Organic farming can play an important role in countering climate change, a new report suggests today.
Use of organic methods means that the soil takes up much more carbon, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to boost global warming, according to the report from the Soil Association, the organic food and farming charity.
Soil is a major store of carbon, the report says, containing three times as much as the atmosphere and five times as much as forests. About 60 per cent of this is in the form of organic matter in the soil. On average, organic farming produces 28 per cent higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic farming in northern Europe, according to the report, and 20 per cent higher for all countries studied (in Europe, North America and Australasia).
The report suggests that widespread adoption of organic farming practices would offset 23 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through soil carbon sequestration alone, more than doubling the Government's target of a 6-11 per cent reduction by 2020.
If all UK farmland were converted to organic, the report says, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year – the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road.
China as part of the Shenzhen & Hong Kong Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture. The installation, called LandgrabCity, is a square plot of land that represents a map of the city and visualizes how much food is required to sustain it.
The urban farm was commissioned by the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Biennale and was created by Joseph Grima, Jeffrey Johnson, and José Esparza to help the city’s residents visualize where their food comes from. The plot, which is subdivided into different crops, is surrounded by a map of one of the city’s dense downtown areas. The plot of land is the same scale as the map and represents the area needed to support 4.5 million people, which is the population of the surrounding area. The cultivated area is subdivided to represent the amount of food consumed from each food group – vegetables, cereals, fruit, pasture for livestock, and more.
The creators are trying to educate the residents about the origin of their food and explain that the area’s food production is not clustered together as it is in the installation. In reality, food production is scattered throughout the country and even beyond its borders. The creators make the point that food scarcity and volatile prices on the international market are pressing concerns, and because of this, vast swathes of land are being “grabbed” for agricultural purposes, hence the name LandgrabCity. Agricultural land, they explain, could play larger roles in future international policy and diplomacy than previously recognized.
Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities.
The most striking feature of urban agriculture, which distinguishes it from rural agriculture, is that it is integrated into the urban economic and ecological system: urban agriculture is embedded in -and interacting with- the urban ecosystem. Such linkages include the use of urban residents as labourers, use of typical urban resources (like organic waste as compost and urban wastewater for irrigation), direct links with urban consumers, direct impacts on urban ecology (positive and negative), being part of the urban food system, competing for land with other urban functions, being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc.
The conditions of city life are such that many urbanites are never aware of the complex relationships between humans and the Earth. Days spent in glass towers, crawling traffic and crowded supermarkets do not facilitate an understanding of the extent to which city dwellers depend on a hidden, external agricultural system…….
…….Today's cities operate on a throughput model, in which resources are imported and wastes are exported. Urban agriculture can help to close the loop between inputs and outputs by converting what are traditionally viewed as waste products into food and fuel, thus lowering the size of the city's ecological footprint. For example, sewage sludge from treatment plants can be added to other organic byproducts such as leaf litter, garden trimmings, and food scraps. When composted, this mixture yields a rich mulch which can be used as fertilizer to nurture the growth of quality organic edibles in urban gardens (Laurence, 1996, p. 5)……..
Isothiocyanates are highly effective in suppressing the growth of human prostate cells at concentrations achievable through the dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and watercress. A Japanese study observed that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Chinese cabbage decreased the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer.
A vegetarian diet was found to significantly reduce the risk of uric acid kidney stone formation. Fruit and vegetables provide an alkaline residue which reduces the risk of uric acid crystallization in the urine.
In a Japanese study, the daily intake of green-yellow vegetables was associated with a significant 26% reduction in the risk of death from total stroke in men and women compared with an intake of once or less per week. Daily fruit intake was associated with a significant 35% reduction in risk of total stroke in men and a 25% reduction in women.
Lutein intake, in the Iowa Women's Study, was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Lutein is the carotenoid pigment found in broccoli, spinach and other green vegetables.
New research data provide support for the notion that a high intake of broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
Dietary antioxidants play a role in preventing age-related cataracts by preventing the oxidation of proteins and lipids within the lens. Spinach, kale, broccoli, and other leafy vegetables rich in the carotenoid lutein, reduce the risk of developing cataracts. In the Nurses' Health Study, women who ate spinach and other greens at least twice a week had an 18 percent lower risk of cataract surgery than women who consumed them less than once a month. In the Health Professionals' Study, men who ate broccoli more than twice a week had a 23 percent lower risk of cataract surgery than men who consumed broccoli less than once a month.
The beta-carotene in carrots and spinach is absorbed three times better from the cooked vegetable than from the raw vegetable.
