Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 Bananas could split for good Edible bananas may disappear within a decade if urgent action is not taken to develop new varieties resistant to blight. A Belgian scientist leading research into the fruit loved by millions, and a staple for much of the world's poor, has warned that diseases and pests are steadily encroaching upon crops. The full article can be read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2664373.stm My first reaction is to wonder if this Dr. Frison is financed by biotech and just trying to use scare tactics to promote genetic tampering. Anyone know anything about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 SoyBoy wrote: > My first reaction is to wonder if this Dr. Frison is financed by biotech and > just trying to use scare tactics to promote genetic tampering. Anyone know > anything about this? I wouldn't be suprised. Even if it was not sponsored I am sure that would be the proposed solution given America's factory/corporate farming tendencies. Of course this very problem is probably due to the unhealthy mono-crop agriculture in the first place but to fix that problem might impact short term profits. Sorry, feeling a bit cynical today. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 > I wouldn't be suprised. Even if it was not sponsored I am sure that would be > the proposed solution given America's factory/corporate farming tendencies. Of > course this very problem is probably due to the unhealthy mono-crop agriculture > in the first place but to fix that problem might impact short term profits. How can we feed a world of 6 billion people with a non-mono-crop-type of agriculture? I'm honestly asking. Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2003 Report Share Posted January 18, 2003 I would highly recommend the comprehensive, 380-page-plus book, Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture, edited by Andrew Kimbrell and published last year by Island Press. Drawing on numerous writers and experts in the field of sustainable agriculture, it roundly debunks the many industry-perpetuated myths about mono-crop farming (see below), including the idea that it is necessary " to feed the world. " It discusses many viable and sustainable alternatives to the present highly resource-intensive, ecologically destructive agricultural model, which are aimed at protecting living resources and the integrity of natural habitats. For an overview of the book and links to more resources, see http://www.organicandbeyond.org/index.htm Rich The Seven Deadly Myths of Industrial Agriculture (as outlined in Fatal Harvest): Industrial Agriculture Will Feed the World Industrial Food Is Safe, Healthy, and Nutritious Industrial Food Is Cheap Industrial Agriculture Is Efficient Industrial Food Offers More Choices Industrial Agriculture Benefits the Environment and Wildlife Biotechnology Will Solve the Problems of Industrial Agriculture > How can we feed a world of 6 billion people with a non-mono-crop- type of > agriculture? I'm honestly asking. > > Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2003 Report Share Posted January 18, 2003 > How can we feed a world of 6 billion people with a non-mono-crop-type of > agriculture? I'm honestly asking. > > Jack I am not saying that we should/could eliminate it altogether it is just that anytime you plant the same crop on massive acres of land, and you get a pest/disease problem it can be devistating since the biodiversity that would normaly keep such things in check is missing. In my opinion everyone should grow their own produce. Granted people living in urban areas have it tougher but I have seen amazing results from tiny roof-top gardens. In Havana, Cuba where everyone has their own little plot of organic garden. The produce is then sold/traded locally in the community. They import virtually no produce. We recently visited Holland and from the train you could see huge plots of land that were divided into small community gardens for people that were living in apartments and could not have a garden of their own. The produce in Holland was amazing, everything seemed to be much fresher at the normal supermarket, the kind of produce you would have to go to Whole Foods or some other higher end store or a farmers market to get in the US. My wife and I have only a 10x10 foot organic garden setup with automatic drip irrigation. It requires minimal maitenance and we get more produce than we can use all summer long. What excess we don't give away to neighbors, friends and family we freeze for winter. By planting a variety of crops even if one fails it is not a devistating loss. Some plants are actually planted as sacraficial plants that are prefered by certain types of pests, minimizing pest damage without pesticides. Also read about shade-grown coffee and how that traditional growing method, where they plant the beans under a variety of other produce trees, not only increases the output of the land but actually extends the life of the plants. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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