Farming for the future of Friends of the Earth

Farming for the Future: Organic and Agroecological Solutions to Feed the World

This report was written by Christopher D. Cook, Kari Hamerschlag, Friends of the Earth U.S. and Kendra Klein, Friends of the Earth U.S

2016, 23 pages

• Read the full report
• Read the executive summary

The science is clear: Feeding the world sustainably requires that we protect the ecological resources that are essential for producing food now and in the future. What’s more, research consistently shows that hunger is not a problem of overall supply of food, but results from poverty, lack of democracy and unequal access to land, water and other resources. 

Rather than producing more food under unequal and ecologically destructive conditions, the solution to hunger hinges on creating a more sustainable, democratic and fair food system for all.

Despite the many proven benefits of ecological farming, there is a massive disparity in research funding for organic in comparison to conventional agriculture. Of the $49 billion invested globally in agricultural research, less than one percent goes to organic farming.164 In the U.S., less than two percent of public agricultural research funding goes to organic and biologically diversified farming.165,166 Agroecological farming approaches have achieved high levels of environmental performance and productivity despite minimal funding. Increased research could improve yields and environmental gains beyond already proven success. (page 17)

Presentations

Learn from top scientists and thought leaders on the science of sustainable food production and a comprehensive approach to creating a healthy, resilient food system to feed all people, now and into the future.

• Kendra Klein, PhD, Staff Scientist, Friends of the Earth Can Organic Feed the World
• Frances Moore Lappe, Cofounder & Director, Small Planet Institute The Art of Creating Scarcity From Plenty
• Lauren Ponisio, PhD, UC Riverside How do Yields from Organic and Conventional Farming Systems Compare?
• John Reganold, PhD, Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology, Washington State University Beyond Yield: The Multiple Benefits of Organic Agriculture
• Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PhD, Senior Scientist, Pesticide Action Network
• Agroecology Works: Towards Resilient Food and Farming Systems