Comments on: Small-scale Agriculture: A Viable Solution for China’s Food and Environmental Concerns? http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/ Tracking the emerging technological, commercial, political and social revolution that is greening China's red-hot economy. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:03:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Organic Fertilizer http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/#comment-24952 Organic Fertilizer Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:24:26 +0000 http://greenleapforward.com/?p=175#comment-24952 Great article Heather. Our environment is a system, if one of the pieces fail, the other will not function as well as they should. You are right in terms of traditionally grown food is "cheaper" because is not considering into the valuation the damage we are doing to our environment, our health, our wildlife. I believe that if organic trends become massive it will push de price down. There are also other alternatives that have been quite successful in the US, like the community gardens to support small farmers, grow your own food to do so, you don't need huge spaces, you can even do it indoors. I disagree with you about the organic produce being more susceptible to diseases because when you nurture the soil with products that have no chemicals and are promoting the organic matter, it will result in plants being stronger. Is like if you have a good and balanced diet, you are not as susceptible to suffer colds, or any other disease. Great article Heather. Our environment is a system, if one of the pieces fail, the other will not function as well as they should. You are right in terms of traditionally grown food is “cheaper” because is not considering into the valuation the damage we are doing to our environment, our health, our wildlife. I believe that if organic trends become massive it will push de price down. There are also other alternatives that have been quite successful in the US, like the community gardens to support small farmers, grow your own food to do so, you don’t need huge spaces, you can even do it indoors. I disagree with you about the organic produce being more susceptible to diseases because when you nurture the soil with products that have no chemicals and are promoting the organic matter, it will result in plants being stronger. Is like if you have a good and balanced diet, you are not as susceptible to suffer colds, or any other disease.

]]> By: Land Art Generator Initiative http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/#comment-18823 Land Art Generator Initiative Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:09:16 +0000 http://greenleapforward.com/?p=175#comment-18823 [...] are 1.2 million square kilometers of farmland in China. This is 2 1/2 times the area of solar farm required to power the world in [...] [...] are 1.2 million square kilometers of farmland in China. This is 2 1/2 times the area of solar farm required to power the world in [...]

]]> By: Flora Kan http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/#comment-7355 Flora Kan Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:32:37 +0000 http://greenleapforward.com/?p=175#comment-7355 ' There are 1.2 million square kilometers of farmland in China, with an average carbon storage capacity of 1.2 tonnes per square meter. Raising organic soil content by 1% would be the equivalent of absorbing 30.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Even if this were to take three decades, one billion tonnes of carbon could be fixed in the soil each year.” ' I am surprised by the amount of additional 30.6 billion tonnes of CO2 absorption estimated. 1.2 million km2 = 1.2 billion m2 If storage capacity is 1.2 tonnes carbon/m2 1.2 million km2 farmland in Chine will have an absorption capacity of 1.44 billion tonnes of carbon. If a conversion figure of 2.5 is used, the 1.2 million km2 farmland has an absoprtion capacity of 3.6 billion tonnes of CO2. I think there could be a typo in the article, as 1% of 3.6 billion tonnes is 36 MILLION tonnes of CO2. ‘ There are 1.2 million square kilometers of farmland in China, with an average carbon storage capacity of 1.2 tonnes per square meter. Raising organic soil content by 1% would be the equivalent of absorbing 30.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Even if this were to take three decades, one billion tonnes of carbon could be fixed in the soil each year.” ‘

I am surprised by the amount of additional 30.6 billion tonnes of CO2 absorption estimated.

1.2 million km2 = 1.2 billion m2
If storage capacity is 1.2 tonnes carbon/m2

1.2 million km2 farmland in Chine will have an absorption capacity of 1.44 billion tonnes of carbon.

If a conversion figure of 2.5 is used, the 1.2 million km2 farmland has an absoprtion capacity of 3.6 billion tonnes of CO2.

I think there could be a typo in the article, as 1% of 3.6 billion tonnes is 36 MILLION tonnes of CO2.

]]> By: March 27: PACE “Environment China” newsletter | ResponsibleChina.com: Environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in China. http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/#comment-7302 March 27: PACE “Environment China” newsletter | ResponsibleChina.com: Environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in China. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:29:17 +0000 http://greenleapforward.com/?p=175#comment-7302 [...] Small-scale agriculture: A viable solution for China’s food and environmental concerns? (The Green Leap Forward, 3/18/2009) [...] [...] Small-scale agriculture: A viable solution for China’s food and environmental concerns? (The Green Leap Forward, 3/18/2009) [...]

]]> By: Farmers fight back - Rooted http://greenleapforward.com/2009/03/18/small-scale-agriculture-a-viable-solution-for-chinas-food-and-environmental-concerns/#comment-7037 Farmers fight back - Rooted Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:58:13 +0000 http://greenleapforward.com/?p=175#comment-7037 [...] Between 2000 and 2006, China jumped from 45th to second in the world in terms of land under organic management. With farmers reporting that by retaining independence they were able to access traditional marketing channels despite increasingly integrating supply chains associated with the rise of larger industrial farming, and ultimately receive better prices. Full report found at Green Leap Forward. [...] [...] Between 2000 and 2006, China jumped from 45th to second in the world in terms of land under organic management. With farmers reporting that by retaining independence they were able to access traditional marketing channels despite increasingly integrating supply chains associated with the rise of larger industrial farming, and ultimately receive better prices. Full report found at Green Leap Forward. [...]

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