HULU SELANGOR, 14 April (Bernama) -- Rintihan peserta Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan (TKPM) Hulu Yam di sini berhubung kedaifan prasarana di ladang itu mendapat perhatian Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani yang memberi peruntukan RM1.28 juta bagi menaik taraf infrastruktur di situ.
Pengerusi Persatuan Pekebun Sayur Ulu Yam Nordin Hashim, 59, berkata sejak ditubuhkan empat tahun lalu, TKPM Hulu Yam yang berada di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri, belum mempunyai kemudahan asas seperti bekalan elektrik, air dan jalan raya yang sempurna.
Beliau berkata pihaknya pernah membawa perkara itu ke pengetahuan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Pemodenan Pertanian, Pengurusan Sumber Alam dan Pembangunan Usahawan negeri Yaakob Sapari tetapi tiada sebarang perkembangan sehingga hari ini.
"Kami pernah ceritakan segala masalah petani di sini, termasuk isu status tanah ladang ini, malangnya perbincangan hanya tinggal perbincangan. Ia berakhir di situ sahaja," katanya kepada Bernama ketika ditemui pada sesi dialog peserta ladang itu dengan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani Datuk Seri Noh Omar pada Selasa.
Beliau berkata janji kerajaan negeri untuk membantu mereka bukan perkara baru, malah sejak gabungan Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP dan PAS mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan Selangor pada Mac 2008, tiada seorangpun wakil kerajaan negeri datang ke ladang itu.
"Sudahlah mereka tak datang jenguk, kami dengar sekarang ini mereka ingin menjual pula tanah ini. Lagi la susah hati," kata Nordin.
TKPM yang dikenali sebagai "Selangor Veggie Park" diusahakan oleh 37 peserta dari seluruh Selangor di tanah seluas 220 hektar milik Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad.
TKPM adalah sebuah ladang tanaman sayuran berdaun dan perikanan akuakultur. Setiap peserta mengusahakan antara dua dan 10 hektar tanah yang disewakan kepada mereka dan dipantau oleh Jabatan Pertanian dan Jabatan Perikanan Negeri Selangor.
Sejak penubuhannya TKPM Hulu Yam telah mengeluarkan 65,352 tan metrik sayuran bernilai RM48 juta, dan 33 peserta yanga terlibat, memperoleh pendapatan bersih lebih RM3,000 sebulan.
Dengan purata pengeluaran 80 metrik tan sehari, Selangor Veggie Park muncul sebagai pusat pengeluaran terbesar bagi sayur berdaun di Malaysia bagi menampung permintaan di Lembah Klang yang berjumlah 50 tan metrik sehari.
Nordin berharap prasarana di TKPM Hulu Yam itu dapat dipertingkatkan memandangkan ladang itu turut dikunjungi pelancong dan pelajar termasuk dari luar negara.
"Ramai pelancong datang, contohnya dari Taiwan dan Hong Kong. Mereka datang untuk belajar bagaimana kita tanam sayur dan majukan kawasan ini," katanya.
Noh pula berkata kerajaan negeri sepatutnya memikirkan kaedah untuk memajukan kawasan tersebut dan bekerjasama dengan kerajaan persekutuan membangunkannya demi kepentingan penduduk, bukannya mengambil jalan pintas dengan menjualnya.
"Saya tengok kawasan ini sesuai untuk dijadikan tempat agrotourism kerana ia dikelilingi bukit, gunung, tasik dan mempunyai pelbagai jenis tanaman sayuran. Kalau betul-betul dibangunkan, saya yakin ia mampu menarik kehadiran pelancong," katanya.
Kerajaan negeri sebelum ini dilaporkan menawarkan untuk menjual tanah itu kepada kepada Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani pada harga RM35 juta.
Noh berkata sekiranya kerajaan negeri tidak berminat memajukan kawasan itu, ia boleh menyerahkannya kepada kerajaan persekutuan untuk menguruskannya.
Pada majlis itu, beliau menyerahkan peruntukan RM1.28 juta kepada TKPM serta RM400,000 kepada enam persatuan penanam sayur sekitar kawasan Parlimen Hulu Selangor di bawah peruntukan insentif amalan teknologi pertanian.
Ditanya sama ada pemberian itu berkaitan dengan pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Hulu Selangor 25 April ini, Nordin berkata, sebagai pengerusi beliau hanya inginkan yang terbaik buat peserta dan sebagai peladang mereka tidak terlalu memikirkan mengenai politik.
"Kita sebagai pekebun tidak terlalu memikirkan tentang politik. Soal pilihan raya letak tepi dulu. Yang penting masalah kami selesai. Siapa yang bantu kami kekalkan produktiviti, insyaAllah orang itu akan kami sokong,"katanya.
