FOOD SECURITY
Dilemma
Becoming environmentally responsible.
The downstream effect of environmental changes have forced scientists to develop new ways of supporting the world’s dwindling food supply. Vegetables are increasingly grown indoors, using an advanced form of growing called controlled environment agriculture. Although this method helps address food scarcity in a way that reduces water usage, pesticide and contamination (such as E. coli), the carbon emissions released while using this method are an estimated 6 times more than that of field vegetables, which in effect threatens to further warm the planet!!
Scientists and large organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are prioritizing emergency action to build and stabilize national food systems and related supply chains. Now is the time to diversify our food supply by increasing involvement in local food production utilizing regenerative agriculture methods.
Future of Food
“Now is the time to diversify our food supply chain by increasing our involvement in local food production!”
One of the most direct ways to address food security issues is focusing on home gardens and small farms – teaching more people how to farm organically.
Regenerative agriculture is an organic way of farming focusing on methods that are in harmony with nature, by serving to nourish nutrient cycles.
Back to the Future!
The future of food will require that populations across the globe return to small farms and sustainable farming approaches. We must apply advanced technologies and studies in order to restore soil and ecosystem health, leaving our land, waters and climate in better condition for future generations.
UGW’s organic farming methods are an amalgamation of various planting styles, practices, and science, such as SPIN, permaculture, and organic farming. We incorporate seed science where we look at the differing impacts on seed germination rate or the collection & analysis of harvest rate, for example.
UGW is looking at the economics of small farm production and working collaboratively to create viable small farm models, where farmers can increase production and reduce food waste & labor costs. Again we looked at how technology can be applied and incorporated into viable solutions and found F.R.U.I.T. (Food Resilient Urban Initiatives & Training).
the power to create F.R.U.I.T.
F.R.U.I.T. is UGW’s attempt at redefining modern agriculture (M.A.P.) and to collect base data on everything we do from a farming perspective. Data that can be shared with our partners, globally. This allows UGW to continue our efforts towards collectively working with farmers to collect grow data that can help them find markets, maximize profits, consolidate growing schedules, and reduce food waste by managing production for need rather than growing food as a commodity, alone. Simply put F.R.U.I.T. is a community outreach program based on engagement, education, and entrepreneurship within the food system, locally, regionally, & globally. The aim is to create viable solutions to the social determinants of health that plague marginalized communities, through partnerships with local businesses, residents, and government agencies.