects the products people want to buy and how they are produced.

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Thirdly, it is no longer only about what farmers produce, but also how they do it. Many people are thinking more about the impact that their choices have on the environment, so farmers have needed to adapt to this too. If people think that farmers are not using environmentally friendly methods, then those producers may find their business is negatively impacted as a result.

Finally, the fact that it is now easier to buy and sell produce with other countries means that farmers have to compete with producers and manufacturers overseas, who often sell their produce cheaply.

One aspect of modern life that has had a big impact on all industries is technology - and the farming industry is no different.

In the past, farmers would do a lot of work by hand, using the strength of animals like horses to drive ploughs and pull heavy loads.

But it's a whole different world now. Technology has completely transformed what farmers are able to do and how they do it. Tractors, combine harvesters, fruit pickers and many more machines are vital to farming processes today.

The first tractor that was affordable for ordinary farmers was called the Fordson tractor, which was first developed by Henry Ford's motor company in the USA in 1917.

During and following World War One, thousands were imported to Britain and they proved to be hugely important in the shift from horse to tractor power on the nation's farms.

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But even to this day, technology continues to transform these machines. Some modern tractors now have TVs, radios and even fridges built into them so farmers can be entertained as they work.

In addition to the big machinery on farms, smaller equipment like drones and AI sensors allow farmers to monitor crops, assess land, make decisions and predictions, and regulate farming processes in new and innovative ways.

All of this technology enables farmers to work more quickly and efficiently than was ever possible in the past, but this has come at a price.

In many areas, technology has replaced the need for human workers.

Some say that this is a threat to people's livelihoods - not only in the farming industry, but in other sectors too - as it has the potential to take jobs away from people.

There is no doubt that technology will continue to play a huge role in the farming industry in the years to come. Which new machines and devices will be next to transform the industry, just like the tractor did a century ago? We will have to wait and see.

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It might not seem obvious at first, but politics and farming are extremely closely linked. Decisions in Parliament have a direct impact on what goes on in fields and barns around the UK.

One big political issue which many farmers are worried about at the moment is Brexit.

Reports suggest that a no-deal Brexit could threaten the businesses of more than half of the UK's farmers, for example, because they would need to pay new high prices to sell their produce to other countries in Europe.

At the moment, 40% of lamb that is farmed in the UK is sold to Europe, but if that market is no longer available to trade with in the same way, there are concerns about what will happen. It could be a similar story for dairy produce and crops too.

There are also questions around money which the farming industry may or may not receive in a post-Brexit UK.

The government has said that steps will be taken to deal with these concerns about what farming and trading looks like once the UK has left the European Union, but there is still uncertainty about exactly what will happen.

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Climate change: What's it got to do with farming? - CBBC Newsround

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Farming affects all of us in our daily lives, even if you might not realise it. It's big business - from producing food we eat, to crops used in lots of different products as well produce being bought and sold to other countries. But a lot has changed.

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Deep-fried insects on sale at a food stall in Bangkok, Thailand (Credit: Takoradee/Creativecommons.org/ CC BY-SA 3.0)

Experts assert that if food were a country, it would rank third behind China and the US as one of the biggest greenhouse gas polluters. The reason is the ever-rising demand for meat. Livestock farming is responsible for 14.5 percent of global methane emissions. While cows are the worse offenders, pigs, sheep, and other animals contribute as well.

Animal husbandry also causes land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. With the world population forecast to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050, things are only looking worse for our already dwindling natural resources. While going vegetarian would undoubtedly help, meat consumption is too ingrained in most western diets to allow for such a drastic, permanent shift. That is why environmentalists are advocating substituting some of the beef, chicken, or pork with delectable bugs!

The environmental impact of livestock farming (Credit: Thinkgreen.gov.gi)

Insects, which transition from larva to pupa to adult within a matter of months, if not weeks, are ready for consumption much faster than livestock. They also require much less room, use a fraction of the water and food needed for animal livestock, and produce far less greenhouse gas and ammonia.

Of the 1.1 million insect species worldwide, scientists have identified 1,700 as edible. Among them are termites, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, and earthworms. Just like livestock, each insect has a distinct taste. Termites are tangy and minty, tree worms taste just like pork, and sago grubs are similar to bacon.

Insect cultivation requires much less space (Credit: Little Heroes. Org)

While eating bugs might be a new concept for Western Hemisphere residents, over 2 billion people worldwide​​​​​​ consume these critters as a regular part of their diet. Besides being delicious, bugs are high in protein, have very few calories, and are free of the saturated fat found in animal meat. Insects are also very versatile. Creative chefs can use them to whip up protein-rich soup stocks, make crunchy baked treats, and even stir-fry a few with their vegetables.

