It has been claimed that European agriculture could feed its growing population if it shifted its emphasis away from grain-fed meats like pork and chicken (currently around half the grain produced is used to feed animals) and went 'organic' with people eating more vegetables and fruit (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/20/european-farms-could-grow-green-and-still-be-able-to-feed-population). I appreciate that there might be real gains (from the current frighteningly awful situation) in insect biodiversity if there was a substantial reduction in the use of pesticides and a switch to growing plants appropriate to the region but the very activity of agriculture has a profound effect on the structure of the land (clearances of rocks and trees, tilling the soil and establishing of monocultures et cetera, et cetera). What we really need to do is to devote less of our land surface to such activity.
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Wednesday 20 February 2019
'Green' Euro Agriculture?
It has been claimed that European agriculture could feed its growing population if it shifted its emphasis away from grain-fed meats like pork and chicken (currently around half the grain produced is used to feed animals) and went 'organic' with people eating more vegetables and fruit (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/20/european-farms-could-grow-green-and-still-be-able-to-feed-population). I appreciate that there might be real gains (from the current frighteningly awful situation) in insect biodiversity if there was a substantial reduction in the use of pesticides and a switch to growing plants appropriate to the region but the very activity of agriculture has a profound effect on the structure of the land (clearances of rocks and trees, tilling the soil and establishing of monocultures et cetera, et cetera). What we really need to do is to devote less of our land surface to such activity.
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