As the human population increases each year so does the demand of food. The mass production of “human food, feed, and fiber” results in the expansion of agricultural areas (deforestation, land/soil modification, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, etc.). Thus, implementing sustainable agriculture practices helps mitigate the environmental impacts of agriculture. Sustainable agriculture refers to the delivery of efficient agricultural production in a way that protects and restores the environment, increases profitable farm income, improves the life quality of farm families and farm communities. Some of the methods are to promote soil fertility, reduce water usage, integrated animal and crop systems, control of invasive plants, and overall, lower the pollution levels on the farm. These methods promote the farmworker wellbeing as well as it improves the local economy.
Furthermore, what is food security? It is said that food security is high when food is produced and consumed locally as it is fresher and more nutritious. The local community relationships improve as the money flows within farmers, local businesses, and residents, making local communities stronger and healthier. In contrast, communities with little land, few food markets, little food production and distribution are mainly indicatives of poor communities with poor food security. Therefore, how can we improve local food security? Some projects include planting small gardens in backyards, organizing a farmers market (an alternative could be food cooperatives as food coop members buy from local farmers), food banks (at the local scale or even national scale – not a solution at the long-term), etc.
Hesperian Health Guides. Improving Local Food Security – Hesperian Health Guides. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://en.hesperian.org/hhg/A_Community_Guide_to_Environmental_Health:Improving_Local_Food_Security#:~:text=Food%20security%20is%20strongest%20when,and%20healthier%20places%20to%20live.
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/15-023.htm#Summary
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 