Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Grass grows without tending and can be harvested repeatedly without disturbing the roots making it an efficient renewable source. These qualities have made grass a reliable source of fuel (and building material) for centuries in Europe where it was first cut (the "auld sod" of Ireland), then burned in little stoves or fireplaces for heat. Dr. Jerry Cherney, a member of the agriculture faculty at Cornell University, advocates harnessing this energy source in the U.S. by drying and compressing ("pelletizing") grass into chunks and burning it like coal. Grass pellets, according to Dr. Cherney, would create 90 percent fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. As anyone who's turned a compost heap knows, grass and other decomposing plants generate a lot of heat as their glucose breaks down the fibers of the plants. By pelletizing the grass in local processing facilities, that energy could be concentrated for use in combustion furnaces, providing a clean fuel.
Monday, July 27, 2009
THE ALGAE SOLUTION
"Put quite simply, microalgae are remarkable and efficient biological factories capable of taking a waste (zero-energy) form of carbon (CO2) and converting it into a high density liquid form of energy (natural oil)."
-A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Algae are the least publicized source of biofuel feedstock yet may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the problems of our worldwide dependence on fossil fuels and limiting CO2 emissions linked to global climate change. It can produce substantially greater oil per acre than traditional oil seeds and also cut the level of CO2 as algae consumes it while emitting clean oxygen. Algae can grow in places other than on farmlands or other arable land. Many strains of algae can grow optimally using brackish water, sea water, or waste water. The economics of such a plant and process are driven by the high potential solar energy conversion efficiencies of single celled algae versus crop plants on a per acre, per day basis. For these reasons and others, microalgae have many advantages over terrestrial plants in addressing two of the world’s major challenges: energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY SECURITY:
ALGAE ARE VERY EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCK -- OIL
Fossil Fuel PumpGiven the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.
Algae oil can easily be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel through the same technology used with oil from oil seeds transesterification -- which is currently used to convert vegetable oil to biodiesel. In addition, the algae oil can be hydro-treated to produce other fuels such as JP-8 and other jet fuels.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
MICROALGAE SEQUESTER POTENTIALLY HARMFUL C02 EMISSIONS
Earth View from SpaceMicroalgae naturally sequester CO2 from the atmosphere; however to support the rapid growth needs of an algae farm, additional amounts of CO2 are necessary. The solution: capture CO2 emitted from industrial sources, such power plants, cement plants, and ethanol factories, that would have otherwise been a source of environmental pollution. Thus, a potential source of global warming is converted to a source of clean burning feedstock for biofuels.
In addition, all other methods used for CO2 mitigation only sequester CO2; they do not convert it into useful products or energy, making microalgae to method of choice to combat climate change.
COMPETITIVE WITH FOSSIL FUEL
Algae-to-oil is projected to be competitive with petroleum-based crude oil. Based on extrapolations from our pilot production facility, algae oil is projected to be produced at around US$50-$90 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe), which is significantly below current crude oil prices. Longer term, with further increases in algae productivity, algae-to-oil production cost is expected to fall to around US$30-$50 per boe, a cost far below any other biofuels feedstock crop and which is significantly lower than projected for most oil & gas production facilities now under development.
It is projected that, over the long-term, algae oil can compete with fossil fuels with or without government mandates or subsidies afforded to alternative energy solutions. However, government mandates and assistance and incentive programs (e.g., R&D support, tax credits, loan guarantees for the construction of commercial facilities) can significantly accelerate the initial commercialization of this technology and ensure a more rapid adoption throughout the United States and other parts of the industrialized world.
SUMMARY MARINE MICROALGAE ADVANTAGES
* Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from power plants, refineries, cement plants, etc. provide high growth rates for algae, thus converting atmospheric pollutants to biofuel and other valuable commodity products
* Cultivation can be accomplished in waste land areas which preserves valuable farmlands for food production
* Transportation costs of feedstock can be reduced or eliminated, which costs are a major economical concern for terrestrially grown biomass
* Marine microalgae use brackish water or salt water to grow which preserves valuable fresh water sources
* Processing is simplified because of microalgae’s small grain size and lack of lignocellulose; found in all land-based biomass sources, lignocellulose greatly complicates the biomass-to-biofuel conversion process
* Microalgae are suitable for production processes ranging from entrained flow gasification to direct transesterification
* No harmful waste products result from microalgae production
* Marine microalgae can produce feedstocks to make a variety of biofuels and petrochemical replacement products
* The byproducts of the cultivation process include protein and carbohydrates that can be used as an animal nutritional supplemental
"Put quite simply, microalgae are remarkable and efficient biological factories capable of taking a waste (zero-energy) form of carbon (CO2) and converting it into a high density liquid form of energy (natural oil)."
-A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Algae are the least publicized source of biofuel feedstock yet may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the problems of our worldwide dependence on fossil fuels and limiting CO2 emissions linked to global climate change. It can produce substantially greater oil per acre than traditional oil seeds and also cut the level of CO2 as algae consumes it while emitting clean oxygen. Algae can grow in places other than on farmlands or other arable land. Many strains of algae can grow optimally using brackish water, sea water, or waste water. The economics of such a plant and process are driven by the high potential solar energy conversion efficiencies of single celled algae versus crop plants on a per acre, per day basis. For these reasons and others, microalgae have many advantages over terrestrial plants in addressing two of the world’s major challenges: energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY SECURITY:
ALGAE ARE VERY EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCK -- OIL
Fossil Fuel PumpGiven the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.
