Agribusiness: building sustainable food systems using aquaponics.

  Aquaponics and  sustainable food systems.

Aquaponics is a method of farming and raising fish in the same spot, harnessing this opportunity will ensure a sustainable food system leading to food security. Reforms of the food systems requires innovative models to achieve goal of zero hunger.

Aquaponics farming involves raising fish and growing plants in the same space. This system if properly incorporated will ensure food security. The system maximize space and conserve water through recycling which reduces use of inorganic fertilizer thus saving money. 

Aquaponics system creates wealth by promoting fish farming and growing plants in same cubicle,thus creating job opportunities and food security. The system is a symbiotic one as the fish provides organic manure through the waste they pass out in the vats and the plants purifies water by removing the nutrients increasing oxygen concentration. 

The plants provide enough oxygen for the fish to thrive and the waste of fish gives nutrients to plants to grow and produce more oxygen,this unending cycle is the basis of the success of the aquaponics system. 

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Agribusiness : innovations in food systems reform to ensure food security.

 Food security the availability of food and the capacity to access the quality and quantity needed for well being. The components of food security are availability, accessibility, utilization  and stability. These components must be factored into food systems if food security is to be achieved.

 Food systems must ensure availability  of all classes of food to promote well being. This will be achieved by innovative methods of food production. Farming in urban and rural areas to achieve maximum food production.     The use of  newer farming protocols such as hydroponics,aeroponics, greenhouse technology to ensure food is available all year round.

 The food systems must create a platform for accessibility: that is from farm to market the products are within reach and affordable. This is where commodity boards, farmers' markets and price policy comes to play. A regulatory body on pricing creating a bench mark and also a safety net for consumers play a vital role..

     

 Food systems must encourage proper utilization of various food stuff, this is where education on food types  and  benefits come into play. The  knowledge of nutritional advantages of various food types are of paramount importance if the goal is to build healthier food systems.

 Food systems must be enshrined on stable platforms, resilient to shocks and unplanned events. This is where the silo techniques comes to play. Increased production of food, these are stored in silos or food banks. These can be further processed depending on the produce (value addition) to ensure longer shelf life. This silo-food-bank method will ensure all year supply of food.

 The success of the food systems is dependent on effective and efficient  logistics to ensure distribution to designated points. These  distribution will also use the delivery on order approach as regarding online shopping.

 The major point in the food system reform is to leverage the use of technology from farm to market and delivery to consumers.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A LEARNING CURVE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS REFORM.

 Covid -19 pandemic disrupted the world system, the world was on lock-down leaving many people unable to meet nutritional needs, many more lost jobs and so many just barely survived on goodwill. The food supply chain was totally disrupted giving a glimpse into the needed reform in the food systems.

   The lock-down due to the Covid19 pandemic increased global food insecurity showing weak links in the current food systems resulting in various think -tanks on how to strengthen food systems by reforming the current strategy.

 The rapid response of government to cushion effect of pandemic by way of giving out palliatives to the vulnerable in the society as well as private companies supporting the government by way of cash donations and food items and logistic companies providing support during the lock down period has given insight into the pattern of food system reforms.

  The Covid 19 pandemic opened up opportunities to create more efficient food systems. The world food system changed immediately to digital approach leveraging technology. The food system changed to virtual markets and purchasing of variety of products that are easy to handle with longer shelf life.

 The reforms triggered  by the Covid 19 pandemic aligns with attributes of a functional food system which are: 1)Efficiency 2)Inclusion of small holder farmers , major players. 3)Vulnerable are targets 4)  Establishment of food banks 5) Functional distribution network.

  The revamping of the food systems arising from the Covid19 pandemic  shows reforms in the food system can be immediate while long term initiatives can be proffer solutions to  prevent future shock.

 Food system reforms..changing the narrative about food production,food processing and packaging distribution and marketing.

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Agribusiness: Future Of Food Systems.

