Food and Climate Change

The most interesting area in my line of research that’s been occurring recently is the link between Climate and Food. This is actually the main direction of Anna Lappe’s Organization, Take a Bite, and has been a subject of my former work in the US and Costa Rica (See some of my work on the subject: Coffee and Carbon Footprint of Farms, Life Cycle abstract). It’s something that I’ve been working on for a long period, and is finally coming into it’s element. I will be working to make sure this makes it into climate change legislation. It’s a pretty serious link of the Climate Crisis puzzle, as we currently emit almost a third of global emissions based on food, putting a price on carbon would make it more sustainable in other areas too. Unfortunately it’s marred in bad lobbyists and the corporate profit motive of farmers, but Climate Change is working with sustainability is working with popular morality here. If Carbon gets a value, it’s going to be another progressive (benefits the poor) incentive to care for the earth using organic management and planting trees.

It does not eliminate all emissions from fossil fuels (but agriculture does consume a lot of fuel). Only alternative energy can do that. But alternative energy does not help the rural poor immediately. Sustainable land management payments do. Sustainable farming can appear difficult to implement, especially for large farmers, because it has to be democratic and fair and can take some time. It is a resilient way of producing many kinds of food, but does not rely on fossil fuel instead growing plants on sun and human energy, which costs less. It can store much more carbon in soil using no-till and biochar and in the trees, which for coffee especially was a huge benefit (life is made of Carbon!). For an accounting of the specific norms of transition benefit, please see my research in the projects page (right).

Organic farmers are sequestering 2 tons of Carbon per acre using sustainable techniques. The Rodale Institute argues that if all currently tilled land were managed sustainably, the amount of reduced emissions and increased storage could equal 40% of our current emissions. Cheaply, and with existing technology. No other solution can offer that so far. (Fantastic source: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/Bowman/20090213) Carbon stored in soils has been proven to be the most resilient and long-lasting change known. Carbon in trees is safe except by fire, and doesn’t get emitted even if you use it for furniture or a house. It’s a win-win solution, just involves maintaining trees.

Also organic farming also brings desirable benefits like improved ecosystems and rural livelihoods. For example, trees on farms (agroforestry) also offer an alternative source of income when they’re big enough to be cut into furniture or house repair. Practical, nice for the farmers, but climate activists need something that promises global reform. Climate policy cannot afford to include right now these side benefits, especially when the perils of climate change are already being felt. For activists who are interested in food and climate: something must be done about getting trees planted before we can talk to legislators about valuing the lifestyle benefits of organic and no-till farming (talk to the public about that).

To summarize, we worry about climate change because it affects thee well-being of people and wildlife. Solutions based on alternative energy, carbon storage and capture, etc. can prevent climate change, but it cannot provide immediate relief to the poor or habitat for the displaced wildlife. Sustainable land management, on the other hand, directly solves the emissions aspect of climate change, while incentivizes good care for the environment.

As always the best thing about food is that it’s a personal decision you can support that gives you better health, patience, appreciation, and enjoyment of life. See my related post for the Small Planet Institute about the Real Food Challenge, coming soon! Also see Anna Lappe’s Take a Bite site specializing on this, or my own Food Around Boston page.

Impact numbers of CO2e/kg, Organic transition, and references:

Reconnect

I offer you this challenge:
Whenever you can, go into the wild. Commune with nature, whether it is for a few hours, a day, or a week.
Breathe deeply. Listen intently. Let the wildness infuse you. Renew you. Sustain you. Go by yourself.
Take some friends. Share your stories with them around a campfire, under the starry sky. Listen intently
to their stories. Be open. Understanding will come. Strength will grow. Energy will multiply.

Whenever you can, go forth and interact with people. Spread joy. Greet strangers
you pass on the street. Smile often. Listen deeply when people speak. Start random
conversations. Or join ones already in progress. Meet new people. Those people
that you love, tell them. Give praise for a job well done. Thank people for being who
they are. Offer sincere compliments to those people that you have difficulty with.
Help people whenever possible. Be open. Treat people with loving kindness. Love
and joy will grow. Your world will get bigger and yet infinitely more intimate. The
impossible will become possible.

Is this a recipe for balance? No, it is a hint of possibilities.
It is glimpse of something beautiful. It is a piece of the puzzle; it is up to you to
finish putting it together as you see it. I hope this has given you a framework from
which to begin sourcing your flame, your greenfire, and keeping it alive.

SEAC Organizing Guide — Page 98

The full guide: Courtesy of SEAC open distribution