Download Stewardship Of Natural Resources

Stewardship of Natural
Resources
England, Wales, Ireland, Australia,
America, Canada
Natural Resources
• Land Management, growing and spreading population
– soil health
– more integration with environment, under utilised land
• Water
– reduction in availability, (salinity in Aus)
– In America tussle between ag & industry
• Fossil Fuels
– A finite resource
• Green House Gases
– Intense livestock areas
John Ikerd
• Promoting sustainable farming, felt industrial ag was not
sustainable
• “Ag uses 40% of land, 70-75% of water, 25-30% of green house
gases”
• Increase soil sustainability
– Good measures being taken from no till in large parts of Aus and
US, south america
– Time pressures, increased horse power, damage, more soil
erosion
• Water Sustainability
• Quantity
• Renewable energy sources
There can be a balance between highly productive and sustainable
industrial ag
USA 25x25 Programme
• 2004 5% energy consumed renewable
• Use americas farms to produce 25% of US Energy from
renewable sources by 2025
• Positive step in terms of wind, solar and hydro created,
bringing US into line with other countries with current
initiatives
• Question viability and sustainability of biofuels
A few ‘hows’...
• Water
– Mitigate legislation by education of both urban
and rural users for quantity and quality
– Allow market forces to provide a truer value for
water “a shower tax”
• Soil, continue to measure our soils
– Reduction in tillage
– “the history of every nation is written in the way it
cares for its soils” Roosevelt
A few ‘hows’...
• Land
– Improve land use planning
– Create a balance between environmental schemes
and sustainable farming by voluntary initiatives rather
than legislation
• Fossil Fuels
– Countries fuel secure down to local levels
– Low carbon footprint food from local food initiatives
– Pay a truer price for fuels = drive efficiency and
improved commodity price (as 2008)
Positioning Statement
• Farmers will continue to lead the way in
achieving the optimum balance of
productivity and sustainability for the future
of the world through technical innovation and
continuous adaptation of farming practices
...the right honourable Rowan Paulet