Insects are full of nutrition (Credit: Trendhunter.com)

Fortunately, those unable to stomach the thought of cracking open the crispy shell of a tarantula the way they would tear into a Dungeness crab have other choices. They can replace some of their regular protein sources by using cricket flour for baking or select one of the many readymade products, such as pasta and crackers, which incorporate the insect flour. So go ahead and kick trepidation to the curb - both your body and Mother Earth will thank you for it!

Resources: fao.org, davidsuzuki.org, NPR.org

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Experts assert that if food were a country, it would rank third behind China and the US as one of the biggest greenhouse gas polluters. The reason is the ever-rising demand for meat. Livestock farming is responsible for 14.5 percent of global methane emissions.

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Rainforest Alliance | 2020

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Climate change is turning the lives of farmers upside down. Unpredictable weather patterns, shorter growing seasons, droughts, extreme temperatures, and increased exposure to pests and crop diseases pose daunting problems to smallholder farmers around the world-especially in the tropics, where people tend to be more reliant on natural resources. Climate-smart agriculture techniques can help farmers adapt to and prepare for impacts in order to preserve-and even improve-their livelihoods.

With a population expected to balloon to 9.8 billion by 2050, climate-smart agriculture is crucial to global food security, as well: Smallholder farmers currently provide more than 80 percent of the food consumed in large parts of the developing world, particularly South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Climate-Smart Agriculture: The Basics

Climate-smart agriculture isn't distinct from sustainable agriculture; rather it's a way of combining various sustainable methods to tackle the specific climate challenges of a specific farming community. The first step is to assess the particular climate risks, since a farm facing prolonged water shortages will need different strategies than one confronting frequent flooding, for example. We use a variety of tools to assess the climate risk and vulnerability of a landscape, taking the local ecosystems and the specific crop into account. Finding the right combination to manage a specific farm's climate challenges-and to build resilience to future impacts-is what makes climate-smart agriculture "smart."

"Climate-smart agriculture isn't distinct from sustainable agriculture; it's a way of combining various sustainable methods to tackle the specific climate challenges of a specific farming community."

"Where drought and prolonged dry seasons are the main risks, a climate-smart approach might focus on planting cover crops or mulching to improve soil structure, water infiltration and retention, and overall soil fertility," Rainforest Alliance environment director Martin Noponen explains. "In places where the risks are heavy rain and flooding, a climate-smart approach would likely focus on trenching, planting cover crops, and controlling surface water runoff with activities like vegetation barriers."

"In other words," Noponen adds, "climate-smart agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all approach."

The 3 Pillars of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Any climate-smart program aims to:

Improve farmer productivity, and as a result, livelihoods;

make farms more resilient to climate impacts they're facing now, and to those likely to hit in the future;

and, where feasible, curb greenhouse gas emissions associated with growing food.

Here are some of the areas in which we help implement climate-smart methods:

Crop management

Once an assessment of climate impacts and risks has been conducted, climate-smart strategies tailored to a particular landscape, farming community, or even individual farm can be determined. In cocoa, for example, pruning is essential, but it has to accord with the local climate risks: Where there is extreme rainfall, pruning should be done more often to ensure stronger trees that recover faster, whereas in prolonged dry periods, a farmer needs to avoid pruning so much that primary branches and trunks are exposed to too much sunlight. Harvesting and fermentation (in the case of cocoa) also require different practices for different climate situations. In the event of heavy rains or excessive moisture, simple solar dryers can be created from wood frames and plastic sheets to dry beans.

Soil management

Heavy rainfall can wash away fertile top soil, especially on sloping land. Planting ground cover helps keep soil in place in the event of heavy rains-and it's extremely beneficial in drought-prone regions, too, because it helps retain moisture in the soil. In flood-prone areas, farmers can build drainage systems to keep nutrient-rich topsoil from being washed away; trenches can also help control excess water and keep soil where it needs to be. Planting on contours, such as hills or natural terraces, is an effective way to cut down on soil erosion, as well. Mulching-applying organic matter from crop residues to the soil-can also help.

All practices that improve soil quality and structure also improve productivity-a core goal of all climate-smart agriculture. Healthy soils are also important carbon sinks that hold carbon dioxide and keep it out of the atmosphere, thus helping fight climate change.

Pest and disease management

Global warming can give rise to pests and diseases that can reduce yields drastically and even destroy entire farms. Rising temperatures have helped the roya fungus, for example, to proliferate and wipe out coffee farms all over Central America. In a changing climate, the tried-and-true ways of battling pests and diseases often fail; desperate farmers may be tempted to increase the amount of pesticides, but over-application will only increase costs, harm beneficial insects, and increase the risk of contaminating people and the environment.