Algae oil can easily be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel through the same technology used with oil from oil seeds transesterification -- which is currently used to convert vegetable oil to biodiesel. In addition, the algae oil can be hydro-treated to produce other fuels such as JP-8 and other jet fuels.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
MICROALGAE SEQUESTER POTENTIALLY HARMFUL C02 EMISSIONS
Earth View from SpaceMicroalgae naturally sequester CO2 from the atmosphere; however to support the rapid growth needs of an algae farm, additional amounts of CO2 are necessary. The solution: capture CO2 emitted from industrial sources, such power plants, cement plants, and ethanol factories, that would have otherwise been a source of environmental pollution. Thus, a potential source of global warming is converted to a source of clean burning feedstock for biofuels.
In addition, all other methods used for CO2 mitigation only sequester CO2; they do not convert it into useful products or energy, making microalgae to method of choice to combat climate change.
COMPETITIVE WITH FOSSIL FUEL
Algae-to-oil is projected to be competitive with petroleum-based crude oil. Based on extrapolations from our pilot production facility, algae oil is projected to be produced at around US$50-$90 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe), which is significantly below current crude oil prices. Longer term, with further increases in algae productivity, algae-to-oil production cost is expected to fall to around US$30-$50 per boe, a cost far below any other biofuels feedstock crop and which is significantly lower than projected for most oil & gas production facilities now under development.
It is projected that, over the long-term, algae oil can compete with fossil fuels with or without government mandates or subsidies afforded to alternative energy solutions. However, government mandates and assistance and incentive programs (e.g., R&D support, tax credits, loan guarantees for the construction of commercial facilities) can significantly accelerate the initial commercialization of this technology and ensure a more rapid adoption throughout the United States and other parts of the industrialized world.
SUMMARY MARINE MICROALGAE ADVANTAGES
* Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from power plants, refineries, cement plants, etc. provide high growth rates for algae, thus converting atmospheric pollutants to biofuel and other valuable commodity products
* Cultivation can be accomplished in waste land areas which preserves valuable farmlands for food production
* Transportation costs of feedstock can be reduced or eliminated, which costs are a major economical concern for terrestrially grown biomass
* Marine microalgae use brackish water or salt water to grow which preserves valuable fresh water sources
* Processing is simplified because of microalgae’s small grain size and lack of lignocellulose; found in all land-based biomass sources, lignocellulose greatly complicates the biomass-to-biofuel conversion process
* Microalgae are suitable for production processes ranging from entrained flow gasification to direct transesterification
* No harmful waste products result from microalgae production
* Marine microalgae can produce feedstocks to make a variety of biofuels and petrochemical replacement products
* The byproducts of the cultivation process include protein and carbohydrates that can be used as an animal nutritional supplemental
ht market skeptics
1) Virtually every country in the world is facing double digits declines in food production (for more info, see Terrible Outlook For 2009 Global Wheat Output and World Still Facing A Global Food Crisis and *****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****).
2) World (and US) food stocks are at multi-decade lows.
3) Global demand for agricultural commodities is rising, lead by China.
1) Virtually every country in the world is facing double digits declines in food production (for more info, see Terrible Outlook For 2009 Global Wheat Output and World Still Facing A Global Food Crisis and *****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****).
2) World (and US) food stocks are at multi-decade lows.
3) Global demand for agricultural commodities is rising, lead by China.
Friday, July 24, 2009
ht market skeptics
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
US Gov't out of wheat. Completely.
Government Holdings of Wheat are at Zero
By Benjamin Gisin
IDAHO FALLS, ID - Quietly, the last of the U.S. government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, were sold in late May onto the domestic market for cash. The cash was put in a trust for food aid. With no other government wheat holdings, U.S. government wheat stocks are now totally exhausted.
The following recent statements by Rebecca Bratter, director of policy for U.S. Wheat Associates, provides insights:
"While U.S. wheat industry strongly supports the administration's goal of maintaining current food aid programs to prevent rampant hunger worldwide, there is concern regarding the impact of selling reserve wheat on the domestic market and over the lack of commitment from the administration to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. U.S. Wheat Associates has shared these concerns with high officials at USDA and on the President's staff and has asked about the Administration's intent regarding replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Staff from the office of the President's Special Agricultural Assistant noted that while there is no commitment at this time, the administration intends to replenish the Trust once the supply and price scenario stabilizes." (Note: U.S. Wheat Associates works in 90 countries promoting U.S. wheat exports.)
The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was established in 1980 by an act of Congress and is authorized to hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice as a reserve for global food crises. The wheat is purchased and managed by the Commodity Credit Corporation and included in the total amount of wheat owned and held by the U.S. government. Holdings by the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for corn, sorghum and rice are also zero.
For the decade of the '80s, government wheat holdings (including those in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust) averaged 358 million bushels. For the decade of the '90s, government wheat holdings averaged 133 million bushels. Since 2000, government wheat holdings dropped steadily until recently when the last of the government-owned wheat was sold.
With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the U.S. government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena of the private free-market sector. Unfortunately, the private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum wheat stocks that would protect from a price and/or availability standpoint the American public.
Private wheat stocks are divided into two major categories — on-farm wheat stocks owned by farmers and off-farm wheat stocks owned by warehouses and grain companies. These two together held 305.6 million bushels of wheat as of June 1 — or roughly 1 bushel per person living in the United States — the lowest level in 60 years.
Of these stocks, on-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of on-farm wheat stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934. So as you are driving in rural America before wheat harvest, the farmer's bins have never been so empty.
The USDA, projects America to have a bumper wheat crop in 2008 — producing 2.43 billion bushels and consuming and exporting 2.30 billion bushels. This leaves a meager 133 million bushels (5.5 percent of production) as a margin for error. Globally, the USDA projects wheat production to be 24.36 billion bushels, consumption to be 23.74 billion bushels for a relatively smaller margin of 622 million bushels or 2.6 percent of production.
