Food

I would love if all the food we produce in the future is done in sustainable ways that can support every human being on the planet. I believe that ecosystems are capable of feeding our growing population if we instead work with nature and provide the conditions necessary for it to thrive on our farms. This complex adaptive system (nature) can regulate itself and we can enjoy the benefits if we step back instead of forcing new innovations such as pesticides and invasive tilling practices. In order to see real change, government action is necessary to support farmers in the transition to more sustainable farming practices such as diverse perennial polycultures or biological control agents. The current legislation supports an unsustainable food production model that needs to be updated with the new knowledge that we have gained in this regard. For example, the government can make it easier for farmers to receive loans to create this new farming model, make it a requirement for farms to meet certain standards like cover crops and biological control agents or else face a fine, and remove any incentives to produce monocultures and use pesticides. Another crucial aspect is providing education on these new farming models such that farmers can implement them easier and are able to receive support from experts if novel problems come up.

On a smaller scale, there could be subsidies for people who wish to set up vegetable gardens in their yards or apartment complexes. There could be a municipal campaign to support households growing their own food and community engagement events where people can trade produce or learn from others. We can make better use of available space in our cities to supplement our diet with homegrown food.