Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
equivalent to 7 h, and a bunch of Dutch grown flowers a whopping 24 days carbon al-
location, or more environmentally correctly, only 4 days carbon allocation for Kenyan
flowers! (Green Ration Book
2013
). Using or ignoring such data is a personal decision
but should be of concern for those wishing to improve the environment of our planet.
Ultimately, consumers (people) are presented with a dilemma when making a
purchase choice. Do I chose the more carbon friendly product that also helps to
employ many people and improve the local economic base (Kenyan roses) or do I
purchase roses grown “locally” (in the UK, or the Netherlands) at a greater carbon
cost? Another question might be do I try to consider the entire environmental foot-
print of production, where externalities such as water use and general environmen-
tal damage (as in Kenya) are increasingly known? The choice is not an obvious one,
and it is likely the vast majority of people are unaware of the issues and for those
who are, there is a lack of consistent and credible information. The worst case sce-
nario is a consumer who is dissuaded from making a flower or plant purchase at all,
based on fragmentary knowledge of these issues. Few things in life come without
costs. Flowers, fruits and vegetables are no exception.
Perhaps the decision is best summarized in the poem below (Doughty
2013
):
A Conversation Between Two Roses
“Choose me” said the white rose from Holland
“I am grown in a greenhouse, covered under special polythene
To protect me from heavy rainfall and harsh sun beams.
My soil is prepared from farmyard manure
And I am raised on a bed to make me secure.
Gravel sand at my roots to provide better drainage,
With a lush, porous soil to provide air without shortage.
Grown for six weeks I remain disease free
Avoiding desiccation through 80 % humidity!
Irrigated with acidic low-saline water,
To pitch-perfect pH and just the right moisture.
Fertilized daily for the first 13 weeks,
I dine on micronutrients until I reach my peak.
As I blossom and spread I am cut by machine
Then packaged and sprayed with protective citrine.
I have travelled by air to lie here in your store—
Nature and science combine in my core.”
“No, choose me” said the red rose of Kenya.
“I was born and matured under natural sun-rays,”
I felt the four winds' caresses throughout my days.
African workers earned money from me—
The fourth biggest export from Kenya's economy!
My only regret is flying four thousand miles
And the crystals and vapour I left in my trails.
Despite my long journey I am still young and fresh
As I kiss British nostrils with my vibrant scent.
Who needs glass-houses or strange sediment?
To traditional farming I pay testament.
Side by side the roses wait
For the customer to decide their fate.
Pondering, she picks the Kenyan rose
To delight her conscience as well as her nose.