Climate-smart agriculture trainings provide farmers with the knowledge they need to apply just the right amount-and at the right time of year-to combat these newly proliferating pests. Investing in pest-resistant seedlings can also help. When it comes to weeds, we advise farmers in any climate situation to use manual weeding as much as possible, taking aim at noxious weeds while leaving soft weeds that can actually replenish soil and prevent nutrient-rich top soil from eroding.

Shade trees

Planting shade trees is beneficial no matter what the climate risk to a specific farm or community: the right number of trees, of the right species, with the right amount of canopy can help protect the farm from excessive sun, harsh winds, and strong showers. Excessive shade, however, can contribute to a more humid microclimate on the farm, and with cocoa, for example, excessive humidity creates more favorable conditions for certain fungal diseases.

That's why our climate-smart trainings help identify the best tree species, the ideal number of trees to plant, and an appropriate overall shade-tree system-one that might include the use of trees as windbreaks and live fences, as well as shade for crops that benefit from shade. Especially in hotter and drier climates or areas with heavier rainfall, it is important to plant different types of trees that shed their leaves at different periods of the season to ensure a continuous canopy.

Water conservation

Agriculture consumes 70 percent of the world's available supply of freshwater. As the planet continues to heat up, water shortages-already a problem in many regions-will become a more severe threat. Harvesting rainwater is one way for farms to prepare for water shortages. Communities can dig ponds lined with bamboo to better retain the water. On individual farms, there are several ways to collect rainfall, from simply placing barrels outside to creating more sophisticated systems that channel rain from roofs into barrels through a series of gutters and pipes. Traditional irrigation methods can also help address water stress on farms. Using watering cans is labor-intensive and potentially wasteful, since very dry earth can't absorb large amounts of water at once-but placing bamboo sticks or bottles filled with water next to plants can create low-tech, slow-drip irrigation.

Climate change can also bring about too much water. The combination of long dry periods, which make the ground hard, followed by heavy rains, set the stage for flooding. Building drainage systems and trenches can channel excess water and protect crops from moisture-fueled diseases.

Our commitment to climate-smart agriculture

The Rainforest Alliance has long been at the forefront of developing and implementing climate-smart agriculture solutions. Climate-smart methods are a key part of our 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. In collaboration with the World Cocoa Foundation and our research partners CIAT and IITA, we created science-based training materials for specific cocoa-growing regions and made them available to the public online in 2018; we're continuing to create more such guides for other landscapes and crops. For smallholder farmers, learning to adapt to climate changes now-and to prepare for climate shocks in the future-can mean the difference between surviving and perishing.

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Climate change is turning the lives of farmers upside down. Unpredictable weather patterns, shorter growing seasons, droughts, extreme temperatures, and increased exposure to pests and crop diseases pose daunting problems to smallholder farmers around the world-especially in the tropics, where people tend to be more reliant on natural resources.

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Sustainable Pepper Farming Supports People and Nature in Malaysian Borneo 

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Sustainable Pepper Farming Supports People and Nature in Malaysian Borneo 

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World Wild Life | 2020

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When you sprinkle a pinch of pepper on your fried egg, you probably don't think about where it came from. For the Indigenous Iban communities of Rumah Peter and Rumah Dagum, nestled amid the lush forests of Malaysian Borneo, pepper is not just a condiment-it is a livelihood, a climate protector, and a preserver of biodiversity.

These communities have grown pepper since the mid-1800s. Conventional pepper farming practices require a high level of nutrients, and chemical fertilizers are often used to stretch farmers' annual yield. To foster a less chemical-intensive approach, a team from WWF-Malaysia collaborates with farmers to equip them with alternative methods for pepper cultivation.

The problem

Located in the heart of Malaysian Borneo, the state of Sarawak produces 98% of the pepper in Malaysia. Sarawak black peppercorns are world renowned for their aromatic range. Planted almost entirely by Indigenous communities, the cash crop sustains the livelihoods of around 15,000 residents of the Song-Katibas region in the rural upland of the state.

Some conventional peppercorn farming practices have been found to degrade soil quality, erode the landscape, and pollute the water. These ecological impacts aren't just bad for nature -- they hurt people, too. The default pepper farming system incentivizes deforestation in the surrounding tropical rainforest, an ecosystem not only essential for the wellbeing of the community but also a haven for endangered species and a critical bulwark against the climate crisis.

The solution

Imagine a crop that thrives in fallow land, grows without chemical fertilizer, and provides reliable income for Indigenous peoples. That's pepper.

