A Brief History of Agriculture Through Agricultural Philosophies.
The Philosophies That Build Agriculture
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This week we are talking about the history of agriculture and also about some of those philosophers who discussed Ag.
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Who were some of the main philosophers of agriculture?
Despite the fact that agriculture has been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years, the area of philosophy that is especially concerned with agriculture and its wider ramifications is fairly specialized. Nevertheless, some well-known philosophers and intellectuals have discussed agricultural issues and ideologies. Here are a few illustrations:
Greek philosopher and historian Xenophon (c. 430–354 BCE) wrote much about agriculture and rural life. His writings, such as "On Hunting," "On Horsemanship," and "Economics," covered a variety of topics related to farming, animal husbandry, and the administration of agricultural estates.
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826): Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and a politician, first and foremost, had a keen interest in agriculture. He regarded himself as a farmer-philosopher and held that the growth of an upright society depended on the agricultural sector. In his publications, especially his book "Notes on the State of Virginia," Thomas Jefferson explored small-scale farming, environmental management, and agricultural techniques.
An early proponent of, and called the father of, organic farming is Sir Albert Howard (1873–1947), a British agronomist and botanist. His work "An Agricultural Testament" emphasized the value of organic matter incorporation into farming operations, soil fertility, and sustainable agriculture. The organic farming movement was founded on Howard's work, impacting later philosophers and practitioners.
Biodynamics
“Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. Biodynamics was created in the 1920s by Dr. Rudolph Steiner as a means to combine scientific practices and the spirit of nature”. (Biodynamics.com) Steiner’s teachings are still active today, not only in farming but also in teaching methods (Steiner/Waldorf Schools).
Nature Farming
means “saving the world through natural or organic farming methods”(Parr et al. 1989). It is a physical approach to farming versus a scientific approach. Nature Farming was created by Mokichi Okada in 1936 to treat soils with respect. Okada’s followers formed two groups: Mokichi Okada Association (MOA) and Sekai Kyusei Kyo (SKK), which continue his work today. Since the leader of a religious organization started it, it also has a very spiritual approach.
“In practice, synthetic chemicals and raw waste from animals without treatment are prohibited as fertilizers or soil amendments for crop production. Composts from plant materials are recommended. This is the main difference with the principles of organic farming, which allows the use of animal manure, untreated or composted.” (Hui-Lian Xu)
Wendell Berry, an American writer, poet, and farmer, was born in 1934. He has made substantial contributions to the philosophy of farming and rural living. His articles investigate the links between farming, society, and the environment. Berry criticizes the industrialized food system and promotes the value of stewardship and cultural preservation while arguing for sustainable and regional farming methods.
Korean Nature Farming
KNF was created in the 1960s by Dr. Cho Han Kyu. He is said to want to teach or provide tools for farmers so they would be able to produce their inputs to have better performance and cut costs. Essentially, he combined common practices of fermentations from Korea into farming practices. The teachings promote the use of indigenous microorganisms IMOs). IMOs are microbes collected from around the farm, cultured, and applied to soil and plants. This process requires training. However, when done properly, it should be effective in performance and cost savings.
Effective Microorganisms® (EM®)
Dr. Teruo Higa, a professor of horticulture, in the 1960s, discovered EM®. Dr. Higa’s philosophy was to decrease the farmers’ dependence on chemicals by using mixed cultures of microbes he called Effective Microorganisms.
Permaculture
The words "permanent" and "agriculture" are combined in the term "permaculture," which was developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s to underline its emphasis on long-term sustainability. Permaculture aims to develop self-sufficient, sustainable systems that are fashioned after natural ecosystems. Permaculture is an ecological design philosophy.
At its core, permaculture promotes regenerative techniques that support biodiversity, soil health, water conservation, and community resilience in order to integrate human settlements and agricultural systems in harmony with nature. It goes beyond conventional agriculture by including more extensive design elements, social dynamics, and ethical considerations.