The recent wheat crises in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced. This means the true 2008 wheat margin for Americans is really the global margin of 2.6 percent. Any decline from global projections could precipitate greater wheat exports from America and further draw down already low domestic and global wheat stocks.
Food security is emerging as a global focal point. With the U.S. government and the private sector lacking visions for stocks, food security is poised to grow as a grass-roots issue around the nation.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
US Gov't out of wheat. Completely.
Government Holdings of Wheat are at Zero
By Benjamin Gisin
IDAHO FALLS, ID - Quietly, the last of the U.S. government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, were sold in late May onto the domestic market for cash. The cash was put in a trust for food aid. With no other government wheat holdings, U.S. government wheat stocks are now totally exhausted.
The following recent statements by Rebecca Bratter, director of policy for U.S. Wheat Associates, provides insights:
"While U.S. wheat industry strongly supports the administration's goal of maintaining current food aid programs to prevent rampant hunger worldwide, there is concern regarding the impact of selling reserve wheat on the domestic market and over the lack of commitment from the administration to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. U.S. Wheat Associates has shared these concerns with high officials at USDA and on the President's staff and has asked about the Administration's intent regarding replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Staff from the office of the President's Special Agricultural Assistant noted that while there is no commitment at this time, the administration intends to replenish the Trust once the supply and price scenario stabilizes." (Note: U.S. Wheat Associates works in 90 countries promoting U.S. wheat exports.)
The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was established in 1980 by an act of Congress and is authorized to hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice as a reserve for global food crises. The wheat is purchased and managed by the Commodity Credit Corporation and included in the total amount of wheat owned and held by the U.S. government. Holdings by the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for corn, sorghum and rice are also zero.
For the decade of the '80s, government wheat holdings (including those in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust) averaged 358 million bushels. For the decade of the '90s, government wheat holdings averaged 133 million bushels. Since 2000, government wheat holdings dropped steadily until recently when the last of the government-owned wheat was sold.
With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the U.S. government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena of the private free-market sector. Unfortunately, the private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum wheat stocks that would protect from a price and/or availability standpoint the American public.
Private wheat stocks are divided into two major categories — on-farm wheat stocks owned by farmers and off-farm wheat stocks owned by warehouses and grain companies. These two together held 305.6 million bushels of wheat as of June 1 — or roughly 1 bushel per person living in the United States — the lowest level in 60 years.
Of these stocks, on-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of on-farm wheat stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934. So as you are driving in rural America before wheat harvest, the farmer's bins have never been so empty.
The USDA, projects America to have a bumper wheat crop in 2008 — producing 2.43 billion bushels and consuming and exporting 2.30 billion bushels. This leaves a meager 133 million bushels (5.5 percent of production) as a margin for error. Globally, the USDA projects wheat production to be 24.36 billion bushels, consumption to be 23.74 billion bushels for a relatively smaller margin of 622 million bushels or 2.6 percent of production.
The recent wheat crises in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced. This means the true 2008 wheat margin for Americans is really the global margin of 2.6 percent. Any decline from global projections could precipitate greater wheat exports from America and further draw down already low domestic and global wheat stocks.
Food security is emerging as a global focal point. With the U.S. government and the private sector lacking visions for stocks, food security is poised to grow as a grass-roots issue around the nation.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
food that needs less water - Xeric plants
ht - /veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.com
Vegetables - perennial:
Prickly Pear Cactus - pads edible
Notes: A delicacy I have never tried but it is drought-tolerant. There are several types that are native to Canada and quite frost hardy.
Source: Gardens North
Nodding Onion (allium cernuum) - leaves, flowers, bulb
Notes: Several sources say 'very drought tolerant' so I look forwad to trying this out. It has a lovely pink flower and is supposed to taste good to boot.
Source: Gardens North, Edible Landscapes
Garlic Chives (allium tuberosum) - all plant
Notes: It is said to be fairly drought tolerant and does well in my non-irrigated sandy garden in the south side of my front yard. I have also heard of people growing it as a groundcover under trees - presumedly ones with open canopies. This is one tough plant so I don't doubt that it can take some punishment.
Source: Ask me, ask a friend. Someone you know has too much of this plant, various commercial sources including Ritchers who have an unusual pink flowered variety
Crambe (maritima & cordifolia) Sea Kale - young leaves, blanched shoots, young flowerbuds
Notes: Crambe maritima is seakale which should be hardy around here. It is going through its first winter in my garden so I'll let you know though it is mentioned in a gardening book from the Ottawa Valley. Crambe cordifolia may also be hardy around here and is known variously as flowering kale, giant kale or giant gypsophilia (baby's breath) according to Dave's Garden. Both of these plants are extremely attractive with large glaucous leaves and impressive sprays of flowers once they get going. They are drought tolerant because of their deep root systems. To ensure good root development, sow where you want it to grow.
Sources for seakale: La Societe des Plantes, Bountiful Gardens
Asparagus: new shoots
Notes: Sometimes listed as drought tolerant. This is because of their extensive moisture seeking root system. I would say that this is somewhat drought tolerant once established. It also prefers soil rich in organic matter.
Sources: various
Alfalfa, lucerne: growing tips, sprouted seeds
Notes: A nitrogen fixing plant with very deep roots that mine the subsoil. Compact salad plant or use for green manure to add a kick to your compost. It would make a pretty border plant and also attracts beneficials.
Sources: Ritchers, others
Jeruselum Articoke: tubers
Notes: Fantastic perennial food plant - pest resistant, drought resistant, will grow in light shade (gets about 4-6 hours in my yard and grows12 feet high with huge yields in droughted soil next to the western side of the house). I would ammend the soil with organic matter to keep up the fertility. The only caveats are that this plant stores sugars in the indigestible form of inulin which gives some people 'gas' and it does not store in a cellar well though I have developed a simple technique for storing which I'll write about another time. Maximillian perennial sunflower is a related species which according to the book Gaia's Garden produces smaller tubers and edible oil producing 'sunflower' seeds.
