sustainable agriculture: social dimensions in a global context a module of the globalizing...
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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: SOCIAL
DIMENSIONS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
A module of the Globalizing Agriculture Education Project
Module Learning Outcomes
To be able to describe several critical social issues related to agricultural sustainability
To be able to explain and apply these issues in a site-specific context using international examples, and compare and contrast with the US. International Case Study: Basque Farmers
in the French Pyrenees
The USDA definition of ''sustainable agriculture‘’, as defined in the 1990 Farm Bill
“An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term: * Satisfy human food and fiber needs. * Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base
upon which the agriculture economy depends. * Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-
farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.
* Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. * Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”
(U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)
What is “sustainable agriculture?”
An ‘umbrella’ for programs & practices
“Sustainable agriculture” is a general term for programs and practices that pursue the goals of balancing economic profitability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Sustainable Agriculture
Certifications or programs
Practices
USDA Organic
Certified Naturally
GrownBiodynamic
NRCS Conservation
programs
Rotation
Conservation tillageReducing
external inputs Integrated
Pest Management
& many others
Community-based food
systems
An interdisciplinary perspective
Sustainable Agriculture integrates economic, environmental and social goals.
Understanding ‘social responsibility’Healthy food is
not accessible for everyone.
The farmer population is
aging.
There is increasing
pressure on farm lands for
development and other non-
agricultural land uses.
There are many labor issues in the agricultural
sector.
Farm families often have at
least one member working off-farm to make
ends meet, changing
traditional rural family dynamics.
What are some of the social issues in our food and
agriculture system?
Can you think of more?
Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Aging farmer
populations The average age of a
Kentucky farmer is 56½. Across the US, 57% of
farmers are over 55. The number of young
farmers is decreasing. Many young people are
leaving rural areas to live in cities and pursue non-agricultural livelihoods.
Who will grow our food in the
future?
Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Agricultural lands are
under pressure from a variety of non-agricultural land uses. In Kentucky, changes in
the tobacco economy, rising land prices and development pressure make it difficult to keep farm families on the land. In Kentucky, 132 acres of
rural land were developed every day from 1992-1997.
Where will we grow our food in the future?
Exploring social issues in US Agriculture Changes in the global
agricultural economy make it more difficult to make a living on the family farm. In Kentucky, the average
farm size in 163 acres. Traditionally, stable tobacco prices helped maintain small farm acreages.
With the decline of tobacco, many farmers are looking for alternatives, including ‘scaling up’ livestock and crop operations.
How will this affect farm
families in the future?
What about new farmers?
Social responsibility: a global issue
These issues are not unique to US agriculture. The salience of each of these issues may vary by region of the world, but agricultural communities everywhere are facing these same issues.
By comparing and contrasting the ways communities deal with social issues, we learn about these general concepts, and the ways communities share or diverge in their approaches to dealing with them.
Example: Basque Farmers in Soule, France.
Case Study: Farmers in the Basque province of Soule,
France
What is the geographic context?
France is a member of the European Union, an affiliation of 27 countries united in a common currency and agricultural policy.
The study region is circled in red.
27 countries in 2005 (including Bulgaria &
Romania
*For backgroun
d on the history of
the EU and it’s
member states,
see the Economics module of
this section.
EU Agriculture: Overview
(USDA ERS data).
Major agricultural products Livestock products (including
dairy), grains, vegetables, wine, fruits, and sugar
Major exports Grains (wheat and barley), dairy
products, poultry, pork, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and wine
Major imports Soybeans and soybean products,
cotton, tobacco, tropical products, off-season fruits and vegetables, coffee, cocoa, tea, and spices.
Average Farm Size (acres)
US (2007
)
EU -15
(2007)
EU – 27
(2008)
418 46.2 34.1
EU Agriculture: Farm size
Farms in the EU are often a patchwork of small parcels spread across a broader area (that is, they are not contiguous). Why might this be?Region Average
Farm Size
(acres)European
Union84
France, Nation-wide
113
Soule (Case study
Province)
61
US,Nation-wide
418
Kentucky 163
Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France
The Basque language is distinct from any other European language.
