I hope to demonstrate to a potentially helpful audience this evening that there is support in our community for the idea of sharing knowledge of sustainable farming practices as widely as possible, especially in the developing world, as a counter-culture to the hegemony of agro-industrial farming.

Without going into detail about the proposal in this email, if you can show your support for this project by visiting Facebook page TODAY and giving us a ‘like’, that would be VERY much appreciated!

Please share this request.

Thanks

Hugh

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About
permEzone is a new service that aims to share practical information about sustainable food systems using mobile phone technology. Subscribe to our twitter feed and get instant notifications on your mobile phone. https://twitter.com/permezone
Description
http://www.permezone.com/n@w_docs/permEzone_Intro.pdf
We are committed to helping communities prosper over the long-term, by facilitating and empowering action that supports the development of thriving local economies. Our initial focus is to work with small-holder family farmers throughout the world. We believe that the gradual adoption of methods of regenerative farming, food systems that look beyond the minimal necessity of sustainability, is essential to the continued well-being of humanity.

Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 05:43
Written by Hugh Kelly

Ecosystems are self-sustaining because the complex interconnections between their component parts create synergistic relationships - invisible systems - that maintain the balance of life.

Social systems also exhibit self-organization as the combined actions of many connected individuals build synergy. Increasingly complex human communications networks create the potential for self-organizing, synergistic interactions that transcend traditional boundaries. Paradoxically, the growth of virtual communities can support people in managing their relationship to the environment and to each other, and in creating sustainable, resilient and self-reliant communities.

The growth of these invisible systems can be supported with appropriate investment – in technology, in education, and in capacity-building.

As Oscar Salazar, founder of Citivox, was quoted as saying: we need to create an ecosystem where people can benefit from the technology on a long-term basis.

Sustainable Ag.

Written by Hugh Kelly
Hits: 610
Sustainable Agriculture can refer to any approach to growing food which aims to:

eliminate external inputs ,
regenerate natural resources,
contribute to a viable local economy, and
develop the capacity for the local community to provide for its own sustenance.
permEzone has its roots in the design science of Permaculture, but to the extent that you share these basic aims it shouldn't matter whether you call it permaculture, organic farming, agroecology, biodynamics, or natural farming.

The College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley reports on research into the application of agroecology, which it describes as the “integrated use of a variety of management technologies and practices. The emphasis is on diversified farms in which each component of the farming system biologically reinforces the other components, for instance where wastes from one component become inputs to another.” [link]

It reports on initiatives to implement agroecology in countries around the world, including Chile, Cuba, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Senegal. Often carried out in the face of pressure to employ intensive chemical methods, positive outcomes were achieved, including increased yields, improved soil fertility and improved livelihoods.

It highlights the benefits of sustainable agriculture, both in terms of decreased inequality and enhanced sustainability.

In drawing attention to the many initiatives to introduce agro-ecological approaches, the authors of this UC Berkeley report highlight the danger that these cases ‘will remain as "islands of success" in a sea of deprivation, merely living testimonies of the potential of the "path not taken" to feed the rural poor.’

Despite the many well-documented success stories for sustainable agriculture, the agro-industrial model is still firmly entrenched as the ‘conventional’ approach. As such, it dominates the flow of expert information through the official channels that most farmers depend on. It’s difficult to see how this flow can be slowed down, let alone reversed in favor of agro-ecological approaches.

However, lessons can be learned from recent successes in self-empowerment against seemingly overwhelming odds, and suggest that the simple mobile phone can help to facilitate a groundswell of activity capable of overturning established interests.