Agroecology challenges the dogma of the trade-off between increasing yields and decreasing environmental burdens
Dr Alik Pelman, Technion
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Agroecology challenges the dogma of the trade-off between increasing yields and decreasing environmental burdens
Dr Alik Pelman, Technion
Abstract
Industrial farming was initially designed to produce high yields through water and synthetic fertilizer inputs that have environmental consequences, as is evident by the fragmentation of pristine habitats, large land and water resource usage and resulting air, land and water pollution. Consequently, it is perceived that there is a trade-off between increasing yield and environmental impacts and that nature-based agroecological food systems with very low inputs compromise yields. Through examining the nutritional supply and conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of an agroecological farm, and comparing it to local industrial farming, we provide further evidence that challenges this line of thought. In comparison to average conventional agriculture in Israel, we find that the agroecological farm produces a more nutritionally-dense crop basket (nutrients per mass unit) with considerably less environmental impacts due to a more optimal crop portfolio as well as land-saving practices such as inter-cropping
Bio
Dr. Pelman is Research Fellow in humanities at the Technion and senior lecturer at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. He works mainly on the philosophy of science, environmental thinking, metaphysics, and philosophy of language. Dr. Pelman holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of London (UCL), where he received a full scholarship. He has published his work in Q1 philosophy journals such as Analysis, Ratio, Journal of Consciousness Studies, Metaphysica, and Acta Analytica. He is also the author of the books Philosophy of Science (3 volumes, commissioned by Open University Press), and Way – Reflections on the Art of Living (Asia Publishers) – which has gained wide media coverage. Living in the Galilee, Alik’s home is an eco-hut that he built himself from natural local materials. There, he runs a small self-sufficient farm, that has been the subject of a recent international scientific study together with Dr. Alon Shepon
Alon Shepon
The Department of Environmental Studies
The Porter School of the Environment and Earth Science
Tel Aviv University | website
The Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
