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Sustainable Horticultural Crop Production in Iceland David Weller Sustainable Horticultural Crop Production in Iceland David Weller Undergraduate Student, Hort 3002W, Sustainable Horticulture Production (Greenhouse Management), Dept. of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, 1970 Folwell Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108 U.S.A. Introduction Iceland is a country located in the northern hemisphere at 65º 00´ N, 18º 00´ W. It is surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Greenland Sea. Iceland’s population as of July 2009 was approximately 306,694 people (CIA 2010). Only one-third of this population, however, lives outside of the capital city of Reykjavik and its surrounding areas (GTI 2008). The climate is surprisingly temperate given Iceland’s close proximity to the Arctic Circle, because the North Atlantic Current often moderates the country’s weather patterns. Iceland usually experiences cool, damp summers and mild, windy winters. Iceland’s terrain consists of mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, some ice fields, and a coast that is deeply indented by bays and fjords. Additionally, Iceland lies almost directly on the mid-Atlantic ridge, which is one of Earth’s major fault lines (CIA 2010). Because of this highly active tectonic area, the island is full of volcanic activity and hot springs. The major reason I am choosing to research Iceland is first and foremost because of their enormous potential for harnessing this natural geothermal energy. The use of this natural energy source alongside other sustainable agricultural and horticultural methods can definitely contribute to a more energy efficient country. While the people of Iceland have already implemented many sustainable strategies, the goal of this paper is to analyze these methods within a synergistic context. Iceland has a total land area of 10,300,000 ha and is roughly the size of the state of Virginia, USA. 10,025,000 ha of this area are land and 275,000 ha are water. The island of Weller 2 Iceland has 4,970 km of coastline. Of the land area, only 0.07% is arable land. In terms of crops, 0% of land is used for permanent crops and 99.93% is for “other” uses. Iceland’s total renewable water resources in 2005 are listed as 170 km3. Important environmental issues that Iceland is currently dealing with include water pollution from fertilizer runoff and inadequate wastewater treatment (CIA 2010). Geography and Weather Iceland is broken into eight geographical regions: the Höfuðborgarsvæði (Capital region), the Suðurnes (Southwest), the Vesturland (West), the Vestfirðir (Westfjords), the Norðurland Vestra (Northwest), the Norðurland Eystra (Northeast), the Austurland (East), and the Suðurland (South) (IAS 2009). Iceland’s densely populated capital, Reykjavik, is located in the capital region. Since 1901, Iceland has become less rural and more urban. Only 6.5% of Iceland’s population still lives in rural towns, which are defined as having less than 200 people (IAS 2009). In terms of Iceland’s terrain, there is a very large percentage of the country that cannot be inhabited by people. The interior of the country is comprised of arctic deserts, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls. Many of the coastal regions are also very sparsely populated. The majority of Iceland’s vegetation and agricultural lands are in lowland areas that are close to the coastline (GTI 2008). Of Iceland’s 10,300,00 ha of area, 60,600 ha are rivers, 116,500 ha is birch forest and shrubbery, 174,700 ha are lakes, 1,032,600 ha is moss, 1,117,900 ha are icecaps, and 4,247,600 ha is uncultivated and barren land. Only 2,700,900 ha are listed as heaths, grass, and cultivated land (IAS 2009). Iceland’s warmest month of the year is usually July, when average monthly temperatures on the southern coast are from 10-12ºC. Average highs in July are about 25º C. Average temperatures are a few degrees cooler in the interior of the country, but the microclimate depends Weller 3 largely on the specific geography of the area in question. In winter, average temperatures are also quite mild given Iceland’s northerly latitude. The southern coastal lowlands experience average January temperatures of 0-2ºC, while the majority of the other coastline has averages from -4-0ºC. The central highlands experience the coldest average temperatures, usually staying below -10ºC in January (Ingólfsson 2008). Definition of Sustainability The word sustainability can be defined in many different ways. Ideas about what sustainability really means can vary greatly depending on the interests of the person or group involved in the discussion. Quite frequently a Venn diagram is used to illustrate the desired relationships between economic, environmental, and social sustainability issues. Figure 1 below is just one example of a sustainability Venn diagram. Basically, sustainability is something best Figure 1. (GCBL 2008) Weller 4 achieved when there is an intersection between the economic, social, and environmental sectors. While this particular diagram is fairly detailed and lists specific goals for overall sustainability, many sustainability Venn