In collaboration with the communities of Rumah Dagum and Rumah Peter, WWF-Malaysia launched a pilot program to equip pepper farmers with the tools to engage in more sustainable practices. "The project empowers farmers to manage their natural resources in an environmentally-friendly manner, and at the same time improve their livelihoods and lifestyles," said Cynthia Chin, Project Manager for the WWF-Malaysia Sarawak Conservation Programme.

The two communities were carefully selected after an assessment of 92 villages in the region. The largest pepper producing village in the area, Rumah Dagum is home to longtime farmers but lacks direct access to the market. WWF-Malaysia tailored their approach to the unique needs of Rumah Dagum, building capacity in pepper processing, storage, and marketing.

Rumah Peter has a younger workforce with ample room to grow. The project harnessed that potential by helping 15 farmers to kickstart their farms. It also facilitated knowledge sharing around organic practices in collaboration with the local Department of Agriculture and the Malaysian Pepper Board. The village aims to become the first certified organic pepper farming community in Malaysia.

"WWF has supported us with pepper cuttings, agricultural tools and capacity building so that we are well-equipped with the proper technique of pepper planting and able to nurture pepper cuttings on our own," said Peter Jabat, the Headman of Rumah Peter. "I hope we can set a good example to the other longhouses in planting pepper in a sustainable way."

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Sustainable pepper farming supports people and nature in Malaysian Borneo

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When you sprinkle a pinch of pepper on your fried egg, you probably don't think about where it came from. For the Indigenous Iban communities of Rumah Peter and Rumah Dagum, nestled amid the lush forests of Malaysian Borneo, pepper is not just a condiment-it is a livelihood, a climate protector, and a preserver of biodiversity.

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What is the future of sustainable farming?

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What is the future of sustainable farming?

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The Guardian | 2013

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Scientists, farmers and businesses have debated how to make agriculture sustainable, but how will farming around the world adapt to help create a food secure, resource efficient global farming culture? This animation from SABMiller looks at some of the pros and cons of different sized farms in a bid to stimulate an informed debate about the future of farming. To share your views, comment in our talkpoint

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improving nutrition and food security - global development professionals network

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What is the future of sustainable farming? - video

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Scientists, farmers and businesses have debated how to make agriculture sustainable, but how will farming around the world adapt to help create a food secure, resource efficient global farming culture? This animation from SABMiller looks at some of the pros and cons of different sized farms in a bid to stimulate an informed debate about the future of farming.

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Branching Out for a Green Economy by Sir David Attenborough by United Nations

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Branching Out for a Green Economy by Sir David Attenborough by United Nations

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United Nations | 2017

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Your challenge is look at the topic of sustainable agriculture and ask; "why is it so important that the food we produce is made with environmentally friendly practices? Why are chemical fertilisers bad for us and the planet? What alternatives are there? What is the future of sustainable agriculture?"

Follow this Process:

1. Watch these three video clips as a class:

1. Branching Out for a Green Economy by Sir David Attenborough

2. Sustainable Agriculture

3. This Farm of the Future Uses No Soil and 95% Less Water

2. Take notes in groups of three about pesticides, why they are bad for us and the environment. Why are unsustainable farming practices negatively impacting our world? Why is this a problem for us and future generations?

3. Brainstorm ideas about what the future of sustainable agriculture looks like. Take inspiration from the last video you watched.

1. Summarise your ideas to make a presentation about why the world needs sustainable agriculture. Think of a farm that your group would create that is sustainable. What food will it make? What makes it sustainable?

2. Present your ideas to the class. Explain what is wrong with unsustainable farming practices and then go on to present your idea for a sustainable farm to the class.

3. Take action and decide how you will share your newfound knowledge of sustainable agriculture. Can you start to grow some of your own food at home?

4. Capture and share these outcomes using photo and/or video and post on this site to inspire others.

Educator Notes
To provide more challenge:
Ask groups to create an extensive business plan for their farm, explaining who they will sell to, where it will be located, how much they will sell their products for. (Considering there are unlimited funds)

Ask the groups to gather information from the videos and present their research, they do not need to create their own idea for a sustainable farm.

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sdg #11 sustainable cities and communities

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sdg #12 responsible consumption and production

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Video: What is sustainable agriculture? - Goal 13 - Climate Action

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Your challenge is look at the topic of sustainable agriculture and ask; "why is it so important that the food we produce is made with environmentally friendly practices? Why are chemical fertilisers bad for us and the planet? What alternatives are there? What is the future of sustainable agriculture?"

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Farmers in the Netherlands are growing more food using less resources | Pioneers for Our Planet

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Farmers in the Netherlands are growing more food using less resources | Pioneers for Our Planet

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World Economic Forum | 2019

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Farmers in the Netherlands are growing more food using less resources | Pioneers for Our Planet