Introduction
The growing shortages in food supplies, rapid climate change and increasing awareness of environment stewardship has all made eco farms an increasingly viable option. By reversing environmental deterioration, supporting local communities and balancing out community-ecosystem-market relations ("Solution: an eco-farming revolution," n.d.), eco farms are gradually replacing conventional forms of agricultural production, particularly as factory agri-products are becoming subject to mounting pressure not only from environmental groups but also from consumers growing more disillusioned by a combination of unhealthy products, price hikes and environmental damage. True, biotech industry appears to inform adoption of GM foods for international expansion and profit purposes (Kurzer & Cooper, 2007). However, benefits of eco-farms far outweigh harms, if any. Therefore, in order to better recognize proven benefits of eco farms, a closer examination of specific modes of production, resource management strategies and biodiversity maintenance of local ecosystems is required. For current purposes, a hypothetical eco farm, Eco Prairie, is designed. The farm's location, resources, modes of introduction, capabilities and limitations are areas explained in further detail in subsequent sections. This paper aims, hence, to emphasize potential benefits of eco farms by featuring Eco Prairie as a model design eco farm in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Eco Prairie: Basic Design
The proposed Eco Prairie is, unlike a regular pattern (i.e. mutli-generational) of eco farms, is a first generation farm. The farm is a project launched by a North Dakota native group of social, environmentally-friendly entrepreneurs who, in response to growing concerns of deteriorating soil conditions and increasingly dispersing buffalo population, has decided to create Eco Prairie in Bismarck. If anything, grassland has been a historical feature of not only North Dakota but also of North America in general. This distinctive, ecological feature is, however, subject to growing risks of deforestation by aggressive development activities, declining buffalo populations and rapidly changing climate conditions (Samson & Knopf, 1994). By creating Eco Prairie, however, a reversal of deteriorating ecological conditions is achievable. Fundamentally, Eco Prairie is apt to maintain, if not reverse, current ecological conditions by raising cattle, pigs and hens on farmland. By foraging organically on grassland – deemed natural carbon sinks (Samson & Knopf) – raised stock would help conserve eroding grasslands.
Eco Prairie: Soil
Given current soil conditions in Bismarck, North Dakota – conditions which are, in fact, prevailing in monoculture agriculture production mode – Eco Prairie should adopt a polyculture production mode, as is increasingly being adopted in eco ranches in or close to Bismarck ("The Power of Diversity," n.d.). To diversify crop portfolio, Eco Prairie can opt for proven soil-enriching crops as Corn, wheat, sunflowers, alfalfa, oats, triticale, hairy vetch and peas ("The Power of Diversity"). In so doing, not only land's yield improves in quality but also, more significantly, building organic matter back into soil.
Eco Prairie: Human and Non-Human Resources
Eco Prairie is, as noted, an entrepreneurial projects by social visionaries. This makes Eco Prairie of distinct nature, offering opportunities and posing challenges (discussed in further detail in next section). Being a "green field" project, Eco Prairie is owned and managed by entrepreneurs not necessarily living on farmland, unlike similar eco farms run my families over generations. The farm can, in fact, be managed by setting up a rotational residency structure by which one or more entrepreneurs reside for a preset, specified period to oversee farming activities (e.g. seed supply, regular movement of stock for foraging and sheltering) on a more regular basis. The day-to-day operations can be carried out by local hands and/or interns (particularly during summer seasons) from University of North Dakota (UND). Since Eco Prairie is located in a predominantly grassland region and no logging operations are planned in hinterland (at least currently), no major resources are allocated for machinery.
Eco Prairie: Capabilities and Limitations
Given farm's location, at borderline between U.S. and Canada, Eco Prairie has a huge marketing potential to market farm products not only for local community in Bismarck but also in Ontario, Canada, an area best known for eco farming practices. Further, being situated, locally, amid similar eco farms ("Pastured Products Directory - North Dakota," n.d.), Eco Prairie can collaborate with community farms in order to drive mutual benefits. Mainly, by experimenting with different crops, Bismarck eco farms can adopt most optimum crops for each parcel. Further, by forming a regional network of eco farms, Eco Prairie can better market her products in local, regional and international fairs. Probably, one most important value proposition Eco Prairie can offer in Bismarck and beyond is enriching local and regional biotic ecosystem by enabling buffalos, an endangered species, to graze on farmland. This unique edge (provided necessary state and federal permissions are granted) combines multiple ecological advantages namely, enriching biotic life, protecting an endangered species, improving soil quality and, not least, reclaiming (at least partially) organic relationships lost over decades by excessive urbanization, deforestation and intended harm for indigenous populations (feeding on bisons).
On flipside, Eco Prairie is subject to unpredictable weather conditions, particularly storms and droughts. These weather conditions, combined by mounting pressures from biotech industry (Kurzer & Cooper), are apt to minimize marketability of Eco Prairie products. Further, since Eco Prairie is run rotationally (as opposed to family ownership and management model of similar farms), day-to-day operational activities might not be well managed. The enterprenial aspect of Eco Prairie might, as well, subject founders to mounting pressure (by biotech companies and in a lesser degree by established multi-generation eco farms, making closing shop a possible option.
The Big Picture
Overall, Eco Prairie represents a substantial regeneration potential in North Dakota. By combining benefits of ecological regeneration, endangered species protection and offering much healthier product offerings, Eco Prairie adds value to local community. This value should, if anything, be well embedded in proper legal frameworks ensuring eco farming assumes a deserved place in current food production ecosystem.
References
Kurzer, P., & Cooper, A. (2007). What's for Dinner? European Farming and Food Traditions Confront American Biotechnology. Comparative Political Studies, 40(9), 1035-1058. Sage Journals. doi: 10.1177/0010414006288975
Pastured Products Directory - North Dakota. (n.d.). Eat Wild. Retrieved from http://www.eatwild.com/products/nodakota.html
Power of Diversity. (n.d.). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nd/home/?cid=STELPRDB1119119
Samson, F., & Knopf, F. (1994). Prairie Conservation in North America. BioScience, 44(6), 418-421. JSTOR. doi: 10.2307/1312365
Solution: an eco-farming revolution. (n.d.). Greenpeace. Retrieved from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/agriculture/solution-ecological-farming/
