Hungry for some good news about the future of farming?
Amid all the depressing stories about the lingering US drought and the spike in world food prices it already is causing, we’ve been reading about agricultural entrepreneurs who are pioneering new cultivation and irrigation techniques that could be part of the solution.
The rise of local farms in New York state is the subject of a cover story in the latest issue of OnEarth, published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In 2011, the state reported the second biggest rise in local farmers market, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
With its rich source of pure water just 124 miles north of Manhattan, the Catskills watershed is experiencing a renaissance in local farming buoyed by the willingness of New Yorkers to pay more for produce and meats raised and cultivated nearby.
Reports OnEarth: "Never have so many individuals, nonprofits, and local consumers been so intent on connecting the bounty of small and medium-size farms with urban consumers. Among these forward thinkers, the message has been internalized: eating more food that’s grown regionally and sustainably will improve public health, protect the environment and provide economic sustenance to farming communities."
The catch, of course, is that local regulations and the supply chain – getting food from farm to urban plates – is still catching up. One example: the cost of liability insurance needed to be a vendor to New York City keeps many smaller operations from being able to supply the school system. The good news is that people are working on this problem, OnEarth reports.
Local farmers also need to figure out a way to meet shoppers at least halfway when it comes to their desire to buy all their weekly purchases in one place. One potential solution is for cities to develop local distribution centers, such as New York’s Hunts Point where local and regional farmers have a reliable place to sell their products.
Reports OnEarth: "The farmer’s name would be on the product," says Jennfer Grossman, consultant to the Catskills Food Initiative of the NRDC. "Chefs want to tell their customers their greens are from Lucky Dog Farm in the Upper Delaware watershed."
Read the full article about the future of farming in New York state.
Eight ideas for future farming are featured in Fast Company. We’ve written about many of these ideas, such as the vertical farm in Chicago, urban greenhouses and rooftop gardens, hydroponics and aquaculture. The article is worth a read as a jumping-off point for what’s possible through technology and ingenuity:
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