It goes undebatable that our Food Production Systems are simply unsustainable. The recent surge of scientific and practical shreds of evidence reveals that Industrial Agriculture is doing more harm than good.
The current dominant system was popularized as a solution to Food Security but is seen to heavily compromise the vitality of public health, the environment, and even long-term agricultural output.
What are the telltale signs of an affected food and agriculture system?
Deteriorated soil health can be seen as a result of monoculture, amongst other cultivation techniques. Excessive fertilizer runoff has significantly contributed to aquatic dead zones and dangerous algal blooms (invasive species).
Biodiversity above and below soil remains endangered. This is contributed to by factors such as the misuse and overuse of herbicides and pesticides. These abused applications have also affected the environment by encouraging the growth of "superweeds".
The Rise in Global Food Insecurity
The current food system is unable to meet the global demand for safe and nutritious food. According to FAO 2021, The world's population is projected to increase from its current level of 7.5 billion people to 10 billion by the year 2050, predicting a catastrophic situation if the system remains unchanged.
Concerningly, the global food system has a significant environmental footprint. Agriculture accounts for approximately 40% of the planet's surface and generates more than 14% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to all other human activities. Expanding the currently failing agriculture could see the rise of these GHG emissions, increased loss of biodiversity, and deforestation
Globally, food insecurity is increasing at an alarming rate. Whilst there had been efforts placed towards improving food security over the decades, much of these gains which were already uneven between nations and regions have been undone by the pandemic. Potentially, diets in low-income countries would mostly remain unchanged, and consumers in middle- income countries are more likely to increase their food intake. Such a situation will statistically lead to regional differences in the evolution of food availability. This has substantial consequences for populations that are extremely undernourished and food insecure.
A Critical Response to the Food System Crisis
In response to the resultant effects of deteriorated food and agriculture systems, experts and stakeholders are voicing the urgency for transforming our systems into sustainable hubs that are both healthy and productive. Agroecology has alternatively been recognized as a fix that strikes that perfect balance between food productivity and nature.
Agroecology considers how food is produced along with where, by whom, and for what, all contributing to fostering resilience. It is pertinent to continue the challenging process of a paradigm shift, especially in how we implement policy reforms that promote sustainability for all components of the food systems by viewing food as a fundamental human right rather than just a commodity for profit.
This regenerative practice is gaining traction globally as a strategy for adaptation and land restoration. It can potentially assimilate and rehabilitate arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL). For a successful transition to sustainable systems, there is need to reamrm their reparative impacts on the food systems and the population's social, ecological, and economic status.
Why are the ASAL most affected?
The beauty of Agroecology is that it is tailored to meet extensive, intensive, and specific ecological set-ups. The steps suggested below encompass the principles and elements of sustainable agriculture. Here are 5 tips that will encourage successful sustainable agriculture in the drylands.
1. Have a recycling plan
In an Agroecological System, nothing is regarded as waste. Recycling has several advantages, including lowering waste and closing nutrient cycles. This reduces reliance on outside input and resources. Utilizing on-farm by-products also encourages innovation which attracts high value. For example, Animal urine can be assimilated into organic fertilizer and pesticide.
2. Encourage Biodiversity
The more the life, the merrier the farm! Mother nature has its way of ensuring a balance between organisms. Therefore, mimicking this phenomenon is an added advantage to a farmer and a noble responsibility ensuring exponential profit. Every agricultural practice made should preserve and improve species variety, functional diversity, genetic resources, and biodiversity.
Diversity can come in form of techniques such as Companion planting, which offer more benefits on a farm. Some combinations offer advantages that are specific to those pairings. Tall plants help shield shorter plants from extreme sunlight while others are great pest repellants. Such practices are ecological and economical.
3. Focus on soil health
Soil health sits at the heart of every sustainable system. For better plant growth, it is important to safeguard and improve the soil’s health and functionality, especially by controlling organic matter and boosting biological activity. It is important to balance the Carbon: Nitrogen ratio in the process. Composting works to achieve these goals as waste products can be assimilated into ready soil amendments.
4. Try some Value-addition and product diversiflcation
The utilization of this strategy helps to reduce the level of food loss that may result from unsold farm produce. It also alleviates poverty by creating income opportunities. For example, fruits and vegetables may be sundried and hygienically packaged, fetching higher value in the market. Economic diversification will also aid in helping a farmer essentially meet consumer demand.
5. Little water? No problem.
Yes! water is an essential input to crop productivity; however, all hope is not lost for farmers in the dry lands. Some of the world's quality fruits, wines, and oils are produced in the most arid of regions. Dryland Farming techniques such as mulching and syntrophic agroforestry among other feasible practices may be employed to ensure abundant harvests. Consistent Sustainable agriculture eventually results in creating cool micro-climates in these ASALs. Learn more about Drylands Agriculture here;
What is Dryland Farming?Additionally, farmers who are thrilled to use agroecological methods are encouraged to seek technical support and education for successful transitions to sustainable farming systems. Food producers from the drylands also need a chance to participate in decision-making, especially in matters concerning the adaptive management of agricultural and food systems.
Embracing Agroecology in Drylands
Agroecology in the Drylands is not a romantic notion but one that is essentially feasible. The Ecosystem Restoration Alliance of Kenya (KERA) is promoting the scaling out of Agroecology in the Drylands for sustained Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) in ASAL counties in Kenya. KERA is also facilitating collaborative efforts from farmers, consumers, and policy-makers to fortify sustainable food systems. Food producers are encouraged and supported to make the transition to sustainable agricultural production as it benefits nature among other facets of life.
Written by: Dendry Hellen