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Research

Sustainable Agriculture

Beneficial Production Methods
  • Many farm operations are already engaged in sustainable activities such as no-till, water conservation, reduction of harmful farm inputs which benefit the environment.
  • Further sustainable agriculture is achievable through composting, cover cropping, polyculture, crop rotation and agroforestry that have existed for centuries. Newer sustainable farming methods including IPM programs, eco-buffers, companion planting, organic and ecological farming, agroforestry and forest gardening and permaculture.
Soil Stewardship
  • A gram of healthy top soil may contain up to 600 million individual and 25,000 species of bacteria. In comparison, conventionally managed soil may contain only a few million individual and 5,000 different species of bacteria.
  • Soils that are nutrient deficient have reduced capabilities for carbon capture.
Productivity
  • Approximately 75% of food crops, such as berries, cherries, melons, apples, almonds, peaches, plums and coffee beans are pollinated by insects. Honey bee populations are declining.
  • There was an increased yield of 25-30% for soybeans, 25% for barley, 23% for winter wheat, 20% for mixed hay and 12% for corn when grown in combination with windbreaks.
Waste
  • In 2007, Canadians wasted 183 kilograms of food per person. As much as 40% of our edibles are wasted and approximately 50% of the wasted food was discarded by consumers at home.
  • Every month, Toronto residents throw out 17.5 million kilograms of food.

“If we throw Mother Nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork.” ~ Masanobu Fukuoka