Claiborne Beurle is a summer intern for OneGreenThing. She is going into her second year at the University of North Carorlina at Chapel Hill, which she will spend in Paris at Sciences Po, and completed a summer study abroad program this month. Below she shares how a farm trip to a Greek island expanded her perspective on sustainable agriculture.
How can we farm sustainably in the face of climate change? As weather becomes more unpredictable, farms are hard hit. One farm, on the Greek islands of Paros, is setting an example for what it looks like to grow sustainably.
Petra Farm is sticking to their commitment to sustainability despite the unpredictability that climate change is bringing with it. I took a tour of Petra Farm this past June, where they grow oregano, figs, capers, lavender, grapes, olives, pomegranates, and much more. Paros terrain is arid, there are few plants that grow without irrigation and the land is mostly brown. Despite the dry climate, at Petra Farm 80% of crops are non irrigated, meaning that in years where the rain is abundant, so are the crops, but on years like this one, limited rainfall means limited crop yield. Of the 20% that are irrigated, they use drip irrigation, the most water-effective form of irrigation.
With such limited water comes creative solutions. Common practices, like trellising wine grapes, actually depletes shade, something non irrigated vines cannot afford to do. Terraced land is almost a necessity -- the sloping hills of the island aren’t conducive to water infiltration in soil, and they cause erosion. These small changes add up.
All the plants on the farm can, actually, grow without any water -- they just might now be very productive. This year, the olives are an example of a crop not doing so well. The olive trees are reliant on the annual rainfall, which this year was limited. One crop that thrives without the rain; though; is oregano.
Following our farm tour, we ate lunch, tasting products the farm produces. Understanding the work and time that goes into each crop, how many olive trees go into one bottle of olive oil, and how long the capers take to be harvested, made the food even more delicious. I noticed in Greece, many people seemed to have a greater respect and appreciation for the work that goes into the food they eat. This seems to result in not only more delicious food, but also less food waste.
Sustainable farming is difficult, for the time it takes to transition to sustainable practices, the impact of change in crop yield, and the cost, but it is certainly possible.
This led me to wonder what sustainable farming and agriculture looks like in the US.
The agriculture industry accounts for about a quarter of global emissions and is thus an essential part of addressing in the context of climate change. According to McKinsey, many US farmers are aware of sustainable practices but are only implementing them on a small portion of their land -- This includes practices like planting cover crops for water retention and nutrients in soil, using biochar as a fertilizer, and on-site renewable energy. (McKinsey)
Although it is certainly challenging and slow coming, there are initiatives and incentives for sustainable agriculture. The Inflation Reducuction act of 2022, for example, set aside $18 million for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. This money will go to USDA programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. (Senate Agriculture)
The Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities, for example, is a $3.1 billlion grant program administered by the USDA. This grant program “hopes to convince farmers and ranchers to adopt practices that will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in the ground.” Interestingly, another key point is that it “seeks to make amends for a century of discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the grants” (Food & Environment Reporting Network)
These programs offer hope for the future of agriculture. It is certainly possible for Americans to practice sustainable farming practices, and it is becoming necessary that they do. If a small farm on a dry Greek Island with an average rainfall of 12.24 inches (Weathermondo) , I firmly believe that we can do the same. For reference, Los Angeles has an average of 14.25 inches (abc7), and Charlotte, NC has an average rainfall of 41.63 inches (WCNC).
Change is possible -- and I’m excited to see what the next decade brings for sustainable agriculture.
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