Time to grow our own fresh food, says expert
MUSCAT, January 20, 2016
The growth of the middle class, particularly in emerging economies, is driving demand for meat, eggs and dairy, increasing pressure to grow more corn and soybeans to feed more cattle and poultry, according to an expert.
By 2050, the planet will have two billion extra mouths to feed, with population not being the only reason we will need to grow more food, said Dr Nadiya Al Saady, executive director, Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (OAPGRC) and organiser of the monthly Science Café initiative.
“If these trends continue, we’ll have to double the amount of crops we grow by 2050,” she said.
In response to these developments, and supported by Oman LNG, OAPGRC recently held a Science Café session at the Sultan Qaboos University Farm on growing fruit and vegetables at home.
“Science Café attendees were shown how to grow their own fresh produce organically, no matter what skill level or how much space they have available,” remarked Dr Al Saady.
‘Organic Gardening - Time to Grow’ was a 90-minute crash course in urban agriculture, designed specifically to encourage people to think more about diet, health and the environment, said a statement.
It also covered the basics of how to grow organic edibles in the garden, patio, balcony or window-box. The focus was on what is easy to grow, how to choose what to plant and how to keep plants alive and thriving, it said.
About 54 per cent of the world’s population now live in cities, a number that is predicted to grow to 70 per cent by 2050.
More food is shipped than ever before, with most traveling an average of 2,400 - 4,000 km from farm to plate. Not only does shipping add to pollution, the seven to 10 days produce spends in transit results in spoilage waste and, as some evidence shows, decreased taste and nutrition.
“By growing what we need near where we live, we decrease the food kilometers associated with long-distance transportation. We also get the freshest produce money can buy, and we’re encouraged to eat in season,” said Dr Al Saady.
Feedback from December’s Science Café suggested that more and more people are interested in growing their own food, from school gardens to commercial farms in Muscat’s suburbs to rooftop gardens and bee-keeping, urban agriculture is popping up right across the sultanate, said the statement.
“The global recession has also increased interest in urban agriculture,” said Al Saady.
“However, I think most people are growing their own food because they believe this is a tangible way to reduce their impact on the environment and improve the quality of their diets,” she said.
Encouraging urban agriculture is an important step toward building a more sustainable food system in Oman, suggested Dr Al Saady.
“It can also contribute to Oman’s economic development by creating food-related jobs and keep more food system money within the local economy,” she added. - TradeArabia News Service
