By Krisy Gashler
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s stemmed from a catastrophic combination of economic and climate disasters, which led poor farmers in the south central U.S. to till up marginal land and forgo regenerative practices that protect long-term soil health. Recognizing the crisis, government agencies responded, supported by scientists, non-profit organizations and private actors. Among other things, they established federal crop insurance, guaranteeing farmers some financial stability in case of natural disaster, and devised incentives to encourage practices that improved soil and ecological health.
Almost 100 years later, farmers face different challenges: consolidation of smaller family farms into fewer, larger farms; policies that threaten growers’ ability to access necessary labor; tariffs jeopardizing markets and undercutting profits; and climate change increasing the frequency and severity of major weather events.
But the answers are similar, according to Miguel Gómez, faculty director for the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability: collaboration in good faith between public, private and non-profit sectors; high-quality, scientific research that supports public policies and corporate practices; and recognition that short-term profits can only be sustained by long-term investment in our natural resources.
Source : cornell.edu