[p2p-research] debate on open agriculture

Sun Jul 26 19:42:05 CEST 2009

thanks for the update!

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 12:37 AM, Samuel Rose <samuel.rose at gmail.com> wrote:

> Paul Hartzog, Richard Adler and myself are writing an open book about it
> here:
>
> http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
>
> On the most general level we are stating:
>
>
>    - Energy Commons <http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/Energy%20Commons>
>    - Food Commons <http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/Food%20Commons>
>    - Thing Commons <http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/Thing%20Commons>
>    - Cultural Commons <http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/Cultural%20Commons>
>    - Access Commons <http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/Access%20Commons>
>
>
> One of the things that we are doing as a book project is also working on
> ongoing creation of all of these types of commons. We are building open
> source fabrication technology, using it to create energy producing tech,
> working on open knowledge based food production, creating software that
> creates an "access commons" via http://flows.panarchy.com/ open
> specification, working with projects that are creating p2p cultural creation
> (existing examples include the oort-cloud.org project, authorless project
> and filmforward) So, we are practicing theorists. In the emerging system,
> we'll all be theorists and practicioners. Doesn't mean that you have to know
> and do everything, but it must be much more possible than it ever was
> before.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Hi Sam,
>>
>> do you have a clear idea of how the configuration of the new relocalized
>> but globally interconnected, food system will look like ... i.e. what are
>> the main constituent elements?
>>
>> glad to see you are making such practical progress!
>>
>> Michel
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 9:23 PM, Samuel Rose <samuel.rose at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 11:09 PM, Michel Bauwens <
>>> michelsub2004 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> As a matter of fact, Havana and Shanghai produce a majority of their
>>>> vegetables, and China's urban population meets around 85% of its
>>>> vegetable needs through rooftop and vacant lot gardening.
>>>>
>>>> Kevin,
>>>>
>>>> do you have any sources on this?
>>>>
>>>> I heard 60%, but I cannot believe that contempary shangai would still
>>>> allow this, there are hardly any rooftop gardens left ...
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> On sam's excellent food site, only available after registration, I saw
>>>> estimates that local food production could move from 5 to 25% of the food
>>>> supply but not more,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't know too much about China, so I cannot comment there but a few
>>> thoughts here:
>>>
>>>
>>> The 5-25% talked about on http://localfoodsystems.org that Michel refers
>>> to is the projected economic opportunity under *current* condtions. This is
>>> for the midwest great lakes region. Different locales could see different
>>> results under current conditions. Plus, there is a huge but overlooked long
>>> tail market of niche needs, which could easily boost that number even under
>>> current conditions, as people like
>>> http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M16461 Blue Pike Farm concentrate on
>>> meeting niche needs in urban areas. If CSA's are not in competition with
>>> each other and with industrial food importers, and instead work together to
>>> meet plural niche local needs, they can outcompete and self-sustain
>>> practically indefinitely. We also see that Open Source technology will play
>>> a huge role, especially in areas where specialty crops, aquaculture, etc are
>>> not available year round, or at all.
>>>
>>> So, there is potential beyond 5-25% under current conditions. But, this
>>> takes collaboration and cooperation among the praticipants and throughout
>>> the food chain.
>>>
>>> There are many in the agricultural industry who are convinced that
>>> current conditions will change, however. A year ago this started becoming
>>> apparent to traditional economists (
>>> http://www.econbrowser.com/archives/2008/06/more_on_degloba.html )
>>>
>>> The reality is that a globalized, subsidized food system is
>>> unsustainable. There are multiple ways in which we all subsidize global food
>>> systems. Many contries tax payers pay for deals cut between countries that
>>> allow low cost food to be imported. People in locations like China, South
>>> and Central America, Asia, and Rural North America subsidize by sacrificing
>>> their health and the health of their local environment, and the destruction
>>> of their local economies, culture, and general freedom.  The cost of fuel to
>>> ship food around, the cost in taxes to subsidize shipping lane protection
>>> and the illusion of low price, and the human social cost are enough evidence
>>> for me to be convinced that current global food systems conditions are
>>> headed towards collapse in several ways.
>>>
>>> What this means is that worldwide, local food production will *increase*
>>> substantially beyond the projections that are based on current conditions of
>>> 5-25%. Especially when people start to realize the benefits inherent in
>>> reconfiguring food production locally, and bolstering local economies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Michel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Sam Rose
>>> Social Synergy
>>> Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
>>> Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
>>> skype: samuelrose
>>> email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
>>> http://socialsynergyweb.com
>>> http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
>>> http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
>>> http://socialmediaclassroom.com
>>> http://localfoodsystems.org
>>> http://openfarmtech.org
>>> http://notanemployee.net
>>> http://communitywiki.org
>>>
>>> "Long ago, we brought you all this fire.
>>> Do not imagine we are still chained to that rock...."
>>>
>>> http://notanemployee.net/
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Working at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
>> http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html -
>> http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI
>>
>> Volunteering at the P2P Foundation:
>> http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net -
>> http://p2pfoundation.ning.com
>>
>> Monitor updates at http://del.icio.us/mbauwens
>>
>> The work of the P2P Foundation is supported by SHIFTN,
>> http://www.shiftn.com/
>>
>
>
>
> --
> --
> Sam Rose
> Social Synergy
> Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
> Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
> skype: samuelrose
> email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
> http://socialsynergyweb.com
> http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
> http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
> http://socialmediaclassroom.com
> http://localfoodsystems.org
> http://openfarmtech.org
> http://notanemployee.net
> http://communitywiki.org
>
> "Long ago, we brought you all this fire.
> Do not imagine we are still chained to that rock...."
>
> http://notanemployee.net/
>

-- 
Working at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html -
http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI

Volunteering at the P2P Foundation:
http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net -
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com

Monitor updates at http://del.icio.us/mbauwens

The work of the P2P Foundation is supported by SHIFTN,
http://www.shiftn.com/
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