Sources: various, Mapple farm has the cultivar 'Volgo 2' which is less knobbly, plant small tubers from grocery store, contact me in the spring or fall for some.
Chinese Articoke: tubers
Notes: It is related to lamb's ear and is sometimes listed as drought-tolerant though it will produce better with more moisture. As they work like a ground cover, they might be nice to grow in and around other plants which would also shelter them a bit from drying winds.
Sources: Mapple farm
Sedum: leaves
Notes: Really, most sedums are edible. Surprised? Me too, but there you go. I tasted S. telephium (like Autumn Joy) that were shade grown and they were quite nice, lemony. I have no idea what they would taste like if grown in full sun but it is worth a try and they look great in the garden too.
Source: various
Yucca filamentosa & Y. glauca: flowering stem, flowers (bitter according to pfaf) and fruit
Notes: Too pretty to eat though I guess I could try the fruit. Very drought-tolerant.
Sources: various
Winecups or Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata - roots and leaves
Notes: Have yet to try this one too, but the roots are supposed to be reminiscent of sweet potato. It's a mallow relative so the leaves are edible and are mucligenous according to pfaf like okra or some other cooked mallows. A true drought fighter, very pretty.
Sources: Cottage Gardener
Allium stellatum & Allium textile - whole plant I think
Notes: Prarie natives that can take dry soils. I don't know too much about these plants so you can check out Plants for a Future if you want more details.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Astragalus crassicarpus - plum milkvetch - seed pod
Notes: This plant gets an honourable mention from Gaia's garden about homescale permaculture. The plant looks like vetch but the seedpods look like itty bitty plums. It's also nitrogen fixing which means it would require less fertile soils. I've ordered seed so I'll let you know how it goes.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Psoralea esculenta - prairie turnip - taproot
Notes: When I was scanning Prairie Moon's seed list, I saw the name 'prairie turnip' and some googling revealed that it is considered very tasty. Yup, you guessed it. Seed will be arriving at my house for trial this spring. The plant looks like a small hairy lupin - another nitrogen fixer.
Straight forward wiki link
Sources: Prairie Moon Seeds
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly - blanched shoots, roots
Notes: Established plants are drought tolerant and they are also salt tolerant with an extensive root system that can be used to stabilize soil. I have never tried to eat this plant though I enjoy the blue flowered cultivars. I see this as a marginal vegetable as you unless you have a large population, digging up the roots would remove it. I am not sure of how many shoots you could blanch before you significantly lowered its growth potential.
Sources: various
Vegetables - perennial:
Prickly Pear Cactus - pads edible
Notes: A delicacy I have never tried but it is drought-tolerant. There are several types that are native to Canada and quite frost hardy.
Source: Gardens North
Nodding Onion (allium cernuum) - leaves, flowers, bulb
Notes: Several sources say 'very drought tolerant' so I look forwad to trying this out. It has a lovely pink flower and is supposed to taste good to boot.
Source: Gardens North, Edible Landscapes
Garlic Chives (allium tuberosum) - all plant
Notes: It is said to be fairly drought tolerant and does well in my non-irrigated sandy garden in the south side of my front yard. I have also heard of people growing it as a groundcover under trees - presumedly ones with open canopies. This is one tough plant so I don't doubt that it can take some punishment.
Source: Ask me, ask a friend. Someone you know has too much of this plant, various commercial sources including Ritchers who have an unusual pink flowered variety
Crambe (maritima & cordifolia) Sea Kale - young leaves, blanched shoots, young flowerbuds
Notes: Crambe maritima is seakale which should be hardy around here. It is going through its first winter in my garden so I'll let you know though it is mentioned in a gardening book from the Ottawa Valley. Crambe cordifolia may also be hardy around here and is known variously as flowering kale, giant kale or giant gypsophilia (baby's breath) according to Dave's Garden. Both of these plants are extremely attractive with large glaucous leaves and impressive sprays of flowers once they get going. They are drought tolerant because of their deep root systems. To ensure good root development, sow where you want it to grow.
Sources for seakale: La Societe des Plantes, Bountiful Gardens
Asparagus: new shoots
Notes: Sometimes listed as drought tolerant. This is because of their extensive moisture seeking root system. I would say that this is somewhat drought tolerant once established. It also prefers soil rich in organic matter.
Sources: various
Alfalfa, lucerne: growing tips, sprouted seeds
Notes: A nitrogen fixing plant with very deep roots that mine the subsoil. Compact salad plant or use for green manure to add a kick to your compost. It would make a pretty border plant and also attracts beneficials.
Sources: Ritchers, others
Jeruselum Articoke: tubers
Notes: Fantastic perennial food plant - pest resistant, drought resistant, will grow in light shade (gets about 4-6 hours in my yard and grows12 feet high with huge yields in droughted soil next to the western side of the house). I would ammend the soil with organic matter to keep up the fertility. The only caveats are that this plant stores sugars in the indigestible form of inulin which gives some people 'gas' and it does not store in a cellar well though I have developed a simple technique for storing which I'll write about another time. Maximillian perennial sunflower is a related species which according to the book Gaia's Garden produces smaller tubers and edible oil producing 'sunflower' seeds.
Sources: various, Mapple farm has the cultivar 'Volgo 2' which is less knobbly, plant small tubers from grocery store, contact me in the spring or fall for some.