In Soule, Basques traditionally raise sheep using complex grazing systems have been practices for thousands of years.
Farmers in Soule are ethnically Basque, a traditional people that have been occupying regions of France and Spain prior to 1100 AD.
Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition
A traditional grazing system of moving animals to high mountain pastures in the summer months In Soule, animals move up in May,
down in September Traditionally animals led up on foot,
often a 10-12 mile walk. Now mostly transported in trucks, except in remote pasturage
System developed in the middle ages, and continues today, but area has shrunk dramatically
Mostly sheep, but increasingly more cows and horses
Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition
Traditional grazing patterns in Soule Winter – in town on family farm lands Spring and fall – move to lands owned by
villages (the coteaux, or hills). Summer – move to regionally-managed
high pastures (estives), first to lower areas and then to high mountain areas; sheppards stay in permanent cabins.
Why transhumance?- Farm sizes too
small to support grazing year round in lower valleys.
- Resource use changes based on land ownership and time of year.
The highlands of Soule.
Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition
Aging rural populations
Average farmer age – rising as in the US
Men significantly outnumber women in age categories above 30 years
Birth rates are one of the lowest in all of France Est.1.75 children/woman in
Soule (compared to 2.0 in France as a whole)
Population declined 12.5% from 1982-1999
Changes in farming communities
Basque grandfather making cheese. His son has 2 children, one of whom they hope will take up farming.
Why is the average farmer population aging? Children are moving to the cities, leaving
parents as primary farm operators. It is difficult for new farmers to get into
farming – why might this be? Land prices are high Input costs and infrastructure are high Traditional community- newcomers are seen as
outsiders.
What is similar or different compared to US agriculture?
Changes in farming communities
Traditionally farm families worked solely on the farm
Declining profits and land use pressure have led to changes in traditional farm structures Prices for as meat and cheese
are steady for past ~20 years Input costs have increased Infrastructure improvements
necessary Land and home prices have
risen steadily, in part driven by second-home purchases from urban people.
What can farmers do to keep family farm operations
profitable?
Changes in farming communities
Cooperatives as community assets Farmers
traditionally sold their milk to a regional milk company Kept some for
cheese making at home.
With declining milk prices, they organized and proposed to develop a cooperative to make cheese for local markets.
EU rural development funds (CAP money) was
used to build local cheesemaking
cooperative run by local farmers.
Pressures from non-agricultural land uses
With declining numbers of farmers and increasing land prices, many family farm homes as “summer homes” to other French or Europeans This is seen as an unwelcome intrusion of
“outsiders” to the region, but continued high prices make it difficult for families without farmers to justify not selling.
Challenges to traditional culture
Increased rural tourism
Ex. GR10 Trail runs the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coasts
Explosion in outdoor activity tourism, including hiking, birding, parasailing and food tourism
Tensions between recreational land users and farmers
Challenges to traditional culture
Increased rural tourism
How might farmers take advantage of this?
Agritourism Websites devoted to ec
o-tourism Some non-farming
residents are running bed-and-breakfasts or renting rooms to traveling hikers.
Photos courtesy of Ariege Pyrenees
Adapting to change
Governmental support “Mountain Charter” created
by regional governments to help promote the quality of the agricultural products from these ‘pristine environments.’
Promotes the co-existence of agricultural and recreational land uses, and includes mandate to evaluate land use from 2005-2015
Controversial with farmers – will it help of just bring more beaurocracy?
Relating to the US
What are some of the similarities you see?
What differences? What was interesting?
Summary questions
Summary questions that tie to learning outcomes for
specific class use.
Supplemental Readings & Resources Cornell Primer on Sustainable Agriculture
An introduction to sustainable agriculture and community food systems
Welch-Devine and Murray, 2010. Reading on community based food
systems