Forest farms could create market for ginseng, other herbs | Penn State University
(originally posted 12 Dec 2019)
Good morning all,
Hot off of the presses this morning is a news report about sustainable "forest farms", efforts to use environmentally-friendly propagation methods, in naturalistic-type settings, to commercially produce native plants that are of economic value. It's an interesting idea, and one that is quite different (by necessity) from the mass-production, highly-intensive, large-scale format of most of our modern agricultural production.
https://news.psu.edu/story/599492/2019/11/25/research/forest-farms-could-create-market-ginseng-other-herbs?utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_content=12-12-2019&utm_campaign=research newswire
Many find these small scale, low-impact 'farming' methods attractive for their reduced reliance upon chemicals and their shortened supply chains, with products often moving from producer to consumer with few or no intermediaries. As these authors note, these practices may provide a bit of 'social justice' as well, by providing more-direct benefits and controls to producers. As such, these methods could represent a 'win-win' situation: valued and sustainable production, and well-served consumers. This ties in very nicely with the concepts in our last chapter, including the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr. Nealen
(originally posted 12 Dec 2019)
Good morning all,
Hot off of the presses this morning is a news report about sustainable "forest farms", efforts to use environmentally-friendly propagation methods, in naturalistic-type settings, to commercially produce native plants that are of economic value. It's an interesting idea, and one that is quite different (by necessity) from the mass-production, highly-intensive, large-scale format of most of our modern agricultural production.
https://news.psu.edu/story/599492/2019/11/25/research/forest-farms-could-create-market-ginseng-other-herbs?utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_content=12-12-2019&utm_campaign=research newswire
Many find these small scale, low-impact 'farming' methods attractive for their reduced reliance upon chemicals and their shortened supply chains, with products often moving from producer to consumer with few or no intermediaries. As these authors note, these practices may provide a bit of 'social justice' as well, by providing more-direct benefits and controls to producers. As such, these methods could represent a 'win-win' situation: valued and sustainable production, and well-served consumers. This ties in very nicely with the concepts in our last chapter, including the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr. Nealen
Nitrogen crisis from jam-packed livestock operations has ‘paralyzed’ Dutch economy | Science | AAAS
(originally posted 09 Dec 2019)
Good morning all,
In the news this weekend is a report about nitrogen pollution from farming and industrial activities, topics we discussed just this past week. These are global problems, but the problems are worse in some areas than in others. And, the political will to address them is equally uneven in its distribution.
I suspect that we will see more of these 'crises', as industries are shut down or face temporary moratoriums when pollution reaches dangerous levels. These are not easy problems to fix - it's very hard to change communities that have been operating in a given way toward newer/better methods, especially when much has been invested in current technologies and practices. Big solutions, integrating social reform, advanced engineering, and education are likely to be required.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/nitrogen-crisis-jam-packed-livestock-operations-has-paralyzed-dutch-economy?utm_campaign=news_weekly_2019-12-06&et_rid=17390186&et_cid=3113276
See you this afternoon for review -
Dr. Nealen
(originally posted 09 Dec 2019)
Good morning all,
In the news this weekend is a report about nitrogen pollution from farming and industrial activities, topics we discussed just this past week. These are global problems, but the problems are worse in some areas than in others. And, the political will to address them is equally uneven in its distribution.
I suspect that we will see more of these 'crises', as industries are shut down or face temporary moratoriums when pollution reaches dangerous levels. These are not easy problems to fix - it's very hard to change communities that have been operating in a given way toward newer/better methods, especially when much has been invested in current technologies and practices. Big solutions, integrating social reform, advanced engineering, and education are likely to be required.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/nitrogen-crisis-jam-packed-livestock-operations-has-paralyzed-dutch-economy?utm_campaign=news_weekly_2019-12-06&et_rid=17390186&et_cid=3113276
See you this afternoon for review -
Dr. Nealen