  The future of food systems. What does the future hold as regard food, food safety, food systems and food production? How will the narrative change in food systems as regards feeding the projected population increase of 9.8 billion by 2050? how will the food system absorb shock or unforeseen circumstances? how resilient is our food system currently and how are we structuring a more resilience food system?

  Food systems and our way of life. Food is essential for life, a common denominator that cuts across all levels of the society. Food is fuel and it nourishes us, though quality and quantity available is another story.  Some people have limited access to food while others have unlimited access resulting in diverse food related diseases.

 How can we build our food system to withstand  threat of climate change ,environmental degradation as well as curbing food loss or food waste.?     The answer is simple, EDUCATION. The need to educate small holder farmers on the need to adopt climate smart agricultural practices. The  training on how to increase yield by using good seeds coupled with proper planting procedures.

  Introduction  and promotion of value chain concept to farmers, teaching them how to use simple methods to add value to their products thus extending shelf live and curbing waste. A resilience food system will encompass good agricultural practices, proper food handling ,food safety and food preservation.

 The future of food systems is not the purview of farmers alone, government policies favoring agribusiness is another angle and the use of technology to scale up production and distribution is key.

  How to create a resilience food system? create a hub of producers leveraging technology to increase food production and also a marketing hub backed by a sustainable distribution network. The creation of innovative food system models to ensure food supply from farm to fork is safe,traceable ,accessible and available for utilization.

 

Climate smart agriculture.#hydroponics.

Climate smart agriculture growing vegetables in a tray without soil. The innovative mindset birthed this and now its live!!! I have a farm where i grow vegetables,but decided to plant some veggies the hydroponics way; 

 I followed these steps ; 1) chose good quality seeds. 2) soaked the seeds in hypochlorite solution for 6 hours. 3) washed seeds with clean water and set in trays. 4) i sprayed with water morning and evening. 5) here comes the veggies.

Agriculture and healthy food systems.

Agriculture has taken center stage in the race for food security with many countries bringing out strategies and platforms to incorporate more people to achieve the goal. Agriculture and agribusiness has proven to be a major key for economic growth, the cry to go back to the field is not only wealth creation and generation but also to ensure healthy living. 

 The war against antibiotic misuse in farmed animals has opened the eyes of many to the fact that eating more greens is a sure ticket to healthy living. The rise in cases of cancer, obesity, heart diseases and diabetes has been linked to over consumption of over-processed foods with numerous additives that actually impact the health of man. 

The adage" you are what you eat, is aptly rephrased as you are what your animals eat." The consumption of grass-fed cattle according to studies does not predispose to cancer as against others fed with different ration. 

The balance between agriculture and healthy living starts from farm to fork, where animals are fed balanced rations without additives or hormones and also the processing and packaging are done in hygienic environment to prevent contamination of products and infection in the consumers. 

 The changing of diet to include more greens,leafy vegetables will also play a vital role in healthy living. Urban agriculture will not only open doors to wealth creation,but will also ensure that more families have access to farm fresh foods daily. 

The race to incorporate veggies into our everyday meals has started with my farm where Vegetables are easy and fast to cook. The addition of vegetable to your diet will help in various ways that you have not thought about,and various vegetables have various advantages but generally all vegetables have the following in common; 1) easy to cook. 2) can be eaten raw. 3) a healthy snack. 4) smooth skin .5) weight management. 

 Healthy food systems and nutritious facts. 

The lettuce is good for you as it helps to lower cholesterol so no heart disease, it helps prevent cancer, has a lot of water, dietary fiber, antioxidants and has anti inflammatory properties so no bloating. 

 Lettuce helps to reduce anxiety and also induces sleep so bye bye to insomnia. Its rich in protein,carbohydrate alongside other minerals. 

 This fit-farm era, why dont you try mixing your lettuce with other veggies? Garden salad is in order. This delicacy is lettuce,with carrot,peas. sliced eggs and sweet corn, let the taste buds challenge begin. Order your farm fresh vegetables now!!!