ON SATURDAY NIGHT, DR. JIM IKERD, AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, SPOKE TO A CROWDED ROOM AT THE MORRIS J. WOSK CENTRE FOR DIALOGUE. HIS PRESENTATION WAS TITLED ‘THE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM IMPERATIVE’ AND HE HAD SOME STRONG WORDS ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL FARMING AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. SHANNON WATERS HAS MORE.
“Our current food system is broken. It’s fundamentally broken.” 8:32-8:38
DR. JIM IKERD BELIEVES THAT SOCIETY MUST FIND A NEW WAY TO FEED ITSELF. DR. IKERD HAS BEEN AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS AND IS INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE COSTS OF OUR CURRENT FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM. ORIGINALLY A PROPONENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD SYSTEM, DR. IKERD WORRIES ABOUT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES IN THE FUTURE. CURRENT PRACTICES ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE, HE SAYS, AND THEY MUST BE CHANGED OR FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL PAY THE PRICE.
“Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without diminishing opportunities for those of the future.” Voice 008, 8:45-8:52
DR. IKERD BELIEVES THAT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW FROM SMALL, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS FOOD CO-OPS, FARMER’S MARKETS
AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, INTO A SYSTEM THAT CAN TRULY RIVAL THE INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE ALREADY IN PLACE. BUT IT WON’T BE EASY. THE SHIFT TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WILL REQUIRE A NEW CULTURAL NORM, SAYS IKERD, ONE THAT GIVES PRIORITY TO THE VALUE OF CO-OPERATION OVER COMPETITION. AS PIE-IN-THE-SKY AS THE CAUSE MAY SEEM TO SOME, MANY IN THE ROOM ECHOED DR. IKERD’S CONVICTIONS INCLUDING HIS URGENCY. RICK KETCHESON, OF THE SEMIAHMOO FOOD NETWORK, HAD THIS TO SAY:
“I think imperative is appropriate. None of the other issues we face are even relevant unless we can feed ourselves.” VOICE010, 9:38-9:50
THERE WAS MUCH DISCUSSION AND MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE DR. IKERD BELIEVES IS SO ESSENTIAL. IKERD TOUTED THE VALUE OF HOPE AND PERSEVEARANCE IN THE FACE OF TOUGH OPPOSITION AND A LONG ROAD. AND HIS AUDIENCE APPEARED TO BE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE. THIS IS SHANNON WATERS FOR EVOLUTION 107.9 NEWS.