Afeature in the National Geographic is aptly named "The End of Plenty". (The Global Food Crisis, June 2009). Much has been written about global warming which is in lock-step with a rapidly increasing population. A principle concern is how this planet will be able to support a projected 9 billion people by the year 2030 with loss in agricultural productivity due to reduction in farm productivity due to drought conditions, deterioration of soil organics and urban expansion.

The 'Green Revolution' is credited with providing food for the survival of close to a billion people in the mid 1950s. Never-the-less, the current rate of climate change guarantees hotter conditions and water scarcity impacting on food production for a hungry world. Another green revolution is needed to again double current food production.

We are living in a prosperous age, a good news/bad news scenario. People in the third world, and particularly heavily populated China and India, are enjoying a better standard of life. For example annual per capita consumption of pork (protein!) in China increased from 33 to 72 lbs in a decade. It is estimated that pork production requires over 5 times the weight of grain compared to a pound of meat. Grain fattened beef in the States requires ten times the weight of grain. Current national policies emphasize production of grain for ethanol compensating for an expected loss of oil capacity as fossil fuels run out. The resulting escalation in loss of agricultural land is the bad news.

High technology is the answer proposed by scientists. There is a great deal in the news about genetic engineering with industrial emphasis on monopoly control of food production, hence making billions of dollars for chemical companies, defined by many as greed, holding the rest of the world to ransom. Some companies require farmers to contract the purchase of high yielding seed from them annually while prohibiting the saving of seed for subsequent production. This includes the necessity for buying large quantities of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, products of fossil fuels, from the same producers.

The article reports on vastly increased grain production in Africa, 'The Malawi Miracle'. This is based on purchase of genetically engineered seed, pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, accompanied by a reliance on irrigation. Undoubtedly adherence to the party line ensures extending the green revolution to Africa from its successful development in Asian countries. This also includes a "legacy of tainted soil and depleted aquifers" as well as greater dependence on fossil fuels used in production of soil additives.

Alternative and more natural measures are proposed by a well known Indian ecologist. This is a "paradigm shift toward more sustainable and ecologically friendly practices".

Dr. Vandana Shiva has written several texts condemning development of commercial practices dependant on fossil fuels and particularly patent laws ensuring monoculture production of company products, "Monoculture of the mind!" Composting helps sequester soil carbon while holding moisture. Use of legumes, nitrogen-fixing species, increases crop yields while reducing reliance on imported fertilizers.

Similarly many natural processes in Canada have great potential for reduced costs, soil enhancement and increased yields. Many in the agricultural field are practicing no till farming which lessens production costs, reduces organic breakdown in the soil and minimizes the need for dependence on applications of water and imported chemical additives. Establishment of forest cover in the form of shelterbelts and intercrop species have the added advantage of reducing evaporation and wind erosion. Roadside plantings also reduce ploughing needed due to snow buildup on the highways while extending groundwater replenishment during the period of spring melting.

Shiva has also emphasized crop diversity in India where local knowledge is employed in sowing mixtures of cultivars extending periods of harvesting.

The practice is labour intensive even involving transplanting of later producing cultivars to ensure greater continuity of crop yields hence food availability during the growing season.

Many of our farming practices are based on minimizing effort. Crops are sown and harvested mechanically necessitating large scale monocultures to simplify operating schedules. The name of the game has become maximum economic gain whereas society's real need is maximization of food productivity if our future needs are to be met.