Sustainable agriculture: Social dimensions in a global context

1. Sustainable agriculture: Social dimensions in a global context A module of the Globalizing Agriculture Education Project

2. Module Learning Outcomes • To be able to describe several critical social issues related to agricultural sustainability • To be able to explain and apply these issues in a site-specific context using international examples, and compare and contrast with the US. • International Case Study: Basque Farmers in the French Pyrenees

3. What is “sustainable agriculture?” The USDA definition of ''sustainable agriculture‘’, as defined in the 1990 Farm Bill “An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term: * Satisfy human food and fiber needs. * Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends. * Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. * Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. * Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)

4. An ‘umbrella’ for programs & practices Sustainable Agriculture “Sustainable agriculture” is a general term for programs and practices that pursue the goals of balancing economic profitability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Certifications or programs Practices Conservation tillage Certified Naturally Grown USDA Organic Reducing external inputs Integrated Pest Management Biodynamic Rotation NRCS Conservation programs Community-based food systems & many others

5. An interdisciplinary perspective Sustainable Agriculture integrates economic, environmental and social goals.

6. Understanding ‘social responsibility’ The farmer population is aging. Healthy food is not accessible for everyone. Can you think of more? What are some of the social issues in our food and agriculture system? There is increasing pressure on farm lands for development and other non-agricultural land uses. Farm families often have at least one member working off-farm to make ends meet, changing traditional rural family dynamics. There are many labor issues in the agricultural sector.

7. Exploring social issues in US Agriculture • Aging farmer populations • The average age of a Kentucky farmer is 56½. • Across the US, 57% of farmers are over 55. • The number of young farmers is decreasing. • Many young people are leaving rural areas to live in cities and pursue non-agricultural livelihoods. Who will grow our food in the future?

8. Exploring social issues in US Agriculture • Agricultural lands are under pressure from a variety of non-agricultural land uses. • In Kentucky, changes in the tobacco economy, rising land prices and development pressure make it difficult to keep farm families on the land. • In Kentucky, 132 acres of rural land were developed every day from 1992-1997. Where will we grow our food in the future?

9. Exploring social issues in US Agriculture • Changes in the global agricultural economy make it more difficult to make a living on the family farm. • In Kentucky, the average farm size in 163 acres. Traditionally, stable tobacco prices helped maintain small farm acreages. • With the decline of tobacco, many farmers are looking for alternatives, including ‘scaling up’ livestock and crop operations. How will this affect farm families in the future? What about new farmers?

10. Social responsibility: a global issue • These issues are not unique to US agriculture. The salience of each of these issues may vary by region of the world, but agricultural communities everywhere are facing these same issues. • By comparing and contrasting the ways communities deal with social issues, we learn about these general concepts, and the ways communities share or diverge in their approaches to dealing with them. • Example: Basque Farmers in Soule, France.

11. Case Study: Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France

12. What is the geographic context? • France is a member of the European Union, an affiliation of 27 countries united in a common currency and agricultural policy. • The study region is circled in red. *For background on the history of the EU and it’s member states, see the Economics module of this section. 27 countries in 2005 (including Bulgaria & Romania

13. EU Agriculture: Overview • Major agricultural products • Livestock products (including dairy), grains, vegetables, wine, fruits, and sugar • Major exports • Grains (wheat and barley), dairy products, poultry, pork, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and wine • Major imports • Soybeans and soybean products, cotton, tobacco, tropical products, off-season fruits and vegetables, coffee, cocoa, tea, and spices. (USDA ERS data).

14. EU Agriculture: Farm size • Farms in the EU are often a patchwork of small parcels spread across a broader area (that is, they are not contiguous). Why might this be?

15. Farmers in the Basque province of Soule, France • The Basque language is distinct from any other European language. • In Soule, Basques traditionally raise sheep using complex grazing systems have been practices for thousands of years. • Farmers in Soule are ethnically Basque, a traditional people that have been occupying regions of France and Spain prior to 1100 AD.

16. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition • A traditional grazing system of moving animals to high mountain pastures in the summer months • In Soule, animals move up in May, down in September • Traditionally animals led up on foot, often a 10-12 mile walk. Now mostly transported in trucks, except in remote pasturage • System developed in the middle ages, and continues today, but area has shrunk dramatically • Mostly sheep, but increasingly more cows and horses

17. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition Why transhumance? - Farm sizes too small to support grazing year round in lower valleys. - Resource use changes based on land ownership and time of year. • Traditional grazing patterns in Soule • Winter – in town on family farm lands • Spring and fall – move to lands owned by villages (the coteaux, or hills). • Summer – move to regionally-managed high pastures (estives), first to lower areas and then to high mountain areas; sheppards stay in permanent cabins.

18. Transhumance: A Pastoral Tradition • The highlands of Soule.

19. Changes in farming communities Aging rural populations • Average farmer age – rising as in the US • Men significantly outnumber women in age categories above 30 years • Birth rates are one of the lowest in all of France • Est.1.75 children/woman in Soule (compared to 2.0 in France as a whole) • Population declined 12.5% from 1982-1999 Basque grandfather making cheese. His son has 2 children, one of whom they hope will take up farming.

20. Changes in farming communities • Why is the average farmer population aging? • Children are moving to the cities, leaving parents as primary farm operators. • It is difficult for new farmers to get into farming – why might this be? • Land prices are high • Input costs and infrastructure are high • Traditional community- newcomers are seen as outsiders. • What is similar or different compared to US agriculture?

21. Changes in farming communities • Traditionally farm families worked solely on the farm • Declining profits and land use pressure have led to changes in traditional farm structures • Prices for as meat and cheese are steady for past ~20 years • Input costs have increased • Infrastructure improvements necessary • Land and home prices have risen steadily, in part driven by second-home purchases from urban people. What can farmers do to keep family farm operations profitable?

22. Cooperatives as community assets • Farmers traditionally sold their milk to a regional milk company • Kept some for cheese making at home. • With declining milk prices, they organized and proposed to develop a cooperative to make cheese for local markets. EU rural development funds (CAP money) was used to build local cheesemaking cooperative run by local farmers.

23. Pressures from non-agricultural land uses • With declining numbers of farmers and increasing land prices, many family farm homes as “summer homes” to other French or Europeans • This is seen as an unwelcome intrusion of “outsiders” to the region, but continued high prices make it difficult for families without farmers to justify not selling.

24. Challenges to traditional culture Increased rural tourism • Ex. GR10 Trail runs the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coasts • Explosion in outdoor activity tourism, including hiking, birding, parasailing and food tourism • Tensions between recreational land users and farmers

25. Challenges to traditional culture Increased rural tourism • How might farmers take advantage of this? • Agritourism • Websites devoted to eco-tourism • Some non-farming residents are running bed-and-breakfasts or renting rooms to traveling hikers. Photos courtesy of Ariege Pyrenees

26. Adapting to change • Governmental support • “Mountain Charter” created by regional governments to help promote the quality of the agricultural products from these ‘pristine environments.’ • Promotes the co-existence of agricultural and recreational land uses, and includes mandate to evaluate land use from 2005-2015 • Controversial with farmers – will it help of just bring more beaurocracy?

27. Relating to the US • What are some of the similarities you see? • What differences? • What was interesting?

28. Summary questions Summary questions that tie to learning outcomes for specific class use.

29. Supplemental Readings & Resources • Cornell Primer on Sustainable Agriculture • An introduction to sustainable agriculture and community food systems • Welch-Devine and Murray, 2010. • Reading on community based food systems