Chinese Articoke: tubers
Notes: It is related to lamb's ear and is sometimes listed as drought-tolerant though it will produce better with more moisture. As they work like a ground cover, they might be nice to grow in and around other plants which would also shelter them a bit from drying winds.
Sources: Mapple farm
Sedum: leaves
Notes: Really, most sedums are edible. Surprised? Me too, but there you go. I tasted S. telephium (like Autumn Joy) that were shade grown and they were quite nice, lemony. I have no idea what they would taste like if grown in full sun but it is worth a try and they look great in the garden too.
Source: various
Yucca filamentosa & Y. glauca: flowering stem, flowers (bitter according to pfaf) and fruit
Notes: Too pretty to eat though I guess I could try the fruit. Very drought-tolerant.
Sources: various
Winecups or Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata - roots and leaves
Notes: Have yet to try this one too, but the roots are supposed to be reminiscent of sweet potato. It's a mallow relative so the leaves are edible and are mucligenous according to pfaf like okra or some other cooked mallows. A true drought fighter, very pretty.
Sources: Cottage Gardener
Allium stellatum & Allium textile - whole plant I think
Notes: Prarie natives that can take dry soils. I don't know too much about these plants so you can check out Plants for a Future if you want more details.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Astragalus crassicarpus - plum milkvetch - seed pod
Notes: This plant gets an honourable mention from Gaia's garden about homescale permaculture. The plant looks like vetch but the seedpods look like itty bitty plums. It's also nitrogen fixing which means it would require less fertile soils. I've ordered seed so I'll let you know how it goes.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Psoralea esculenta - prairie turnip - taproot
Notes: When I was scanning Prairie Moon's seed list, I saw the name 'prairie turnip' and some googling revealed that it is considered very tasty. Yup, you guessed it. Seed will be arriving at my house for trial this spring. The plant looks like a small hairy lupin - another nitrogen fixer.
Straight forward wiki link
Sources: Prairie Moon Seeds
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly - blanched shoots, roots
Notes: Established plants are drought tolerant and they are also salt tolerant with an extensive root system that can be used to stabilize soil. I have never tried to eat this plant though I enjoy the blue flowered cultivars. I see this as a marginal vegetable as you unless you have a large population, digging up the roots would remove it. I am not sure of how many shoots you could blanch before you significantly lowered its growth potential.
Sources: various
Saturday, July 4, 2009
ht global health
For the first time, the number of chronically hungry people worldwide is greater than 1 billion, according to a recent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statement, the Financial Times reports (Blas, Financial Times, 6/19). The total number of hungry people is estimated to have reached 1.02 billion – an increase of 11 percent from last year's 915 million, according to the agency, which based its estimate on analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rizzo, AP/Google.com, 6/20).
"The new U.N. assessment signals that the food and economic crisis of the last two years have reversed the past quarter-century’s slow but constant decline in the proportion of undernourished people as a percentage of the world’s population," the Financial Times writes (Financial Times, 6/19). Although food prices are lower than "their mid-2008 highs," they are still "stubbornly high" in some domestic markets, according to the FAO. Jacques Diouf, FAO's director-general, said regions across the globe "have been affected by the rise of food insecurity" and that "[n]o part of the world is immune."
AP/Google.com reports that "Asia and the Pacific has the largest number of hungry people – 642 million, up 10.5 percent from last year. Sub-Saharan Africa registers 265 million undernourished, an 11.8 percent increase. Even in the developed world, undernourishment is a growing concern, with 15 million in all and a 15.4 percent increase, the sharpest rise around the world, FAO said" (AP/Google.com, 6/20).
and
a "dangerous mix" of the global economic slowdown and very high food prices pushed another 100 million people into the hungry category over the past year.
"Neither drought, nor floods or disastrous harvests can be held to blame this time. Worsening hunger in the last three years largely stems from economic shocks," he said.
“The silent hunger crisis, affecting one-sixth of all of humanity, poses a serious risk for world peace and security,” Diouf said. “Today, increasing hunger is a global phenomenon. All world regions have been affected.”
The warning came after the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said earlier last week that agricultural commodities prices would rise 10-30 per cent over the next 10 years compared with their average of 1997-2006, less than previously feared because of lower economic growth and oil prices
my comment: It is our job to fix this, without just spending money. A small level of food supports, a way to monetize the labors of a billion people to pay for the food, and a suitable transit and storage system. May be algae all around?
For the first time, the number of chronically hungry people worldwide is greater than 1 billion, according to a recent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statement, the Financial Times reports (Blas, Financial Times, 6/19). The total number of hungry people is estimated to have reached 1.02 billion – an increase of 11 percent from last year's 915 million, according to the agency, which based its estimate on analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rizzo, AP/Google.com, 6/20).
"The new U.N. assessment signals that the food and economic crisis of the last two years have reversed the past quarter-century’s slow but constant decline in the proportion of undernourished people as a percentage of the world’s population," the Financial Times writes (Financial Times, 6/19). Although food prices are lower than "their mid-2008 highs," they are still "stubbornly high" in some domestic markets, according to the FAO. Jacques Diouf, FAO's director-general, said regions across the globe "have been affected by the rise of food insecurity" and that "[n]o part of the world is immune."
AP/Google.com reports that "Asia and the Pacific has the largest number of hungry people – 642 million, up 10.5 percent from last year. Sub-Saharan Africa registers 265 million undernourished, an 11.8 percent increase. Even in the developed world, undernourishment is a growing concern, with 15 million in all and a 15.4 percent increase, the sharpest rise around the world, FAO said" (AP/Google.com, 6/20).
and
a "dangerous mix" of the global economic slowdown and very high food prices pushed another 100 million people into the hungry category over the past year.
"Neither drought, nor floods or disastrous harvests can be held to blame this time. Worsening hunger in the last three years largely stems from economic shocks," he said.
