Youth and agriculture: What if we change?

By
30 March 2014

The current food system is exploiting the ignorance of consumers, while maintaining an old-fashioned image of the farmer. But this is changing, says young columnist Pavlos Georgiadis, as he explains how alternative systems for producing, distributing and appreciating food are advancing.

The problem with today’s world is that most people are afraid of diversity, and this is also true for food. This leads people to limit themselves to a very narrow spectrum of food choices. There are simply too many people who are afraid of eating snails, playing with a spider or even getting their hands dirty in the garden. Add to this the expensive commercial advertisements for fast and industrially-processed food and you understand how we have created a food system where 70% of the planet’s resources are used to feed 30% of the population. Not to mention the tons of food wasted on a daily basis under current production and consumption patterns.

This food system is exploiting the ignorance and apathy of consumers, while maintaining an old-fashioned and almost decadent image of the farmer. Fast profit is the major driver for mainstream agriculture, and frozen dinners, synthetic biology and big machinery seem to be the only ways to achieve success. This might sound exaggerated, however the sad truth today is that only 6% of European farmers are under the age of 35. Farming and rural lifestyles are not attractive to young people, and for those who do want to start farming, accessing land and starting a farm is a huge challenge.

But this is changing! Since the economic crisis hit home in 2008, a new mentality is emerging. More and more people understand that business as usual is not an option anymore. Agriculture and its role in shaping landscapes, cultures and diets in everyday life is now more widely recognised and appreciated. There are more and more people who wish to enjoy their food in a conscious, responsible and ethical manner. There is a new role and co-responsibility for everyone involved in the food supply chain, from producers, transformers, traders and chefs, to the final consumer.

The advent of alternative systems for producing, distributing and appreciating food creates opportunities for everyone. In this rapidly transforming field of food, new technologies and social networking are enabling farmers and companies to operate responsibly, offering services that deliver advantages to the land and social benefits for everyone, connecting food with agriculture and the land with the plate. Knowledge, creativity, aesthetics, talent, time, credibility, even Facebook “likes” become the new currency in this new economy, which might prove very powerful in restoring and conserving the world’s eroding agrobiodiversity.

Pavlos Georgiadis

Pavlos Georgiadis (32) is a Greek ethnobotanist, author and organic olive grower. He is the producer of the award-winning videoblog “Farming on Crisis?” Visit vimeo.com/foodpolitics or follow his tweets on @geopavlos.
E-mail: pablo810@hotmail.com