Who Can Meet the Demand for Local Food?
As U.S. farmers (whose average age is 55) approach retirement, estimates are that over the next two decades, 400 million acres of agricultural land will be passed on to heirs or sold. Existing farms with large tracts of land, exemplified by dairies in the Northeast, are struggling with milk prices below the cost of production and are confronted with the decision to change their businesses or sell their agricultural lands, frequently to developers. The detrimental effects of farmland loss and intrusive development on environment, animal habitat, and human communities are well documented. The growing demand for locally and sustainably grown foods is providing opportunities for farm enterprises to gear up and meet it, but many farmers can’t. The Michael Fields Agriculture Institute reports that “a growing number of young people and new immigrants want to farm, but are challenged by the rising cost of farmland, a critical shortage of training, and lack of financing.” The Carrot Project’s 2
Related Questions
- Is there a food grade Potassium Bicarbonate available from Armand Products? Does your material meet American Chemical Society (ACS) and U S Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) specifications?
- Do the Astra-Glaze-SW+ facings meet Federal Agriculture (i.e. Department of Agriculture) Standards for food processing, etc.?
- Can biotechnology help meet the growing demand for food?
