El pasado seis de octubre tuvimos la ocasión de conocer de primera mano el proyecto de custodia de Connecta Natura. Se trata de un grupo de parcelas de cultivo de varios tipos de frutales, ubicado junto al pueblo abandonado de El Jinquer, en el actual…
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There is a
growing awareness on climate change (thanks to young
activists like Greta), going hand in hand with the gradual declaration
of Climate Emergency across the world’s cities, regions and countries. In this
context, it is time to rethink our role as citizens in the great challenges of
our times.
Specifically,
today we will discuss how more sustainable food systems can help fighting
climate change and – at the same time – support rural societies.
What is the
link between our food systems, climate change, and the rural world?
Eating is one
of the most basic activities of our daily lives. We eat multiple times a day,
and the food consumed causes certain impacts, both environmental and social,
depending on factors such as the production model, the distance
between producer and consumer, levels of waste, and the season.
So, there’s a
big sustainability difference between consuming a cheese produced by shepherds
whose goats graze under cork oaks in the Sierra de Espadán, and an orange
produced through monoculture and out of season in South Africa.
We tend to
choose the cheapest food, which unfortunately rarely matches what is most
environmentally sustainable or socially just. The first example, of extensive
livestock grazing in the Espadán, is a product of proximity, produced in
harmony with the natural environment, supporting the local economy and giving
rise to multiple ecosystem services (such as the maintenance of biodiversity,
prevention of forest fires and conservation of attractive landscapes). Its
environmental impact is low, and allows rural inhabitants to earn an income
without having to move to the city, thus avoiding rural depopulation. Here
you have a very interesting video from the University of Vic, explaining more
about the benefits of extensive livestock.
In contrast,
the example of South African oranges reflects a product from far away,
requiring colossal quantities of water, fertilizers, pesticides and energy for
its production and transport, and causes an enormous environmental impact
through an intensive use of resources. Moreover, it does not benefit society:
on one hand, the multinationals keep most of the profit, not the South African
producers themselves, and, on the other hand, it negatively affects the
traditional and local producers in Valencia by creating unfair competition with
the lower prices. In other words, it negatively affects the Spanish
countryside, leading (among others) to the abandonment of traditional
activities. Here
is an article telling more about the issue.
So, what can I do to fight climate
change – and the challenges of the rural world – through my food choices?
There are many articles explaining
how to fight climate change through food choices (look for example at this
very useful article) but they rarely relate to the rural world. Fortunately, it
is based on very similar principles because, after all, true
environmental sustainability is linked to social justice. Here we share three
tips that you can start applying immediately to your daily diet:
Buy local or kilometre 0products. To give
you a few examples, you can buy them through local product/craft markets,
direct sales by producers, or initiatives such as SlowFood and Venda de
Proximitat.
Consume products with distinctive labels showing their environmental
and social commitment, such as those products produced ecologically or in
certain territories (such as Parcs Naturals
de la Comunitat Valenciana), play a key role in preventing
forest fires (such as Ramats de Foc), or even promote coexistence
with large carnivores (such as Pastando con Lobos).
If you want to eat animal products, make sure they are
produced extensively. There are two very interesting initiatives, DeYerba
and QueRed
with maps so you can find meat and dairy producers from extensive farming
systems.
To end, we
share this phrase to reflect upon: «every time you spend money, you are
casting a vote for the kind of world you want» (Anna Lappe). Every
time you buy a local product, produced sustainably and by rural people, you are
not only creating a smaller ecological footprint. You are also helping farmers,
shepherds, and small producers to obtain an income allowing them to have a
decent life in rural areas.
Isabeau
Ottolini, Environmental Scientist, October 2019.