Comments on: Thinking big by starting small http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/daniellenierenberg/2010/07/06/thinking-big-by-starting-small/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aragorn23 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/daniellenierenberg/2010/07/06/thinking-big-by-starting-small/comment-page-1/#comment-130347 Aragorn23 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:48:02 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/daniellenierenberg/2010/07/06/thinking-big-by-starting-small/#comment-130347 Some questions: 1) Is the seed GM? 2) What kind of agricultural techniques are encouraged? Hopefully not fertilizer / pesticide-heavy traditional monocropping. Permaculture fares far better! 3) Is the production / use of livestock encouraged? If so, how is this compatible with WorldWatch's other research on the massive ecological impacts of animal agriculture? 4) What are the loan conditions? Some questions:

1) Is the seed GM?

2) What kind of agricultural techniques are encouraged? Hopefully not fertilizer / pesticide-heavy traditional monocropping. Permaculture fares far better!

3) Is the production / use of livestock encouraged? If so, how is this compatible with WorldWatch’s other research on the massive ecological impacts of animal agriculture?

4) What are the loan conditions?

]]> By: X Cepting http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/daniellenierenberg/2010/07/06/thinking-big-by-starting-small/comment-page-1/#comment-130346 X Cepting Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:47:27 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/daniellenierenberg/2010/07/06/thinking-big-by-starting-small/#comment-130346 The upsurge of African farmers helping themself with the help of scientists and philantropists from elsewhere sounds like a recipe for real success. I fully agree with you that agricultural experts from other countries need to not just impart their knowledge but also listen to the wisdom from farmers who know the local conditions better. The one thing that still concerns me in all this is the "improved" seed and fertiliser input. I hope this does not mean GI seed and chemical fertiliser made in an overseas factory. Whilst not being totally anti-GI minded, the risk of runaway infestation of local habitats by stronger GI plants from small lots is a concern. Is any work being done on increasing yields and developing a market for indigenous crops or (re-)discovering plants that can be used as food crops locally? A bigger variety than just the European selection is not only a more palatable goal but a much safer one, I feel, to ensure food security globally. I was once shown and got a taste of a potatoe-like tuber in Namibia that I have not come across since. There was also a lucerne-type plant that was really delicious, prepared as spinach, that is now just a memory. The upsurge of African farmers helping themself with the help of scientists and philantropists from elsewhere sounds like a recipe for real success. I fully agree with you that agricultural experts from other countries need to not just impart their knowledge but also listen to the wisdom from farmers who know the local conditions better.

The one thing that still concerns me in all this is the “improved” seed and fertiliser input. I hope this does not mean GI seed and chemical fertiliser made in an overseas factory. Whilst not being totally anti-GI minded, the risk of runaway infestation of local habitats by stronger GI plants from small lots is a concern. Is any work being done on increasing yields and developing a market for indigenous crops or (re-)discovering plants that can be used as food crops locally?

A bigger variety than just the European selection is not only a more palatable goal but a much safer one, I feel, to ensure food security globally. I was once shown and got a taste of a potatoe-like tuber in Namibia that I have not come across since. There was also a lucerne-type plant that was really delicious, prepared as spinach, that is now just a memory.

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