Fall 1994 (v6n4)
I.A. Merwin and M. P Pritts
HortTechnology 3(2):128-136.
1993
This article presents an overview of some of the current issues affecting the sustainability of fruit production around the world. The authors note that "'sustainability' has emerged as a new paradigm by which fruit production systems and practices are judged." They define sustainable farming systems as those which conserve resources, provide adequate food and fiber, optimize crop output, and are profitable, supporting both the farmer and viable rural communities.
Fruit Production Systems
The authors examine three
systems of fruit production: traditional fruit growing and gathering,
traditional family farms, and modern fruit production systems. Traditional
fruit growing and gathering appear to be a model of sustainability, using
minimal external inputs and having endured for centuries. Some fruits,
such as Brazil nuts, are still commercially harvested this way, and people
in many parts of the world use traditional systems for subsistence. These
systems, however, do not meet the food needs of increasing human populations
and are being threatened by deforestation. Traditional family farming
operations were common until the mid-1900s. These systems were often highly
diversified, with fruit production being only one component. Modern production
systems (whether on family farms or corporate farms) tend to be more capital-intensive
and use more synthetic chemical inputs than in the past. Modern production
systems are more profitable than the traditional systems, but the demands
on today's farms are also greater. Trees must be early-bearing and fruit
must pass the scrutiny of the marketplace. In important fruit-growing
regions, the usual practice is to reestablish orchards continuously. However,
replant problems often develop with successive plantings. According to
the authors, "The ability to replant fruits successfully .. without
extensive modification is itself a good test of the sustainability of
prior production practices." With the phase-out of methyl bromide,
for example, the sustainability of fruit production in some areas is questionable
without effective substitutes.
Sustainability Issues in Fruit Production
Growing perennial fruit crops
has many advantages in resource conservation, and some modem practices
enhance agricultural sustainability. For example, tree roots, leaf litter,
and cover crops improve soil quality, especially on hillsides. Fruit crops
can also provide a relatively rich habitat for a diversity of plant and
animal species, which can aid in pest management. But fruit producers
are also faced with a number of challenges.
Because fruit crops tend
to be located on land of high value, they are often threatened by urban
and suburban sprawl. California's Central Valley is currently a major
battle ground for land and water. Unfortunately, many growers oppose protection
of land from development in order to retain the option of selling the
land for a high price. According to the authors, this is an example in
which the farming system may be sustainable, but it is unable to withstand
external socioeconomic pressures.
A significant threat to the
sustainability of modern fruit production is its extensive reliance
on pesticides and fertilizers. This reliance stems in part
from consumer demand for blemish-free fruit. Other market and regulatory
forces are discouraging agrichemical usage. The future of many pesticides
in fruit production is questionable as a result of the increased cost
of producing them, stricter regulations, and rapid development of biochemical
resistance to pesticides. Fungicides may be hardest hit, as many will
be banned with stricter enforcement of the "Delaney Clause."
The loss of fungicides will likely favor fruit production in drier areas,
such as in California. However, this concentration will require that water
be available and that fossil fuels and transportation remain inexpensive
to supply distant markets.
Lastly, genetic resources
are critical to the long-term sustainability of fruit crops. Yet germplasm
throughout the world is being threatened by human population pressures.
Among the fruit crops considered most at risk are apple, avocado, coconut,
mango, and pear. Because of market pressures, genetically improved cultivars
often replace valuable landraces at the centers of origin for many crops,
further eroding the genetic pool. Germplasm repositories and collections
contain only a small fraction of the existing genetic diversity. For some
fruits, the only truly effective way to conserve genetic resources is
to protect large areas of land from development at the centers of origin.
"Sustainable farming in any one country is thus intimately tied to
the well-being of other countries, and acknowledging this fact is perhaps
the biggest challenge facing the sustainable farming movement."
New Paradigms in Horticulture
A primary goal in modern
fruit production has been to increase yields per unit of land and labor.
The authors point out that this paradigm is giving way to a new one, i.e.,
reducing environmental impacts and the use of external inputs, even at
the cost of reduced productivity. "The new agricultural paradigm
is holistic, emphasizing process as well as product, and quality more
than quantity." This shift coincides with a recognition that our
low food and fiber prices have not accounted for the true costs in farming
as a result of "hidden" government subsidies such as low energy
costs.
Reviewer's Comments
Two of the issues discussed
in this article are particularly relevant to California.
Water. Low annual
rainfall (particularly in recent drought years), a growing urban and suburban
population, and increasing recreational and environmental demands mean
that less water is available for irrigating crops. Up to this point, annual
crop growers have borne the brunt of the water shortage by removing land
from production. But some orchards, while remaining alive, have lost vigor
and production from insufficient water or irregular watering schedules.
In response, farmers are relying more on groundwater sources and are pumping
it faster than it is being recharged, a clearly unsustainable practice.
Technical developments (e.g., maximizing irrigation efficiency, low-volume
irrigation systems) offer only a partial solution. Political action based
on dialog among the various stakeholders is also needed. (See review of
land and water use reports below.)
Pesticides. Pesticide
use continues to be at the forefront of concerns expressed in the marketplace
and through the legislative process. In addition, many pests have developed
biochemical resistance to pesticides, leading some growers to implement
"resistance management." With the problems surrounding agrichemicals,
a logical approach is to continue to work toward the development of nonchemical
alternatives, resistant cultivars, and more biologically integrated cropping
systems.
For more information write
to: Dept. of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Cornell University, Ithaca,
NY 14853.
(CI-SUST.108)
Contributed by Chuck Ingels
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