From supply chain issues to resource unavailability, mainstream food production has problems. Securing food, regardless of affordability, is something many people are thinking about for the first time. The empty store shelves we saw in spring 2020 could have been considered a temporary glitch as it came sudden and as a surprise. But the ongoing price hikes and supply chain issues present long-term concerns.
Here is what we should be doing, from producers to consumers, to have more food security:
1. Production based on biology, not mechanics.
The industry today relies on non-living things like chemical fertilizers rather than on living things like microbes. The further a farm moves away from living things, the more vulnerable it is to distribution and resource disruptions. Soils alive with biological fertilizers do not have to depend on inputs from around the world. If your food comes from compost instead of chemicals, you will have a much more secure supply.
2. Less machinery and more nature.
We should use techniques that enable us to produce more with less machinery. That reduces energy usage, depreciation and replacement costs.
3. Regional sourcing.
We should by agriculture products (fruit, juices, vegetables, milk and grains etc.) from local farmers and as much supply as possible. We know the farm where the products are coming from.
4. More self-sufficiency.
You can reduce your dependency by growing some of your own food or join skilled friends. Lots of food can be grown in tiny spaces. Use your garden, allotment, roof or patio to grow things. They will be far more nutritious.
While this is not a comprehensive recipe, it offers some small steps out of the insecurity and dependence that dominates our industrial food system. Start today and enjoy.
Sven Franssen