Wes Jackson, from The Land Institute, talks about moving agriculture from an extractive industry to a sustainable industry.
Critical to that change is the fact that in the next 20 years, an estimated 400 million acres of farmland will change hands as 70% of current farmland owners retire. Meanwhile, entering farmers struggle to compete with non-farming landowners for access to prime farmland, particularly in peri-urban areas.
This dilemma of farmland succession is shared by Greyhairs and Greenhorns alike, who all hope for a more sustainable and resilient farming future. The Our Land Symposium examined this imminent inflection point from historical, ecological and political economy perspectives, and addressed both practical and philosophical approaches to transition.
More about this very important symposium here.
And more about The Land Institute here.