“The silent hunger crisis, affecting one-sixth of all of humanity, poses a serious risk for world peace and security,” Diouf said. “Today, increasing hunger is a global phenomenon. All world regions have been affected.”
The warning came after the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said earlier last week that agricultural commodities prices would rise 10-30 per cent over the next 10 years compared with their average of 1997-2006, less than previously feared because of lower economic growth and oil prices
my comment: It is our job to fix this, without just spending money. A small level of food supports, a way to monetize the labors of a billion people to pay for the food, and a suitable transit and storage system. May be algae all around?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
more from dad cat bouncing
we began trying to meet demand by increasing yield via fertilizers, irrigation, and better, if more homogenous, seed varieties (one of the downsides of this has been a loss of resilience, as the same varieties are grown worldwide, and 80% of the global wheat planting area is vulnerable to the UG99 wheat fungus, now spreading rapidly in Africa). It worked to the extent that between 1975 and 1986 yields for wheat and rice rose 32% and 51% respectively, the so-called 'green revolution'. However, since then, these techniques have stopped producing increased yields due to adverse feedback effects: you can't spray fertilizer and irrigate fields beyond a certain point without damaging the land, thus reducing yields. Meantime, the shift to a diet higher in animal proteins in Asia, as real income per capita rises, is putting severe pressure on global supplies.
we began trying to meet demand by increasing yield via fertilizers, irrigation, and better, if more homogenous, seed varieties (one of the downsides of this has been a loss of resilience, as the same varieties are grown worldwide, and 80% of the global wheat planting area is vulnerable to the UG99 wheat fungus, now spreading rapidly in Africa). It worked to the extent that between 1975 and 1986 yields for wheat and rice rose 32% and 51% respectively, the so-called 'green revolution'. However, since then, these techniques have stopped producing increased yields due to adverse feedback effects: you can't spray fertilizer and irrigate fields beyond a certain point without damaging the land, thus reducing yields. Meantime, the shift to a diet higher in animal proteins in Asia, as real income per capita rises, is putting severe pressure on global supplies.
not good news
ht http://deadcatsbouncing.blogspot.com/
For agriculture, as for energy, two decades of declining real prices have led to huge underinvestment that is now being revealed by relentless demand pressures. In 2008, the world's urban population equalled the rural for the first time in human history. China also became a net food importer for the first time ever. Overall, world food supply and demand remain precariously balanced. A variety of factors point to serious food shortages emerging over the next decade, with demand for food forecast to double over the next 25 years despite reduced availability of arable land and water. For the first time in history, urban demand for water is outpacing farm demand throughout the world and water tables are falling across key producing regions . Globally, we are losing about one per cent of productive land each year because of degradation and urban sprawl, notably in southern China.
and
Arable land per capita has essentially halved from 0.42 hectares per person in 1961 to 0.22 hectares per person now. Optimists expect innovation to bridge the gap, and it's possible that developments like genetic engineering and smart irrigation may boost productivity, but as international funding for agricultural research has been stagnant in real terms since the early 1970s , I wouldn't bet on it.
For agriculture, as for energy, two decades of declining real prices have led to huge underinvestment that is now being revealed by relentless demand pressures. In 2008, the world's urban population equalled the rural for the first time in human history. China also became a net food importer for the first time ever. Overall, world food supply and demand remain precariously balanced. A variety of factors point to serious food shortages emerging over the next decade, with demand for food forecast to double over the next 25 years despite reduced availability of arable land and water. For the first time in history, urban demand for water is outpacing farm demand throughout the world and water tables are falling across key producing regions . Globally, we are losing about one per cent of productive land each year because of degradation and urban sprawl, notably in southern China.
and
Arable land per capita has essentially halved from 0.42 hectares per person in 1961 to 0.22 hectares per person now. Optimists expect innovation to bridge the gap, and it's possible that developments like genetic engineering and smart irrigation may boost productivity, but as international funding for agricultural research has been stagnant in real terms since the early 1970s , I wouldn't bet on it.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Scientific development and proven benefits to combat malnutrition
It was in 1975 in France that ALE was first discovered as having a nutritional composition fit for human consumption . In 1993 the Association for the Promotion of Leaf Extracts in Nutrition (APEF) was set up to validate the process of using chloroplast leaf extracts as nutritional supplements to combat chronic malnutrition. Cooperation with scientists from Reims University made it possible to conduct rigorous studies relating to the effectiveness and safety of ALE. Today APEF is present in more than 20 countries with more than 40 million daily doses already distributed i.e. 320 tons of extract in Africa and Latin America.
The organization of the Knights of Malta has supported this food supplement program and rigorously monitored the NGOs which distributed the extracts. Medical reports from local experts are unanimous in noting the fast improvement in health of the relevant individuals:
* Pregnant or nursing mothers and children after weaning;
* People suffering from malnutrition, even severely (of which kwashiorkor and stagnation);
* Patients with AIDS, malaria, leukaemia or tuberculosis;
* Elderly people.
The recommended doses are 5 to 10 gr per day for children and 10 to 15 gr per day for adults (annual cost being on average $6 per person per year), it gives the following effects:
For mothers
* Higher birth-weight for their children;
* An increased quantity of breast milk.
For children
* Easing of the delicate period of weaning;
* Appetite returns, weight increases;
* Speeding up of growth;
* Reduction and rapid disappearance of diarrhoea;
* Effectiveness against marasmus and kwashiorkor;
* Better response to education.
Generally
* Regression or elimination of anaemia in 3 months in more than 70% of cases;
* Diminished incidence and duration of ailments associated with malnutrition (infections of the upper respiratory system, the skin and eyes);
* Rapid improvement in several aspects of the blood picture, especially in the levels of haemoglobin (Iron) and of retinol (Vitamin A);
* Better resistance to infections, e.g. Noma in children;
* Improved general condition in cases of serious infections: tuberculosis, AIDS, etc.
