IMPLEMENTING THE DECLARATION OF THE

 60TH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE

(1)

Working Group on 

Sustainable Agriculture

(1)  Joyce D'Silva, Compassion in World Farming  Wendy@ciwf.org.uk

(2)   TBA

Agriculture has changed dramatically since the end of World War II, often using new machines, chemicals and intensive techniques to maximize production, especially as the human population has also boomed.  Unfortunately, while many benefits have emerged, they have been at a serious cost in a decline in family farms, depleted top soils, contaminated ground water, pollution of the ocean, cruel animal husbandry practices and a decline in economic and social conditions in rural communities.

To counter these negative trends, a movement has emerged since 1970's to offer fresh, innovative approaches.   Such approaches will be critical as climate change continues to deteriorate land and water availability.  The stresses caused by climate change will require adaptation policies that on the one hand resist drought, heat and other environmental concerns while on the other advance social change.  Increasingly, the steeply rising world population is demanding meat, yet excessive meat production is very damaging to the environment.  The paper will not propose a vegetarian solution (leaving that choice to societies); rather it proposes a meat reduced diet.  Some of the reason are clearly environmental and economic.  Meat production is energy and chemical intensive and so quite vulnerable to oil price increases. Pesticides, herbicides, and animal wastes are heavily polluting.  Intensive farming of animals is also often cruel.  As an example, around 48 billion chickens are slaughtered annually for meat. Over 70% of them are raised in industrial farming systems confining them in windowless, barren and crowded sheds of up to 16 to 20 birds per square metre. By the time they reach slaughter age at 6 weeks old they often have less space than one A4 sheet of paper per chicken. Due to excessive growth rates, many suffer from painful lameness caused by abnormal skeletal development or bone disease. Some have difficulty in walking or even standing - unable to even reach water, they can go thirsty for days.

The bottom line for the chapter will be to articulate a sensible vision for diet and argue for understanding farmland as  living systems embedded in a broader ecosystem.  We must therefore, especially, given the impending difficulties certain to come from climate change, understand how to manage all farm practices on the basis of this holistic perception.

The working group intends to have regular meetings via the internet discussions around this topic and will engage in continued dialogue and collaboration with other NGO’s and organizations. In addition, we will continue updating our assigned website and post relevant news and events.

Recommendations will propose concrete action items and solutions based on current scientific evidence and on guidelines and best practices.

Recommendations are intended to be implemented in a collaborative fashion among several agencies and civil society. Recommendations are aimed at building on local capacities, strengthening existing structures and empowering local communities.