During this 21st century, the world is facing the challenge of (sufficient) production and (adequate) distribution of resources such as food, water, energy and, one may add, culture and education.
In a 2013 conference[1], experts in sustainable agriculture came to the conclusion that a transition from conventional monoculture-based industrial production towards a mosaic of regenerative production was a possible solution to today’s unbalanced food distribution by empowering local farmers. It should also help increasing productivity (when properly evaluated) and reducing the emissions of Greenhouse gases[2]. This reminds of the trends we are seeing today in energy supply –particularly electrical – with a growing number of small decentralized producers of renewables being integrated in distribution grids.
Such decentralized approach might further reduce environmental impacts by fostering a thought process of traditional mountain societies. Werner Bätzing[3] describes it as “a production oriented towards reproduction” – concept slightly different from sustainability. It means adapting nature to give it the necessary stability (for human settlements) that it does not normally present. This requires however an active responsibility of society towards its environment and a heavy workload to maintain the stability.
To some extent this is returning to an ancient model, though with the improvement of a worldwide fast and efficient communication web. Centralized production will never be totally excluded. But a proper balance has to be found. New questions arise of course: how to ensure supply? Energy, food or water has to be guaranteed with a very high level of confidence. How to ensure quality? Quality standards might suffer. These issues are hot topics in electrical networks – they are being solved today – as well as in the food supply chain and necessitate research as well as political commitment.
[1] Trade and environment review 2013. Wake up before it is too late. Make agriculture truly sustainable now for food security in a changing climate. UNCTAD, United Nations, Geneva, 2013.
[2] According to some estimates, the global food system is responsible for 50% of total Greenhouse Gas emissions.
[3] Die Alpen. Geschichte und Zukunft einer europäischen Kulturlandschaft. Werner Bätzing. C.H. Beck verlag, 2015.