Our generation needs to take responsibility for the well being of our planet in order to better preserve it for the future. Conventional farms should transition to sustainable farms in order to ensure a better future for following generations.
When it comes to produce, many people can agree that healthy, affordable food is the most desirable, but how exactly that food is produced often prompts disagreement. Sustainable farming relies on reconnecting the agrosystem to its original cycle of reusing nutrients. This type of farming is obtained with diverse groups of produce, crop rotation and efficient use of non-renewable resources, whereas conventional farming usually mass produces one crop, and was created to maximize production while minimizing costs. Although some believe that sustainable agriculture is less profitable, it would lead to a better future because of positive health benefits for people and soil and its strong economic impact.
Implementing crop rotation and no-till practices helps to preserve the health of the soil for the future. Tilling is the mechanical manipulation of the soil’s structure for crop production. This common conventional practice leads to a decrease in the soil’s needed carbon pool, which lowers the nutrient value of the soil. In her article, “Sustainable Agriculture”, Manuela Callarishe explained how sustainable agriculture practices meet the needs of the present without compromising the future of agriculture.
“Rotating crops with legumes, for instance, enriches soil with nitrogen, avoiding the need for environmentally harmful fertilizers,” Callarishe wrote.
Sustainable practices are needed to improve the health of soil. This improvement creates a domino effect that leads to an improved world, by decreasing pollutants and aiding plants in maintaining good health.
Conventional farms plant the same crop over and over, which depletes soil nutrients. Farmers must take a soil-first approach to restore agrosystems’ natural cycles and improve ecosystems. Nicole Masters explained in her book “For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate Our Food Production Systems” that we can no longer mistreat soil.
“Soils are at the center of climate regulation, food quality/production, biodiversity, water cycles, ecosystem, animal and human health. What is not to love about soil?” Masters wrote.
As farmers adopt sustainable practices at their farm, customers also gain trust in what they are purchasing. Healthy food can only be produced if the soil is also nutrient rich. Successful farmers understand the value in protecting land and resources for future generations. Land and soil are finite resources and we have to transition to sustainable agriculture in order for future generations farmers to have the same opportunity to feed and clothe the world population. Amy Biasbas, a manager at Mayneland Farms (a small sustainable farm in Naperville), spoke on the importance of using natural resources responsibly.
“Sustainable farming is using natural resources in a way that ensures all things survive to infinity and beyond!” Biabas said.
At Mayneland Farms, Jeremy Mayne, the owner, is passionate about preserving the environment for future generations. Mayne explained five of the sustainable practices he uses at his farm.
1. Drip lines
Drip lines decrease the amount of water used because it uses a hose to drip water right by the plant instead of flooding the plants or using overhead watering.
2. Mushroom compost
Instead of using chemical fertilizers, Mayne uses mushroom compost. It can supply nutrients while increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil.
3. Leaf compost
In 2020, the city of Naperville as well as the Naperville Township brought in 3300 cubic yards of leaf compost to Mayneland Farm, which was then spread out in the fields. The leaf compost greatly enriches the organic matter in the soil, which improves the soil quality and growing conditions while also giving the produce a better taste.
4. Plastic mulch
Mayne’s use of plastic mulch may not seem sustainable at first, but in the long run the use of plastic mulch helps to conserve moisture in the ground and it also prevents weeds from forming so he doesn’t have to use herbicides.
5. Battery powered tools
Battery-driven tools release less greenhouse gasses than diesel or gasoline engine tools. Mayne has been making efforts in the past years to switch over to all battery powered tools.
Not only is it important to use natural resources wisely for environmental reasons, but economic reasons as well. If natural resources are used irresponsibly, the supply dwindles, causing the price to rise and therefore increasing the price of production. Transitioning to sustainable farming does have a steep initial cost because it requires new systems to be implemented throughout a farm, but this initial cost should not be enough to deter a farmer from choosing the sustainable route. In Karen Wing’s article “Reaping the Economic Benefits of Sustainable Farming,” she analyzes the economic profits for farmers after transition from conventional farming to sustainability.
“Not only does sustainability save money by saving fuel, minimizing waste and using inputs precisely, it also answers consumer demand, building relationships to ensure profitability in the future,” Wing wrote.
These are just a few of the environmental and economic impacts the world will receive if agriculture as a whole transitions to sustainable farming. As our generation comes face-to-face with the climate crisis, we should show our support for this process by purchasing from sustainable farms when we have the option.