Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
housing department. They want the sites for buildings, and intend to have
them. They are missing the huge significance of this revolution. Lydia
Brown of East Harlem says:
If you had seen that trash-filled lot, you'd have said it would take a miracle to make
a garden. In time and with much hard work we accomplished the impossible. Now
we have something beautiful to look at - flowers, fruits and vegetables for the
community. When people walk by, they compliment the garden. One surprised person
said 'it's magic'. So we called the garden the Magic Garden. But, in reality, the magic
is within us. 23
Connecting up the Promising Cases
These cases, and the stories of transformation that form the backbone
of this topic, are still in the minority. Yet, time is short, and the challenge
is simply enormous. The time has come to take seriously the opportunities
offered by this revolution in agricultural and food systems. There is already
promising evidence that it can work, and we should wonder: what would
be achieved if we all realized that another future is possible? The state of
the world and its communities is at stake. Sustainable agricultural and food
systems can right many wrongs; but, of course, salvation will not come
from these sources alone. Ultimately, if there is to be systemic change
centred on both individual transformations in thought and collective
changes in action, then it is a question of politics and power.
As I have indicated, everyone is in favour of the idea of sustainability,
yet few seriously go beyond fine words. Only two countries in the world,
accompanied by some progressive provinces, states or counties within
countries, have explicit national policies for sustainable agriculture to
encourage transitions in the whole landscape. There are also promising
advances within some sectors, and arising out of specific programmes in
others. Yet, such sustainable systems of food production are clearly good
for whole nations. They help to produce food in an efficient way. They
are fairer and more equitable, offering real opportunities for the hitherto
poorer and marginalized groups to lead at least reasonable lives. They help
to protect nature and the vitally important, but often hidden, services
upon which we so depend.
When governments or policy-makers hesitate, then it will be necessary
for those who believe in this vision to organize and show the strength that
comes from collective will. Most people have something to gain by
supporting a sustainable agricultural revolution. But some will feel they
have too much to lose: economic power because a product is no longer
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