Food Resilience Plan Voting Rationales

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapters 3 and 4 in your course textbook.

Now that you have cast your 3 votes for the Arzaville Food Resilience Plan, it is time to explain your choices to the class. Please make a post of at least 150 words in which you

· Identify (briefly) the plan elements on which you voted.

· Explain why you selected each one.

My top 3 votes that I voted for are as follows -

1. Although Arzaville is the economic hub, the community should have access to fresh produce from local areas. The city can provide smaller parcels of land where community organizations can grow organic produce. People living in the area could walk or ride a bike to the small growing hubs which will reduce their carbon footprints. Rain barrels can be set out and used to water the smaller gardens which will also reduce the water footprint. 

· PRO: Rain barrels gives the opportunity to collect and save water for home use. It’s a great way to save water for house plants, gardens, and pool. Installing rain barrels also assist by reducing the cost of water for the communities.

· PRO: Rain barrels can help eliminate pollution and erosion and cut down on water costs.

· PRO: moving to smaller hub and allowing people to walk or ride their bike to the location would be great on carbon footprint.

· PRO: This would be a step in the right direct to teach conservation, work ethic, community pride and outdoor activity.

· PRO: Food sustainability saves energy and promotes biodiversity.

· CON: Food does not stay fresh as long and there is a limited land source which reduces the amount of produce.

2. Aquaponics incorporates live fish in a hydroponic system, which is a self-contained, closed-loop system requiring rainwater and sunlight. Using this method reduces the amount of water used to maintain organic produce. In addition, this method uses organic fertilizer as it doesn’t involve pesticides or herbicides as these chemicals may kill fish. Using aquaponics plants are naturally fertilized by fish, which is a nutrient-rich fertilizer for the plants.

· CON: Although this is a good idea, it can be costly, and we would need to hire someone with the specific knowledge to build and maintain this idea.

· PRO: Aquaponics use less water than typical agriculture which helps with the water supply.

· CON: Aquaponics can result in crop loss if there is a power outage due to it needing electricity to survive.

· PRO: perhaps we can take a look at The Urban Farming Company out of Switzerland. The company concentrates on business rooftop aquaponic growing systems. This would be a great way to bring affordable produce to our urban areas.

3. Soil is a vital resource in order to grow and maintain a stable production of food. I feel we should incorporate crop rotation to ensure the soil has the required nutrients for effective growth. This should also help with limiting our use of fertilizers which can limit greenhouse gas production and eutrophication of the water.

· PRO: Crop rotation is a great way to grow various produce. Crop rotation reduces soil erosion and water runoff, improving soil tilth and microbial communities. Overall, it enhanced water infiltration and minimized surface runoff for a more stable soil structure. In addition, it also enhances overall soil conditions when planting crops with fibrous roots. Lastly, it reduces pests and weed buildup, as they cannot thrive for long when their organism is removed. Crops can use rotation, and plans will be healthier and more robust due to improved structure and growing conditions.

· PRO: Crop rotation is needed for soil enrichment. As a farmer you see that crops do better when you split it up and plant different items throughout the year.

· PRO: Soils provide our food-producing plants with the critical nutrients, oxygen, water, and root support they require to, grow, and thrive (Summer, 2018).

· CON: Absence of an effective national soil policy, land degradation, climate change, and desertification can all be limiting factors for soil.

· PRO: Rotating the crops would be a great alternative. This method does ensure effective soil, and it helps maintain constant crop reproduction.