Pendapat sama disokong rakannya yang juga pengusaha ladang, Choo Kok Haing, 57, yang menyifatkan peruntukan itu adalah berlandaskan tanggungjawab dan tidak boleh dipandang dari sudut politik semata-mata.
"Semua pihak perlu menunaikan tanggungjawab, tidak kira sama ada kerajaan negeri ataupun kerajaan pusat," katanya.
(7 April 2010)The member countries of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and China met at Easter to discuss the dramatic consequences of the drought wave in South East Asia for the MekongRiver. The mighty 4.400 km long MekongRiver, which originates in the Tibetan heights and flows through the mountainous YuhanProvince, has reached its lowest level for 50 years, making irrigation and navigation in large parts practically impossible.
The southern riparian countries make four upstream hydro-power plants that China has completed in 2008 responsible for the low water level. China refutes these allegations and puts the blame on the exceptionally low precipitations in the region linked to climate change.
By Huang Zhaohua and Wang Yan (China Daily) Updated: 2010-03-31 07:18
NANNING - A total of 9,610 kg of toxic vegetables were found in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Nanning health bureau announced on Monday.
Two batches of vegetables were detected with excessive pesticide residues at a local vegetable wholesale market, according to a statement published on the Nanning government's official website.
Of the 9,610 kg of toxic vegetables, Nanning food safety authorities seized 3,540 kg, while 4,451.5 kg were sold to vegetable dealers outside Nanning and 1,618.5 kg had entered the city's local market, the government said.
Since Monday, more than 100 vegetable safety inspectors in Nanning have been urged to conduct emergency checks in the city's markets to look for tainted vegetables, said Tang Bowen, director of Nanning agriculture bureau.
So far, there have been no reported cases of food poisoning.
"The toxic vegetables were imported from outside of the autonomous region. We've contacted the related dealers for the 4,451.5 kg sold and made the information public, so the vegetables should be under control," Tang said.
Three types of pesticides were detected in the vegetables, including methyl parathion, cyhalothrin and flucythrinate.
According to Tang, the three pesticides are poisonous, though their use is permitted on farm products.
The current drought in the country's southeast area has contributed to the incident, Tang said.
"As a result of the dry weather, pesticides on fruits and vegetables have not been diluted, leading to the higher residues," he explained.
"The three types of pesticides detected arewidely used in farming and do have effects on the human body. However, with adequate dilution, the farm products should be safe to eat," he said.
By Liang Chao (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2010-04-02 17:09
PANXIAN, Guizhou – Facing the worst drought in 80 to 100 years, residents in Southwest China's Guizhou are striving for survival through the prolonged water shortage, which has threatened their livelihood worse than ever before……
Hundreds of farmers are busy planting fast-growing vegetables such as peppers and cabbage with the water from the reservoir to recoup the harvest they lost on their hillside land. "The vegetables we are planting can be harvested in about 60 days from now and sold on the market for money," Guo Jingzhi, head of the village, said, taking care of operating pumps set along a narrow ditch linked with paddy fields……
THIRD WORLD NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Recent research from the Soil Association in the UK (contained in the report, Soil Carbon and Organic Farming) underlines the importance of organic farming for carbon sequestration, hence mitigating agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The research reviewed 39 comparative studies of organic farming covering over 100 individual comparisons. The research’s key findings are:
* The widespread adoption of organic farming practices in the UK would offset 23% of UK agricultural emissions through soil carbon sequestration alone.
* A worldwide switch to organic farming could offset 11% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Raising soil carbon levels would also make farming worldwide more resilient to extremes of climate like droughts and floods, leading to greater food security.
* On average organic farming produces 28% higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic farming in Northern Europe, and 20% higher for all countries studied (in Europe, North America and Australasia).
* In the UK, grasslands and mixed farming systems also have a vital role to play, and soil carbon may go a long way to offsetting the methane emissions from grass-fed cattle and sheep.
The evidence presented suggests that action to raise soil carbon levels - through more widespread adoption of organic farming practices and grass-based and mixed farming systems – can make a significant and immediate contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation.
For example, the Rodale Institute in the United States has run side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional farming systems. Their studies of organic systems have shown an increase of almost 30 percent in-soil carbon over 27 years. The petroleum-based system showed no significant increase in soil carbon in the same time period and some studies have shown that these systems, in fact, may lose carbon.
Raising soil carbon levels can also contribute to climate adaptation, by improving soil structure and quality, hence reducing the impacts of flooding, droughts, water shortages and desertification.