In 2005, I established the Better U Foundation with the goal of promoting transformational and sustainable ideas that can improve the lives of people around the world. One innovation that has captured my attention is a revolutionary yet simple methodology known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). In a nutshell, SRI produces over 50-150 percent more yield while using 50 percent less water, 90 percent less seed and no fertilizer or pesticides.
For the past five years, I have been committed to learning as much as possible about SRI and have dedicated resources to its promotion and expansion. In partnership with Cornell University, the Better U Foundation has also funded and established the SRI International Network and Resource Center, which conducts research and strives to educate farmers, development practitioners, policy makers, and many others in the promise and potential of SRI.
I may not be a scientist, but I know a great idea when I see it. Since its humble beginnings in the 1980s on the African island of Madagascar, SRI has spread to 40 countries and has been endorsed by presidents, prime ministers, leading conservation groups, and agricultural scientists. The practice has thrived in some of the harshest climates the planet has to offer. The SRI method includes planting young seedlings earlier, planting single seedlings, utilizing wider spacing, avoiding flooded soil, ensuring soil aeration, and using organic fertilizer. Most importantly, SRI has proven to be more resistant to droughts, cyclones, typhoons, and pests, and is readily available to farmers with no additional costs.
The collateral environmental and thus human benefits of SRI are equally impressive. SRI soils are healthier, dramatically reducing methane and nitrous oxide, both contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, there is no pressure on slash and burn deforestation. Communities using SRI have also seen health benefits associated with the reduction of standing water, including lower rates of malaria and dengue fever and gynecological benefits to women who no longer sit in flooded fields to plant rice.
The 150,000 farmers trained in SRI in Madagascar alone are a testament to its efficacy and sustainability. It has been a revolution in the lives of those farmers who, thanks to SRI, now produce enough food to feed their families throughout the year, have some left over to sell, and from these earnings can afford to send their children to school.
More than a billion people today rely on rice as a main source of food. This number will certainly rise in the coming years with the expected growth of the world's population. Greater demand for foods such as rice will come at a time of increasing pressure on the earth's resources -- a time when our soils are becoming less fertile, our streams and rivers more polluted, and our forests more threatened. Improving agricultural productivity, particularly for resource-intensive crops such as rice, will be a critical factor in securing food for the world's population. SRI is an important part of the solution.
Today I am excited to address the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City on the success and future of SRI. The Better U Foundation is committed to sharing the exciting news about SRI and ensuring that its dramatic early success is only the beginning. With the goal of empowering others by supporting transformational and sustainable ideas, the Better U Foundation is committed to cultivating a better universe.
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The real solution is getting people to control their genitals and stop filling the world with babies. The more global warming we have, the less land we're going to have, and much less arable land.
Increasing this resource and developing that technology is just putting a band aid on a bullet wound.
Sheehy, J. E., S. Peng, et al. (2004). "Fantastic yields in the system of rice intensification: fact or fallacy?" Field Crops Research 88(1): 1-8.
The combination of natural resources, genes, weather and management systems largely determines maximum crop yields. Recently, one of those elements was portrayed as the key to releasing hitherto unrecognized, but significant, untapped growth potential in rice. That element, the system of rice intensification (SRI), is an unconventional management system developed in Madagascar, where it was reported to increase rice yields to [`]fantastic' levels. To investigate the general potency of the SRI, we conducted experiments in three locations in China comparing yields in conventional and SRI management systems. In addition, we used a theoretical model to predict maximum yields and compared those with reported yields for various locations, including China and Madagascar. Our results imply that the SRI has no inherent advantage over the conventional system and that the original reports of extraordinary high yields are likely to be the consequence of error.
This statement alone should be fair waning that this study should be given no more weight than any other at this point. Imply? Likely? Neither of these terms supports absolute truth OR falsity. when dealing with scientific discovery it is always good to remember that EVERY innovation that upsets a long held paradigm has usually been initially met with skepticism.
Where to begin.
is listening ,here's a serenade for a wonderful and harmless clown :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zc3x2Kd7M
madagascar is one of the nation which american foreighn policy had destroyed; its good to hear something sustainable about it
yield is a quantity measure a quality measure is internal nutrient profile natural content which only God knows what it should be
so yield and inner nutrient profile have to added together to determine usefulness of agriculture methods
commerercial chemical agribizz causes inner loss as well as outer habitat degradation ;so the increased yield is a zero sum gain ; SRI sounds like a positive gain
then 'increase of food supply causes increase in population ' is a law there wouldnt be an end to one chasing the other
to stabilize population at current level is the highest priority without using dictatorial means and while allowing peopel to fulfill natural desires
My understanding is that Bill Gates is invested in Monsanto.
Jim, if you are checking on this thread for comments, and if you are in business with Monsanto or are considering it, please watch the documentary about Percy Schmeiser, the Canadian who fought Monsanto and won. It's called, "David vs. Monsanto".
Best of luck with your foundation.....(so long as Monsanto is not involved).
Abbybwood
http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2001/2001fct256/2001fct256.html
Tough to argue with facts. To equate Schmeiser with David is sacrilege in the highest order.
[[ [ lack of food is caused by darwinian capitalism, habitat degradation , wars [ every aid agency knows this since 20 years i.e. there is enough food but but e.g. american s are eating 2x more than neccessary , so confine america and canada to americ and canada ] in a word stress is the problem ] ]]
the solution is less stress
that simply means : John Fagan's " vedic engineering ", John Hagelin's "unified field based solutions ", Maharishi 's TM and TM siddhi program and vedic organic agri-culture
only a group of 8 000 yogic flyers can prevent degeneration in the weather for instance only a group of 8 000 yogic flyers can liberate real peace only a group of 8 000 yogic flyers creates balance , coherence in collective consciousness
To say something positive - you've made some funny movies.
The whole reason that this technique is necessary is because we have 4 billion more people living on the planet than can be supported by the food supply. Unfortunately for us, no government, the UN, even the best enlightened thinkers of the planet refuse to even whisper the subject.
According the best, latest estimates we have depleted the edible fish in the ocean by 80% over early to mid 20th Century biomass surveys; what's the forecast for even the next fifty years?
I applaud people like Carey for their efforts in stemming the tide of starvation, but with over half of the world's population malnourished or going to bed hungry, and violent factions operating around the world using starvation and potable water as vicious weapons against their own peoples and their neighbors, methods like SRI are nothing but a drop in the bucket.
One day, someone is going to have the strength to stand up to the tide of hostility (and I dare say, threats to their life) to address a dying planet's suicidal birth rate.
Miles "Crowded House" Long
Your points are important but we must keep in mind the evolutionary history of humans. People will have fewer children when they have more certainty that their kids will not die early. Hedging one's bets by having more kids is a good strategy when one or more will likely die. Thus, ensuring more food production that works over time may, in fact, help to reduce the pressure to have more kids.
At the same time, however, we must shower the world with contraception that women can use without the approval of men. Sorry guys.
Religion is the prime mover in keeping reproductive control of women's bodies out of the hands of women, and woe be unto any woman who has unregulated (by men) sex with another. The larger forces of society must punish those who have sex, and enjoy it, on their own terms.
As a result, population management cannot be addressed...
Miles "(Male) Minority Rule" Long
And it's Gluten free.