Permanence is Fiction

We tend to seek a false sense of security. The idea that all things will be permanent in our lives is fiction.  There must be countless examples in your life where you desired for something to be permanent; perhaps a relationship, a job or plain happiness.  The facts are what we want requires hard work and even then there is no guarantee for permanence. You might be thinking, “Hey Daniel, why are you getting all philosophical on us?  Aren’t you supposed to be informing us about food, farming and the environment?”  What does permanence have to do with agriculture anyway?  A conversation with two friends, let’s call them Laura and Jerry, about how we can balance the need for abundant food and a clean environment inspired this post. Our conversation went something like this:

Daniel: “How can we make create viable livelihoods while conserving the environment and producing abundant quality food?”

Laura: “Well I think organic farming is really the key.  Everyone should eat organic.”

Jerry: “I agree.  If everyone eats organic, then farmers would get more money and there would be no more poisons in the environment.”

Daniel: “OK.  Organic farming is a great alternative but, so are Apple computers.  But, the market share for organic is small.  There will always be a need for pesticides and fertilizers.  Perhaps we can support an integrative approach.”

Laura: “The problem is large industrial farms rely on fossil fuel and cheap labor to be productive.”

Daniel: “Large industrial farms do rely on  fossil fuels and reduced labor costs but, they are highly efficient and create jobs for any types of workers.  In fact, large farms absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide in plants and soil so, in a way they provide an essential service by mitigating greenhouse gases.”

Jerry: “Can’t there just be one way to farm our food that is good for the environment and workers?  I mean, I just want to eat a quality, nutritious meal without having to hand over my whole paycheck.”

Daniel: “The agriculture landscape is diverse with many crops from around the world; all farmed in a different way.  Plus, pressures from regulations and urban development do not ensure a farm will be sustainable and even an agribusiness will be profitable into the future.  Farming is not permanent and if there are different ways to do business, then the market will supply what consumers demand.

Our conversation led me to think about how permanence is fiction and what are the important drivers of this reality.  I came up with a list of four important factors and real world examples that drive home this truth.

1) Shift in Demand
2) Spread of Pests and Disease
3) Land Use Change
4) Competition

Let us consider how a shift in demand effects farms and the landscape.  The growing middle class in countries like China increases demand for meat.  Efficient meat production often takes place in feed stalls where animals are feed grain.  The outcome is a greater demand for grain like soy from exporting countries like Brazil.  In order to feed a growing demand for meat products the landscape of central Brazil has changed from grassland to mechanized soy production.  Business is good for Brazilian soy but, the grassland and forest which stood for centuries is no longer the same.

Numerous examples of pests and disease caused radical change in past and recent history.  The Potato Famine in Ireland around 1850 led to mass migration and starving.  A disease in the Eastern United States wiped out native chestnut tress leading to the loss of a traditional forest-gathered staple.  In California, during the 1980s wine grapes planted on a rootstock susceptible to a disease caused whole wine regions to replant their sickened vines.  The spread of pests and disease is common and will grow more important in our future world.

Highly productive farm land is often on flat rich soils and highly susceptible to land use change and development.  Some of the best varieties of fruit trees breed for the cool climate of the San Francisco Bay Area have been moved to the hotter Central Valley as the population grew.  Similarly, in the New Territories of Hong Kong, farmers grew rice in wet flood plains.  In less than a generation, all farmland (and textile factories for that matter) have left Hong Kong and moved to Mainland China.  Now throughout the region high-rise apartments take their place.  As the value of land increases, agricultural land will not compete.

Competition is more and more fierce in our world.  Take the dried prune; a delicacy in Japan and grown in California.  Now, Chile figured out how to grow the same quality for cheaper and much of the production has left California.  Virginia led the East Coast in fresh and juice apple production only to lose out to Washington State in both products.  Now under threat from China, Washington apples may have to reinvent themselves to compete.  In Europe, Western countries have preserved traditions and outstanding quality, but Eastern countries have learned the tricks.  Even the asparagus, a local spring delicacy may move from its native roots in Holland and Germany.

Permanence is fiction; believe it or not.

Do you have any stories about how your life changes? Do you remember a food you loved that is no longer available? Was there a farm near where you grew up, which is no longer there.  Does your environment change from time to time?  Great comfort is found on a solid foundation but, our world demands one reality; the need to change and adapt.