Blog 7 March 19, 2014 Stewardship – Current and Future

Blog 7 March 19, 2014 Stewardship – Current and Future

The Christian faith in the western world has become captive through the assumptions of modern culture which sever God from the creation, and subject the creation to humanity’s arrogant and unrestrained power.  The materialism which has developed has constricted the arena for truth to be known and for certainty to be established.  Now, reality can only be proved rather than accepted by faith.  In other words, the true nature of the world can only be known through the scientific method.  This severs God’s relationship to the creation and the understanding of the modern mind.  In short, nature is commonly understood today as an object on to itself, apart from its relationship to God.  Hence, modern agriculture subdues nature, not works with nature.

In the first chapter of Genesis, the account is related to God’s creation of man in his own image.  God blessed man and gave him dominion over the earth.  The biblical term ‘dominion’ does not mean domination of nature by man, the biblical concept of ‘dominion’ is connected with two other ideas of covenant and stewardship.  

The word ‘dominion’ comes from the Latin word dominari and thus we have in English a phrase “Lord of the Manor has dominion over his estates”.  By this he has to look after all life, and people, in the estate as his duty.

The concept of ‘covenant ‘ deals with God’s covenant with man.  This covenant began in the Garden of Eden and was renewed with Noah, Abraham and Moses.  The covenant specifically states that God will remain faithful to us and will provide everything we need to live.  For our part of the covenant, we are expected to be faithful to God an to live in a loving relationship with him and our fellow creatures.  In this God expects us to take care of the land.  But do we ?

The biblical idea of ‘stewardship’ has become identified with the concept of wide management.  I know understand it to mean much more than just wise management.  To me it is a process of learning from nature and learning to work in harmony with all the natural ecosystems, including, of course, the ecosystem found in the soil.  I have to understand my specific response for stewardship in terms of renewable farming, thus economics cannot be the only criteria.

When I evaluate a specific practice in my farming operation, that practice, hopefully, must be profitable, and it must be practical if it is to be implemented.  I also know that the practice must contribute to the integrity, beauty and harmony of the bionic community. If it does not, it is wrong of me to implement it.  Wendall Berry (see link to his wonderful books below)has written “A family farm is failing because it belongs to an order of values and a kind of life that is fading.”  According to Berry the failure of the rural way of life is at the root of our failure to grasp the complexity of life on earth and the simple truth that our existence depends on how well we take care of the soil.  Christian Stewardship is care keeping of the earth that works to preserve and restore the integrity of the created order.  Doing the will of the Creator and seeking the Creator’s kingdom of integrity and peace… the kingdom devoid of human arrogance, ignorance and greed.  Christian stewardship is till living on earth but heaven will be a shock to us. 

As I consider the future of agriculture, it is my prayer that I will be given renewed ears and renewed eyes for the presence of God in all life and that my farming practices will all be more and more in harmony with the Creator.

I give my belated thanks to fellow farmer Dave Larsen who encouraged me to think these ways.

http://www.wendellberrybooks.com/books.html

Blog #4 Part 3 March 3, 2014

Further thoughts on genetic engineered (GE) food or genetically modified organism (GMOs). 

Food control system specifically referring to Canadian Federal Bill C -18 as reported by National Farmers Union.  As with the last blog in this month please refer to this link and Bill C-18.  Please take the time to read this and refer back to it.

http://www.nfu.ca/story/op-ed-bill-c-18-agricultural-growth-act-growth-whom.

Continuing on with the myths from the last blog…

These myths are important to rationalize who expects to gain what for money or common decency. 

Myth #6 One can always choose not to eat GE (genetically engineered) food. Fact: At present most foods on supermarket shelves containing GE ingredients are not labeled, therefore, there is no way of knowing whether we are eating them or not.  GE products are likely to be found in foods containing the following ingredients: soya flour and oil, (in many common foods such as breads, sausages etc.), lecithin (in chocolate and ice cream), canola oil corn extracts.

Myth #7 Farmers benefit from growing GE crops.  Facts:  Seeds of GE crops are more expensive than those of conventional crops.  Farmers in the UK and USA report that yields are generally no better, the crops are less reliable, and overall have not improved profitability. Non-GE crops now receive a premium from the buyer and as more countries reject GE foods the opportunities to sell GE produce overseas are diminishing.  Because of risks associated with GE crops, insurance companies in the USA and UK are now reluctant to insure them. Farmers growing GE crops have to sign binding contracts with the biotechnology producers.  These commit them to using only the herbicides produced by that company and prohibit them from the traditional practice of saving seed for the next season. Most third world farmers will not benefit.

Myth #8 GE crops will reduce use of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. Fact: Crops engineered to be resistant to specific herbicides may encourage more liberal use of the herbicides.  This has been anticipated by one manufacturer who has applied to ANZFA (Australian New Zealand Food Authority) to have the allowable residue of the herbicide glythosate (Roundup) in foods sold in New Zealand increased by 200 times. In areas of the USA, where crops engineered to produce their own insecticide are grown, pesticide has not decreased.

Myth #9 There is no evidence that GE crops are harmful to the environment. Fact: Insects, birds and the wind carry genetically altered pollen and seeds into neighbouring fields and far beyond. Cross pollination occurs between GE crops and non-GE crops and their wild relatives. In this way resistant to weed killer, for example, might be transmitted to weeds making them more difficult to control.  There is evidence that crops engineered to produce their own insecticide can kill beneficial insects.

Myth #10 GE crops will save the world from famine. Fact: A major cause of famine is the unequal global distribution of food.  Food mountains exist in much of the western world and food is regularly dumped (wasted).  Poor people have limited ability to buy either GE or non-GE food.  There is no evidence that GE crops produce higher yields than conventional crops, or that GE products will be cheaper.

Myth #11 You can trust the scientists that GE is good for you and the world.  Fact: money for scientific research on GE here and overseas comes from either the biotechnology companies or the government.  Both are committed to the promises of biotechnology, this means even when scientists have concerns about the safety or the commercial application of the technology, it is often hard for them to risk their careers by being openly critical. When a respected scientist in the UK spoke up about his experimental results during damaging effects of feeding rats on a type of genetically engineered potato, he was immediately fired from his job.

Myth #12 You can’t stop progress.  Fact: No, of course we can’t, why would we want to. Progress implies change for the better, change for the worse is a regression.  We must be sure that GE products have benefits for the consumer and are safe if they are to be introduced into our foods.  We must not commit ourselves to the dubious technology that cannot be reversed.

Myth #13 There are more important things to worry about than GE foods.  Fact: Many scientists don’t think so, for example, Joseph Rotblat (of Pugwash, NS fame), British Physicist who won the 1995 Nobel Prize, says “My worry is that other advances in science may result in other means of mass destruction, may be more readily available even than nuclear weapons, genetic engineering is quite a possible area, because of these dreadful developments that are taking place there.”

The next blog with be discussing Golden Rice…

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and educate yourself further on GE foods.