A Conversation with Fred Kirschenmann: Transitioning from Industrial, Energy-Intensive Agriculture to a System Based on Biological Synergies

摘要

Fred Kirschenmann was born in North Dakota during the Dust Bowl. His father discouraged him from taking on the family farm. After earning a B.A. in philosophy and religion and a Ph.D. in theology, Fred went on to teach and serve as an academic dean, returning to the farm only in summer. After his father's heart attack, he decided to come home after all, but on one condition: the farm had to go organic. He later adopted biodynamic farming techniques. He is president of the 3500-acre certified organicand Demeter-certified Biodynamic~(R) Kirschenmann Family Farms. He also was president (1990—1999) of Farm Verified Organic, a private organic certification agency. He served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board, and chaired the administrative council for the USDA's North Central Region's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SAKE) program. Fred was the former Director and now Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Fred was interviewed by Arty Mangan of Bioneers as part of his "Wisdom at the End of a Hoe" series. Thanks to Bioneers for allowing us to share it with our readers.