The ecological bankruptcy we are facing is mainly due to a massive conversion of land to agricultural use (1). The challenges we face allow us to rethink food itself, to develop new farming systems for our future that are healthy for both us and the planet we inhabit. Moving towards sustainability and small scale farmers can double food production within 10 years and it is vital for future food security. (2)
An uncertain future
The planet has a finite supply of water and soil and the demand for both is growing rapidly as a result of population growth, urbanisation and increasing farm production.
Water
Current estimates indicate that we will not have enough water to feed ourselves in 25 years time. (3) Many big food producing countries like the US, China, India, Pakistan, Australia and Spain have reached, or are close to reaching, their renewable water resource limits. (4)
Food
Over the next 2 generations (50-60 years) we need to increase the world’s food production by 110%. (5)
Land
We are losing 1% of our agricultural land every year and one of the major reasons is urban sprawl. (6)
A Growing Concern
Monocultures (single crop farming) require a multitude of pesticides which are linked to a range of health disorders that include decreasing male fertility, obesity, Parkinson’s Disease as well as being ranked among the top 3 cancer risks. (7)
Every Three acres of land that is converted from conventional farming to organic production is the equivalent of taking one car off the road (i.e. carbon dioxide reduction in the atmosphere). (10)
How We Work
Organic Farm Share is a complete local food system, growing, processing and distributing fresh organic food to our owner-members.
How We Farm
(1) The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005 commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a cost of US$24 million. It was conducted by 1,360 experts from 95 countries representing various organisations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). (2) UN Report Agro-Ecology and the right to food 8 March 2005. (3) International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Director-General Dr Colin Chartres. (4) WWF Report. Water use for Agriculture in Priority River Basins. (5 & 6) Prof Julian Cribb & Associates Discussion Paper, The coming Famine: Constraints to global food production in an overpopulated world: the scienti c challenge of the era. Quoting a Satellite Survey Report of the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN. (7) Influence of Pesticides on Male Fertility Bretveld R, Brouwers M, Ebisch I, Roeleveld N. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Radboud University. Nijmegen Medical Centre. The Netherlands. Obesity and Pesticides. Dr Paula Bailliu-Hamilton MD, BS, D. Phil Frederick vom Saal. Professor of Biological Sciences University of Missouri-Columbia Parkinson Disease and Pesticides Deborah Cory-Slechia Professor of environmental Medicine & Dean for Research. University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. Pesticides and Cancer Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing 1997 2nd edition Balch JF & Balch PA. (8).Abraham AB & Gaballa S. Food Miles in Australia: A Preliminary study of Melbourne, Victoria March 2008. (9) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. FAO Rome (2012) “Towards the Future we want. End hunger and make the transition to sustainable agriculture and food systems.(10) Organic Farming combats global warming big time Rodale Institute 2005.
