From the Guardian - Can't believe they printed this

[DaveGrohl]

Are we eating ourselves to extinction?

It’s not just animals that are at risk of dying out, the world’s crops are in rapid decline. Here’s why it matters what is on your plate

www.theguardian.com

Interesting piece. How did it slip past the editors?

 

[Bogweevil]

It makes sense to conserve genetic diversity - what's the problem?

 

[melted welly]

A quote that stood out:

“Although the green revolution was based on ingenious science, it attempted to oversimplify nature….”

Something bound to be written with the benefit of hindsight regarding the alternative meat movement we are currently experiencing.

 

[toquark]

Interesting article to be fair, not the usual hit piece.

For me the take home is inputs; the more you need the less sustainable the model.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Interesting article to be fair, not the usual hit piece.

For me the take home is inputs; the more you need the less sustainable the model.

Given the fact you output through the farm gate X tonnes.

How exactly are you going to replace those chemicals ? Magic ?

The reality is those chemicals need replacing. They cost a whole year in time, lots of money, lots of organisation effort and inginuity.

So what happens when the food has been used ? most is dumped in the sea. Isn't it time we saw recycling in the waste industry ?

 

[toquark]

Given the fact you output through the farm gate X tonnes.

How exactly are you going to replace those chemicals ? Magic ?

The reality is those chemicals need replacing. They cost a whole year in time, lots of money, lots of organisation effort and inginuity.

So what happens when the food has been used ? most is dumped in the sea. Isn't it time we saw recycling in the waste industry ?

I didn’t say no inputs.

I’m not arable but in the livestock sector, it’s well recognised certain breeds fare better on far less than others. There is usually an economic penalty to working with these breeds though, so people tend to opt for the bigger, hungrier breeds which require more.

I’d hazard a guess in saying it’s similar in arable, today’s crops require more inputs than yesteryear’s. Coupled with the fact that fewer arable farms have access to FYM than in the past with straw baled and sold off farm.

 

[Treg]

It's about diversity in Agriculture, we should all be encouraged to farm differently and those differences celebrated but Supermarkets and Government schemes want uniformity.
The more we're all pushed down one route the in secure food becomes.

 

[wanton dwarf]

I didn’t say no inputs.

I’m not arable but in the livestock sector, it’s well recognised certain breeds fare better on far less than others. There is usually an economic penalty to working with these breeds though, so people tend to opt for the bigger, hungrier breeds which require more.

I’d hazard a guess in saying it’s similar in arable, today’s crops require more inputs than yesteryear’s. Coupled with the fact that fewer arable farms have access to FYM than in the past with straw baled and sold off farm.

TBH we put on the same or maybe a bit less.

We went liquid fertiliser so less fert gets evaporated to the atmosphere IF it doesn't rain.

We also TRY to apply Compost and/or Bio Solids. But cannot always do so. Would like to get some FYM - but we get compost at 50p a tonne.

 

[JSmith]

TBH we put on the same or maybe a bit less.

We went liquid fertiliser so less fert gets evaporated to the atmosphere IF it doesn't rain.

We also TRY to apply Compost and/or Bio Solids. But cannot always do so. Would like to get some FYM - but we get compost at 50p a tonne.

Where do you source your compost from, I’ve been thinking about trying to get hold of some to put on some new grass land we’ve taken on! Do you find it does a good job for you??

 

[Muck Spreader]

I may by a copy of his book, looks interesting. You can just imagine the global panic if something hit rice or wheat like the fungus currently rampaging though the Cavendish banana plantations around the world.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I may by a copy of his book, looks interesting. You can just imagine the global panic if something hit rice or wheat like the fungus currently rampaging though the Cavendish banana plantations around the world.

Or soya. That'd be soya 'milk' and tofu off the menu....

 

[Muck Spreader]

Or soya. That'd be soya 'milk' and tofu off the menu....

Well, I suppose not all diseases are necessarily bad.

 

[DaveGrohl]

Or soya. That'd be soya 'milk' and tofu off the menu....

And thus pigs and chicken. Oh, hang on.....