diagrams are very simple and quite vague. Even in the diagram in Figure 1 does not address specific issues that would be pertinent to the horticultural industry. A much more in depth and focused definition can be found in a booklet called Icelandic Agriculture, which was published in 1997 by the Icelandic Agricultural Information Service. The following definition/guidelines is given verbatim regarding sustainability: -Agriculture shall be in harmony with the environment. Production capacity of farming land shall be improved from one generation to the next. -Emphasis shall be placed on land reclamation and afforestation. -A high standard of animal welfare shall be a prerequisite for livestock production. -The production of wholesome and pure foods shall be the cornerstone of Icelandic agriculture. -Quality control shall be encouraged throughout all production processes. -Determined efforts shall be made to strengthen certified organic production and other sustainable forms of agricultural production. -The countryside shall remain a viable and dynamic community. -The earnings and social conditions of the agricultural community shall be attractive enough to make farming a worthwhile profession. -The general public shall be made aware of the fact that the farming heritage is a cultural treasure that needs to be preserved (IA 1997). This definition is incredibly wide-reaching and quite specific. All three aspects of the sustainability Venn diagram shown in Figure 1-environmental stewardship, social progress, and economic growth-are addressed by these guidelines. Overall, this definition is likely much more useful to the people of Iceland than just the Venn diagram. An important point made in this definition is that Iceland is actively seeking to improve and increase organic production and other sustainable forms of agricultural production. In this sense, they are not limiting themselves by taking a “tunnel vision” approach to sustainability. I believe that this idea is very important when trying to improve sustainable agriculture. It is not enough to settle for a system of Weller 5 agriculture because it is more sustainable than another said agricultural system; improvements and innovation are always necessary given the world’s huge population and our waning resources. Iceland’s government seems to be taking this definition very seriously and is a part of over twenty international and regional conventions that deal with environmental issues. Iceland also developed a Farmer’s Association in 2001 that is actively trying to promote sustainable agriculture and equal rights for all Icelandic farmers. Land reclamation and afforestation are also being promoted through education by the Agricultural University of Iceland (CSD 16 n.d.). While legislation and definitions are helpful guidelines for farmers, production practices are the real substance of agriculture and horticulture, and will be discussed subsequently. Historical Production Practices Iceland’s agricultural history can be divided into four main periods beginning with colonization and ending in the present. The first occurred from approximately the year 900- 1900. These years were characterized by self-sufficient farming and low overall crop productivity. Cultivation of cold-hardy vegetables was done on a very small scale and livestock grazing was dominant (Helgadottir and Sveinsson n.d.). In the years from approximately 1900-1945, cultivation increased because of growing urban populations and concerns about food security. The first artificial fertilizers were introduced along with the greenhouse. Farming technologies were improved but still relatively primitive. Overall, during this period more acreage could be farmed with less effort and manpower (Helgadottir and Sveinsson n.d.). While land was being worked harder more towards the end of this period, Iceland was still relatively sustainable in terms of agricultural methods. Weller 6 The third period spanned from approximately 1945-1980. This post WWII era featured even newer fertilizers, pesticides, and more advanced machinery. All of these advances seemingly made farming even more efficient (Helgadottir and Sveinsson n.d.). Although Icelanders used these new products, they used them in moderation and therefore never polluted their lands or waters too heavily. Iceland’s cool climate was and still is a blessing in disguise in terms of pest and disease pressures; fewer plant pests and diseases can proliferate during the short Icelandic summers, and few can survive the long winters (IA 1997). Farmers generally only have to worry about primary inoculums and the first generation of many insect pests when managing their crops. Historically, Iceland’s agricultural industry and practices have been quite sustainable. Part of the reason for this can likely be attributed to the climate and soil conditions. Iceland is such a small country and only a very small percentage (0.07 %) of the already small area is even arable. Because of this, the agricultural industry has had no choice but to be sustainable. If Icelanders had irresponsibly used and abused their precious resources, they would have put themselves in a tight spot.
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