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== Background ==
== Background ==
In natural ecosystems, soil over thousands of years old builds up as a mixture of biomass accumulated through the life and death of countless organisms, and also the breakdown of geological features in what is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomorphology geomorphology]. Current industrial practices were empowered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug Normal Borlaug]'s effort while at the Rockerfeller Foundation in the 50s to put forward a "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution Green Revolution]. The Green Revolution led to the rapid industrialization of agriculture. This included the injection of industrial chemicals for fertilizers and pesticides, homogenized see varieties and mass production, mechanized farming practices. While providing dramatic short term gains in production, over the long term these innovations led the rapid degradation of natural systems that build and sustain fertile lands.  
In natural ecosystems, soil over thousands of years old builds up as a mixture of biomass accumulated through the life and death of countless organisms, and also the breakdown of geological features in what is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomorphology geomorphology]. Current industrial practices were empowered by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug Normal Borlaug]'s effort while at the Rockerfeller Foundation in the 50s to put forward a "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution Green Revolution]. The Green Revolution led to the rapid industrialization of agriculture. This included the injection of industrial chemicals for fertilizers and pesticides, homogenized see varieties and mass production, mechanized farming practices. While providing dramatic short term gains in production, over the long term these innovations led the rapid degradation of natural systems that build and sustain fertile lands.


== A Paradigm Shift & the Future of Farming? ==
== A Paradigm Shift & the Future of Farming? ==
Often though the debate is quite narrow in that ecologists and industrialists debate about whether or not organic farming can sustain current production levels. What is still ignored in the mainstream (on both extremes of the agricultural debate) is that a paradigm shift is emerging that is moving humanity (whether it likes or not) away from conventional land based food production systems that require large amounts of land and heavy machinery (in order for the farms to be economically viable).  
Often though the debate is quite narrow in that ecologists and industrialists debate about whether or not organic farming can sustain current production levels. What is still ignored in the mainstream (on both extremes of the agricultural debate) is that a paradigm shift is emerging that is moving humanity (whether it likes or not) away from conventional land based food production systems that require large amounts of land and heavy machinery (in order for the farms to be economically viable).


== What is Biointensive Farming? ==
== What is Biointensive Farming? ==
While the word Bio-Intensive Farming is primarily attributed to Ecology Action's John Jevons because he has used the word as part of his trademarked [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Jeavons&action=edit&redlink=1 GrowBio-intensive growing system]]. However a larger movement using similar practices has also developed around the idea of developing organic farming practices to yield a high level of productivity from a small amount of land and doing so using primarily human labor.
While the word Bio-Intensive Farming is primarily attributed to Ecology Action's John Jevons because he has used the word as part of his trademarked [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Jeavons&action=edit&redlink=1 GrowBio-intensive growing system]]. However a larger movement using similar practices has also developed around the idea of developing organic farming practices to yield a high level of productivity from a small amount of land and doing so using primarily human labor.


An alternative to conventional farming has emerged that includes what are termed  
An alternative to conventional farming has emerged that includes what are termed  
* Bio-intensive [[permaculture]], [[growbiointensive]], [[agroecology]], [[biodynamic]] farming practices optimize natural systems using organic, [[poly-culture]] food growing practices, so that small gardens can rival the productivity of large scale corporate farming monocultures.  
* Bio-intensive [[permaculture]], [[growbiointensive]], [[agroecology]], [[biodynamic]] farming practices optimize natural systems using organic, [[poly-culture]] food growing practices, so that small gardens can rival the productivity of large scale corporate farming monocultures.  
* Water based Integrated Farming Systems use digesters to process animal, plant and agro-industrial waste and then use hydraulic principles of water to optimize the growing process and may include aquaponics and pond-based agricultural systems.  
* Water based [[Integrated Farming]] Systems use digesters to process animal, plant and agro-industrial waste and then use hydraulic principles of water to optimize the growing process and may include aquaponics and pond-based agricultural systems.


== Common Attributes of Bio-Intensive Farming ==
== Common Attributes of Bio-Intensive Farming ==

Revision as of 13:21, 4 April 2009

Biointensive Farming is referred to in WikiPedia as:

"The biointensive method is an organic agricultural system which focuses on maximum yields from the minimum area of land, while simultaneously improving the soil. The goal of the method is long term sustainability on a closed system basis. It has also been used successfully on small scale commercial farms."

Background

In natural ecosystems, soil over thousands of years old builds up as a mixture of biomass accumulated through the life and death of countless organisms, and also the breakdown of geological features in what is called geomorphology. Current industrial practices were empowered by Normal Borlaug's effort while at the Rockerfeller Foundation in the 50s to put forward a "Green Revolution. The Green Revolution led to the rapid industrialization of agriculture. This included the injection of industrial chemicals for fertilizers and pesticides, homogenized see varieties and mass production, mechanized farming practices. While providing dramatic short term gains in production, over the long term these innovations led the rapid degradation of natural systems that build and sustain fertile lands.

A Paradigm Shift & the Future of Farming?

Often though the debate is quite narrow in that ecologists and industrialists debate about whether or not organic farming can sustain current production levels. What is still ignored in the mainstream (on both extremes of the agricultural debate) is that a paradigm shift is emerging that is moving humanity (whether it likes or not) away from conventional land based food production systems that require large amounts of land and heavy machinery (in order for the farms to be economically viable).

What is Biointensive Farming?

While the word Bio-Intensive Farming is primarily attributed to Ecology Action's John Jevons because he has used the word as part of his trademarked [GrowBio-intensive growing system]. However a larger movement using similar practices has also developed around the idea of developing organic farming practices to yield a high level of productivity from a small amount of land and doing so using primarily human labor.

An alternative to conventional farming has emerged that includes what are termed

  • Bio-intensive permaculture, growbiointensive, agroecology, biodynamic farming practices optimize natural systems using organic, poly-culture food growing practices, so that small gardens can rival the productivity of large scale corporate farming monocultures.
  • Water based Integrated Farming Systems use digesters to process animal, plant and agro-industrial waste and then use hydraulic principles of water to optimize the growing process and may include aquaponics and pond-based agricultural systems.

Common Attributes of Bio-Intensive Farming

These systems are more productive than conventional agriculture because they are designed to complement and synergize naturally occurring processes by:

  • Maximizing the uptake/sequestration of gases (mainly carbon and nitrogen) from the atmosphere.
  • Creating synergistic loops within the growing ecosystem that lead to a permaculture type design that modifies natural ecosystems but augments (rather than obliterating them as industrialized agriculture does) making selective changes that optimize production.
  • Adding potent natural and organics fertilizers such as mineralized water and compost teas to maximize beneficial microbial that plants need to grow rapidly.

Online Resources (for further research):

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