Dr. Elaine Ingham and Compost Tea
The famous soil biologist and environmental microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham is recognized for her work on soil health and the function of microorganisms in ecosystems. Developing and promoting compost tea is one of her most important contributions to sustainable agriculture.
Elaine Ingham's research emphasizes understanding the intricate web of microorganisms found in healthy soils and their critical function in nutrient cycling, disease prevention, and plant health. She highlights how crucial it is to maintain a balance in the soil microbiome in order to foster the development of beneficial organisms and build an ecosystem that fosters plant life.
Regenerative Farming
It seemed to have come from nowhere and was the focus of a 2020 Kiss The Ground movie. Robert Rodale coined the term in 1989. (Rodale.com) Regenerative farming comes from an environmental viewpoint but makes sense in many ways. The focus is carbon. Fixing carbon. Sequestering carbon. Preventing carbon loss. By focusing on carbon, the direction can be to prevent climate change or global warming. It combines Nature Farming, organic farming, and sustainable farming. No-tillage, minimum tillage (maybe strip-till), and building healthy soil all help to prevent the loss of organic matter or carbon. Growing cover crops keeps soil where it should be and helps pump carbon into it through photosynthesis. This builds soil and prevents carbon loss due to erosion (washing away or blowing away soil). Keeping plants on the soil at all times also keeps temperatures down, as covered soil is always cooler than bare soil.
In addition to the extensive use of cover crops, animals are rotated to feed on and fertilize the cover crops. There is a science to the grazing techniques used. Gabe Brown, in his book Dirt To Soil, mentions learning of grazing techniques called “mob grazing” and learning from Alan Savory at the Savory Institute about regenerating land through grazing cattle. (Brown, 2018)
Aiming to stabilize agricultural markets, give farmers financial support, and ensure food security, government support programs for agriculture were introduced, particularly in the 20th century.
The creation and spread of high-yield crop types and a rise in the use of fertilizers and irrigation were all part of the Green Revolution, mostly between the 1940s and the 1960s. The Green Revolution considerably raised food production on a global scale and was instrumental in feeding an expanding population.
The growth of scientific and agricultural research institutions, such as agricultural universities and research organizations, facilitated agricultural methods' breakthroughs. The application of biotechnology, advancements in our knowledge of plant genetics, and scientific discoveries have all propelled agricultural innovation.
Agroecology and sustainable agriculture have become more popular due to environmental concerns and the realization of the detrimental effects of intensive agricultural methods. These methods strongly emphasized the value of ecological harmony, preserving biodiversity, soil health, and lowering chemical inputs.
The world's growing interconnection and the globalization of agricultural markets caused changes in farming practices and trading patterns. Agricultural production and distribution dynamics changed as large-scale commercial agriculture, agribusinesses, and supply chain integration spread.
The cultural trend for locally and organically grown food has fueled the expansion of organic farming and the development of organic certification requirements. Organic agriculture's main goals are natural inputs, biodiversity preservation, and eco-friendly procedures.
Summary
In recent years, attention has been drawn to the growth of agricultural practices intended to mitigate and adapt to climate change, such as climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. These strategies place a higher priority on carbon sequestration, resilient land use, and sustainable land management.
Farming processes are still changing due to the growing integration of digital technologies, data analytics, and precision agriculture instruments. Farmers may monitor and improve various aspects of their operations, including irrigation, fertilizer, and pest control, using farm management software, remote sensing, drones, and IoT devices.
It is important to note that broader philosophical fields like environmental philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy frequently examine the interface between philosophy and agriculture. Many philosophers have studied issues linked to agriculture, sustainability, and interactions between humans and nature without being specifically identified as philosophers of agriculture.
Food security, climate change, soil degradation, and water shortages are just a few of the modern agriculture issues that have sparked continuing research and innovation initiatives to create resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
These contributions give the advances and trends in agriculture a broader perspective, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the industry and the ongoing attempts to handle new problems and opportunities.
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