Agriculture is the biggest contributor to climate change. There is nothing we do to transform the world more than agriculture. So how to we feed our current 7 billion and manage to feed the other 2 billion more that are due to arrive by 2040?
More specifically, how do we feed the world without destroying it?
Jonathan Foley, professor of Ecology and Director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, has an idea for a New Agriculture.
“ Blend the best ideas of commercial agriculture and the Green Revolution with the best idea of organic farming and local food, and the best ideas of environmental conservation. Not to have them fighting each other but to have them collaborating together to form a new kind of agriculture, something I call terraculture, or farming for a whole planet.”
This idea is going to gain currency.
It’s another new year and some of you might have decided to entertain a resolution or two. After avoiding such things for the past several years, I decided to creep into 2011 on a quieter, more contemplative note and have come up with a few priorities for myself.
On the topic of changing habits, and of course, more specifically, food habits, check out the TedxHart House lectures of last month, The Future of Food.
Jason Qu, recent graduate and coordinator of U of T’s campus agriculture program, discusses campus food initiatives, and suggests a more holistic approach to food is the starting point that will stick.
The Secret Classroom
Lauren Baker, Director of Sustain Ontario, discusses changing the farming system and creating more opportunities for the little guy. Here, here!
10 Good Food Ideas
I can’t find the lectures of the other speakers, Dan Donovan (chef and product developer for Ontario’s Own), and chefs Jeffrey Crump and Bettina Schormann, of Ancaster Mill.
If anyone has those links, please share!
Bonne année!
Hart House is presenting TEDxHart House: The Future of Food on December 6, at 6:00pm.
Very cool.
“The Future of Food will explore some of the factors we must weigh as we choose what foods make it into our shopping carts. With the rise of issues like ethical eating, factory farming and food scarcity, the world is awakening to how we sow, grow, raise, reap, slaughter, transport, distribute, buy, share, cook, eat and dispose of food.” Read more.
The Bad News. The event is booked solid and they are no longer accepting applications to attend.
The Good News. They are filming the event and will be posting it on the TEDxYouTube channel afterwards.
Mark your calendars!
