The shape of agriculture - as Neil Young would like it

Sunday, November 8, 2015

The folk and rock icon is known as a friend of agriculture. But in joining other celebrities in signing the Leap Manifesto – which calls for low inputs, low technology and low carbon – he may be more attuned to farming in our grandfather's day than the 21st century version

by BARRY WILSON

Canadian-American folk and rock icon Neil Young – born and raised in Canada and a resident of the United States for almost half a century – has won accolades and a strong rural following for his fund-raising and passionate defence of farmers.

His Farm Aid concerts in the United States have raised millions of dollars to support low-income farmers. He waxes poetic about the rural backbone of the country, the continent. He has owned and lived on a real horse ranch, Broken Arrow Ranch, outside Los Angeles for more than four decades, taking an interest in the business. His credibility as a friend of rural North America is high. Besides, his songs, his lyricism, are sublime.

But the next time you see a video or watch a DVD of a Neil Young Farm Aid concert, best not to get too nostalgic or misty-eyed. He may not really be trying to support your kind of farming enterprise if you are a large, 21st century operation using modern technologies, GM seed varieties, farm inputs and have an eye on export markets to sell your crop.

In mid-September, in the midst of the recent federal election campaign, Young was one of many musical, acting, literary, activist, charity, union, church and environmental luminaries who signed onto a manifesto issued to call for a new environmental, social and political order.

The lead author and organizer of the Leap Manifesto was best-selling Toronto author and activist Naomi Klein. It was launched in Toronto with endorsements from a raft of celebrities that included actor Donald Sutherland, environmentalist David Suzuki, song writer Leonard Cohen – and Neil Young, who tools around in an electric car but, like most music celebrities, burns a lot of carbon touring the world for massive concerts.

Launch of the Leap Manifesto received some media interest but had no discernible impact on the election debate. Still, assuming all the signatories read the manifesto before they signed on, it offers a fascinating glimpse at the type of world they wish for, at least for others.

So what would agriculture look like in this new world of racial and gender equality, environmental sustainability, low or no carbon and "energy democracy?"

It largely would look like my grandfather's 19th century farm in the Gatineau Valley north of Ottawa – low input, low tech, low environmental footprint and a trip (for him) to Ottawa's Byward Market in the autumn to sell produce so he could buy what he couldn't produce on the farm.

This is how the Leap Manifesto describes it: "Moving to a far more localized and ecologically-based agricultural system would reduce reliance on fossil fuels, capture carbon in the soil and absorb sudden shocks in the global supply – as well as produce healthier and more affordable food for everyone."

And trade as an agricultural lifeblood would be downplayed. "We call for an end to all trade deals that interfere with our attempts to rebuild local economies, regulate corporations and stop damaging extractive projects."

Instead, low-carbon economic sectors, including caregiving, teaching, social work, the arts and "public interest media" would be promoted.

It could be a formula to promote more Farm Aid concerts to help dominant low-cost, local market producers survive. BF

Barry Wilson is a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery specializing in agriculture.