The ongoing crisis in Prince Edward Island's agricultural sector has prompted Island New Democrat Leader James Rodd to call for a wholescale conversion to organic farming.
But he doubts if either the current Liberal government or the opposition Conservatives will move in that direction.
"The industrial model of farming has been on the rise in Prince Edward Island and elsewhere for at least 50 years and if it isn't soon reversed, the agricultural landscape of this province will soon be limited exclusively to large-scale farming operations owned or controlled by multinational agrifood businesses."
Rodd, an organic vegetable grower, cited figures showing the dramatic decline in the farming community under both Liberal and Conservative governments.
In 1921, there were 13,701 farms in Prince Edward Island, with an average size of 89 acres. The total area farmed was over 1.2 million acres, he said. In 2006, the census showed only 1,700 farms. Meanwhile, the average size of a P.E.I. farm had quadrupled to 369 acres and the total farming acreage had been cut in half to just over 600,000 acres.
Rodd also pointed to a continuing decline under the current Ghiz government and cited the crisis in both the potato and livestock sectors as examples of how things were getting worse.
"Our hog and beef industries are on life support and potato growers are suffering from a chronic inability to recover even the cost of production. Clearly, the current system isn't working and a significant change of direction is required."
Rodd said the only solution is to implement a long-term plan to convert the entire provincial agriculture sector to organic production. Such an approach would support the development of a comprehensive Garden of the Gulf branding and marketing campaign, along with an enhanced Buy Local initiative.
It would also involve co-ordination between producers and the provincial government and the investment of public monies to enable the conversion to organic farming on a provincewide scale, he said.
"The first step would be to ban genetically modified crops," Rodd said. "That's exactly what Ireland is doing, for example, and Japan and other countries have already implemented such a ban."
He admits it would cost to make the conversion, even if it was phased in over a decade or two. But he sees it as a case of pay now or pay more later.
Entire province must move to organic farming, NDP leader says
- Published on March 11th, 2010
- Published on June 14th, 2010
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Staff ~ The Guardian
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Comments
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- GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:15
YOU ARE 100% CORRECT...now what can we do about your political affiliation, because you will never be elected Premier representing the NDP. I find it sad that the Island Party has jumped to the next in line in terms of alternative to the two tired parties, whereas had you, Mr. Rodd, thrown in your support of the IP, you would have my vote.
Your organic-only platform is a winner, your Party is not. -
- JP
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:17:17
I'm actually starting to think that this might be a good idea. And I'm shocked to find myself agreeing with this.
We're now learning so much about the impacts on contemporary industrial food production on health and how it contributes to not only cancer but also diabetes, obesity, digestive disorders, etc., etc. etc.
My only caution would be that this is easier said than done. Making this type of shift would require a massive government investment. It should be seen as a government-sponsored and encouraged move and not just legislation that industry alone has to deal with. -
- Pat
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:36
This is probably the best news article I have seen in a long time.. No joking around local small farmers are being eaten up by big agri food companies. Soon all farmers will have to by GM seeds from Monsanto.. not a good thing.. I suggest the documentary FOOD INC . It will make you think twice about where you should be getting your food. Local small farmers are the way to go... Organic as well... I pray sombody listens to this bright politician..
Ban genetically modified crops right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
- We Must Learn from
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:36
So for those who fear going organic what other propositions are there for going forward? Lacing our Farm Lands, Oceans, Rivers, Streams with more and more pesticides and insecticides untill our soil and waters taint and destroy all produce and sea life?
And how much longer before even the International Empires won't accept Island produce, fish, pork or beef? And do we want to depend solely on International Products? I certainly don't!
We can't continue to destroy our lands and waters and expect them to produce healthy, untainted products and clean air! Our PEI Potatoes were known as the Best for Decades but not anymore! And they won't be known as the Best again untill we work towards achieving the Best !
We either see the writing of our future on the wall and decide to rewrite the ending or continue writing re-runs that don't sell and have no shelf life.
Our World's environment is sick from toxins now do we continue to feed it the same diet? Our environmentalists are now realizing that we must somehow get back to where we were while there's something left to go back to! And that includes our Island Farming, Fishing, Hog, Beef and Poultry Industries!
Global Warming isn't a Fairy Tale it's man made toxins borne of ingenuity, disguised as progress void of fear and spreading world wide!
Sooner or later we will be forced to realize that the Best Things in Life are those that are priceless and need to be nurtured and given respect ! Hopefully it will be sooner as later might be too late!
