Time, perhaps, to investigate in urban hydroponics. A very well developed technology, seasonality negated, lowest journey to market, maximum use of inputs, delicious product, grow just about anything... Where are the investors?

Great article, Susan. It seems like basic commonsense to suggest that we all work with the land rather than against it but, in this age when the land, animals, everything has to be exploited for every dollar we can get out of it, commonsense goes out the window. I liked your suggestion that governments and industry listen to the women, the poor, Indigenous people, those close to the land... When, oh when, will that ever happen?

Quite a good article and one that goes right to the heart of the matter considering soil health and working with natural systems are the only really feasible way of fixing a biological problem. Technology alone certainly won't do it.
Unsubscribing from 'The Land & Q.C.L.' would also be a good start. If the answers were to be found there, then we would have no problems...
Ohhh that's right, its the drought and bloody politicians that have caused all the problems. Completely out of our control, so we aren't to blame at all...
Not completely sure if the people suggested are the only ones with some answers though. Plenty of land degradation has been caused by poor people as well as the first Australians. (and dare I say it, some of them would have been women!!)
Susan, a great way forward would be to give a voice to those currently using regenerative farming practices. They are being drowned out in the media and government policy by industrialised agriculture.
They are out there (not whinging), just passionately pursuing their dreams, and creating real answers.

Good god, there is some rot in this article!

1. By removing patents, you remove the incentive to invest money in R&D, which most of the time, will lead to improved management of resources, and better ways of doing things.

2. Bangladesh supports so many from its farms because few of them reach the standard of living that we would consider absolute minimum. I dont think we should be holding them up as an example. Yes their soils may be rich, but may I kindly suggest that this is the only thing that is allowing them to support their population without starving, not their management of this.

3. Yes Bangladesh has wide flowing rivers - they have a LOT more rain than we do.

4. If we didnt invest in infrastructure (like dams etc), we would have a dry Murray-Darling now. People would be left without water, and animals would die.

5. The author suggests that immigrants from diverse farming backgrounds have much to teach us. Perhaps we can learn a few points here and there. But immigrants brought rice to Australia (which I dont see as a bad thing, but many do). This suggestion also goes against other arguments made by the author, that our environment needs good local management, which is what enables farmers to continue generation after generation without overtaxing the land that they are on. Australian farmers are considered world's best practice in most areas, and are the most economically efficient. If we are going to look at other farming methods, we would do best to seek help from the Israelis, who have to work with an environment at least as harsh as ours.

Despite growing up on a farm, this woman demonstrates little real understand of the challenges faced by farmers and their attempts to manage a BUSINESS within the constraints that they are given.

Thanks for the 'Soil & Health' link Chris.

One thing about Bangladesh's farmers are that they grow and sell their produce in a third world economy. A tonne of rice is worth a years pay there and about 2 days pay here.

What are the viable alternatives to growing cotton and rice?