It was in 1975 in France that ALE was first discovered as having a nutritional composition fit for human consumption . In 1993 the Association for the Promotion of Leaf Extracts in Nutrition (APEF) was set up to validate the process of using chloroplast leaf extracts as nutritional supplements to combat chronic malnutrition. Cooperation with scientists from Reims University made it possible to conduct rigorous studies relating to the effectiveness and safety of ALE. Today APEF is present in more than 20 countries with more than 40 million daily doses already distributed i.e. 320 tons of extract in Africa and Latin America.
The organization of the Knights of Malta has supported this food supplement program and rigorously monitored the NGOs which distributed the extracts. Medical reports from local experts are unanimous in noting the fast improvement in health of the relevant individuals:
* Pregnant or nursing mothers and children after weaning;
* People suffering from malnutrition, even severely (of which kwashiorkor and stagnation);
* Patients with AIDS, malaria, leukaemia or tuberculosis;
* Elderly people.
The recommended doses are 5 to 10 gr per day for children and 10 to 15 gr per day for adults (annual cost being on average $6 per person per year), it gives the following effects:
For mothers
* Higher birth-weight for their children;
* An increased quantity of breast milk.
For children
* Easing of the delicate period of weaning;
* Appetite returns, weight increases;
* Speeding up of growth;
* Reduction and rapid disappearance of diarrhoea;
* Effectiveness against marasmus and kwashiorkor;
* Better response to education.
Generally
* Regression or elimination of anaemia in 3 months in more than 70% of cases;
* Diminished incidence and duration of ailments associated with malnutrition (infections of the upper respiratory system, the skin and eyes);
* Rapid improvement in several aspects of the blood picture, especially in the levels of haemoglobin (Iron) and of retinol (Vitamin A);
* Better resistance to infections, e.g. Noma in children;
* Improved general condition in cases of serious infections: tuberculosis, AIDS, etc.
A revolutionary food supplement to fight malnutrition
Over 2 billion people suffer from chronic malnutrition caused by dietary deficiencies in proteins, vitamins, trace elements and minerals, in particular vitamin A and iron.
ALE
* It is the leading cause of excess mortality, due to an individual’s greater vulnerability to infectious diseases, and can also bring about severe handicaps: for instance, a deficiency in vitamin A causes permanent blindness in 500,000 children each year
* Alfalfa leaf extract (ALE) food supplement is listed on a positive list as safe for the intended use by the US Food and Drug Administration (Title 21 - revised April 1, 2001). In addition, it can be produced in a very cost effective way, i.e. $3. per year for a child
* After more than 10 years of research and development, ALE has a proven track record in combating malnutrition. Investment in local production is required to build manufacturing plants in areas affected by malnutrition in order to reach all sufferers, especially children
Over 2 billion people suffer from chronic malnutrition caused by dietary deficiencies in proteins, vitamins, trace elements and minerals, in particular vitamin A and iron.
ALE
* It is the leading cause of excess mortality, due to an individual’s greater vulnerability to infectious diseases, and can also bring about severe handicaps: for instance, a deficiency in vitamin A causes permanent blindness in 500,000 children each year
* Alfalfa leaf extract (ALE) food supplement is listed on a positive list as safe for the intended use by the US Food and Drug Administration (Title 21 - revised April 1, 2001). In addition, it can be produced in a very cost effective way, i.e. $3. per year for a child
* After more than 10 years of research and development, ALE has a proven track record in combating malnutrition. Investment in local production is required to build manufacturing plants in areas affected by malnutrition in order to reach all sufferers, especially children
The world faces “mass starvation” following North America’s next major crop failure. And it could even happen before year’s end. So says Chicago-based Don Coxe, who is one of the world’s leading experts on agricultural commodities, so much so that Canada’s renowned BMO Financial Group named the fund after him
ht commodity online
ht commodity online
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
ht seeking alpha
As you walk by supermarket shelves stocked with loaves of bread and pasta, it seems hard to believe, but the world is currently experiencing a major wheat shortage. In the commodity markets, the shortage has helped drive the price of wheat to thirty year highs. According to the London-based International Grains Council, global wheat supplies in the year ending June 2008 will drop to their lowest levels in more than a quarter of a century. Meanwhile, the price of wheat is soaring. At the end of August, CBOT December wheat contracts hit a record high of $7.885 a bushel. Over in Europe, wheat for November delivery on the Euronext.liffe exchange reached 266.75 euros ($363) a ton in Paris. Prices for the contract closest to delivery have gained a whopping 75 percent this year alone.
As with most commodity price spikes, wheat prices are being affected by two dynamics: a shortage on the supply side and an increase on the demand side. Supplies have been hurt by droughts in Ukraine, Europe, Canada and Australia, which are four of the world's leading wheat producing. The U.S. is the world's #1 exporter, and U.S. farmers are churning away, exporting about 16.5m tons of wheat this year, almost double the amount they sold in the same period last year. However, a severe drought cut Australia's wheat crop last year to just 10 million tons, less than half the year before. Meanwhile, Ukraine, the world's eighth-biggest wheat exporter, is already cutting exports after drought cut its grain harvest to 30 million tons, its smallest since 2003. The country will ship 58 percent less grain this year, according to its Agricultural Ministry.[some areas suffer from drought, others from too much rain, or badly times precipitation]
While sellers have less wheat to sell, buyers keep coming in with more orders. That's especially true in traditional emerging economies such as Brazil and India, but demand is coming from some surprising places, like South Korea, and Egypt. Egypt bought 10 times more wheat last month than it did a year earlier, in anticipation of higher prices, according to the country's General Authority for Supply Commodities.[countries that know, have begun to stockpile and global stocks are very low]
There is a third factor affecting the global wheat market, and that is Russia, the world's fourth largest exporter of grain. Traders are speculating that the Russian government will step in and actively reduce shipments to control domestic food prices. According to Bloomberg News, Russia has created a ``working group'' to consider measures that may include export restrictions, duties and quotas. Kazakhstan also said it plans to introduce licenses for grain exports. The other part of the Russian wildcard is the country's elections, which take place next year. Russian President Vladimir Putin has to step down, and the USDA has said the election in Russia makes government policy, including possible tariffs or export regulations, less predictable than ever. [shame on churches that continue the useless building of new houses, when so many are available by foreclosure, and no mention of worldwide hunger!]
As you walk by supermarket shelves stocked with loaves of bread and pasta, it seems hard to believe, but the world is currently experiencing a major wheat shortage. In the commodity markets, the shortage has helped drive the price of wheat to thirty year highs. According to the London-based International Grains Council, global wheat supplies in the year ending June 2008 will drop to their lowest levels in more than a quarter of a century. Meanwhile, the price of wheat is soaring. At the end of August, CBOT December wheat contracts hit a record high of $7.885 a bushel. Over in Europe, wheat for November delivery on the Euronext.liffe exchange reached 266.75 euros ($363) a ton in Paris. Prices for the contract closest to delivery have gained a whopping 75 percent this year alone.
As with most commodity price spikes, wheat prices are being affected by two dynamics: a shortage on the supply side and an increase on the demand side. Supplies have been hurt by droughts in Ukraine, Europe, Canada and Australia, which are four of the world's leading wheat producing. The U.S. is the world's #1 exporter, and U.S. farmers are churning away, exporting about 16.5m tons of wheat this year, almost double the amount they sold in the same period last year. However, a severe drought cut Australia's wheat crop last year to just 10 million tons, less than half the year before. Meanwhile, Ukraine, the world's eighth-biggest wheat exporter, is already cutting exports after drought cut its grain harvest to 30 million tons, its smallest since 2003. The country will ship 58 percent less grain this year, according to its Agricultural Ministry.[some areas suffer from drought, others from too much rain, or badly times precipitation]
While sellers have less wheat to sell, buyers keep coming in with more orders. That's especially true in traditional emerging economies such as Brazil and India, but demand is coming from some surprising places, like South Korea, and Egypt. Egypt bought 10 times more wheat last month than it did a year earlier, in anticipation of higher prices, according to the country's General Authority for Supply Commodities.[countries that know, have begun to stockpile and global stocks are very low]
There is a third factor affecting the global wheat market, and that is Russia, the world's fourth largest exporter of grain. Traders are speculating that the Russian government will step in and actively reduce shipments to control domestic food prices. According to Bloomberg News, Russia has created a ``working group'' to consider measures that may include export restrictions, duties and quotas. Kazakhstan also said it plans to introduce licenses for grain exports. The other part of the Russian wildcard is the country's elections, which take place next year. Russian President Vladimir Putin has to step down, and the USDA has said the election in Russia makes government policy, including possible tariffs or export regulations, less predictable than ever. [shame on churches that continue the useless building of new houses, when so many are available by foreclosure, and no mention of worldwide hunger!]
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Bad news for wheat
The Ug99 fungus, called stem rust, could wipe out more than 80% of the world's wheat as it spreads from Africa, scientists fear. The race is on to breed resistant plants before it reaches the U.S.
The spores arrived from Kenya on dried, infected leaves ensconced in layers of envelopes.
Working inside a bio-secure greenhouse outfitted with motion detectors and surveillance cameras, government scientists at the Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minn., suspended the fungal spores in a light mineral oil and sprayed them onto thousands of healthy wheat plants. After two weeks, the stalks were covered with deadly reddish blisters characteristic of the scourge known as Ug99. ht
Working inside a bio-secure greenhouse outfitted with motion detectors and surveillance cameras, government scientists at the Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minn., suspended the fungal spores in a light mineral oil and sprayed them onto thousands of healthy wheat plants. After two weeks, the stalks were covered with deadly reddish blisters characteristic of the scourge known as Ug99. ht
Crop scientists fear the Ug99 fungus could wipe out more than 80% of worldwide wheat crops as it spreads from eastern Africa. It has already jumped the Red Sea and traveled as far as Iran. Experts say it is poised to enter the breadbasket of northern India and Pakistan, and the wind will inevitably carry it to Russia, China and even North America -- if it doesn't hitch a ride with people first.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The world is still facing a global food crisis.
1) Argentine farmers will plant the country's smallest wheat crop in a hundred years this season.
2) Argentina may well become a net importer of wheat by 2010, with its ending stocks will be close to zero.
3) China continues to import soybeans at an astonishing rate with latest estimates showing that they imported almost 14 MMT in the first four month of 2009, with sales since Sept 1st 41% higher than a year ago.
4) With US soybean ending stocks already tight, we could be in for a very interesting summer.
5) World wheat output will fall by a minimum of around 42-46 MMT this year.
Conclusion: Everything is continuing as expected. Estimates for agricultural production are being continuously being downgraded every month. China’s stimulus efforts are sucking up the world’s soybean production. Argentina is still an ecological disaster. And the world is still facing food shortages in 2009.ht market skeptic
Rice is in the news. The price of rice is completely integrated with the health of the world and food security, and recent years have seen major swings in the wholesale rice of rice. Other news is in the recent interest in those crops that can live on brackish or salt water. And, remember that we have one of the lowest levels of stockpiled grain in decades. This is surely bad news.
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