Sustainable Agriculture for Alaska and the Circumpolar North: Part II. Environmental, Geophysical, Biological and Socioeconomic Challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Local agriculture, food security and food supply are limited in Alaska, as well as in much of the circumpolar North. These limitations stem from a suite of challenges that have never been well characterized, categorized, or wholly defined. We identify these challenges as being environmental, geophysical, biological, or socioeconomic in nature, noting that some challenges are interrelated. Additionally, Alaska is expansive, and growing conditions are highly variable across different regions and microclimates of the state. Environmental challenges to Alaskan agriculture are generally linked to high latitude and include strong seasonality, a short growing season, cold temperatures, and unpredictable frosts. Geophysical challenges are characterized by a high percentage of soils that are wet and cold or low in natural fertility. Biological challenges include cultivar adaptability and selection; the control of various pests, weeds, and diseases; and decreased microbial activity in cold soils, which can allow pesticides to linger and slow mineralization of organic fertilizers. Socioeconomic challenges to farming in Alaska are especially limiting and may categorically represent the strongest hindrances to agriculture. They often overlap or interact with many of the identified agro-ecological and biogeographic challenges. Major socioeconomic issues can be a relatively low financial incentive or reward for farmers; inconsistent or limited markets; the high cost of land, infrastructure, and inputs; zoning challenges; a lack of cooperatives; and for rural farmers, time conflicts with more traditional means of subsistence food acquisition. These challenges collectively represent factors that limit agriculture in Alaska, and they provide a basis and justification for developing more sustainable solutions.Key words: agriculture, Alaska, challenges, climate, circumpolar, farming, soils, subarctic, sustainable, socioeconomic RÉSUMÉ. En Alaska, l'agriculture locale, la sécurité alimentaire et les approvisionnements en vivres sont limités. C'est également le cas d'une grande partie du Nord circumpolaire. Ces limitations découlent d'un ensemble de défis qui n'ont jamais été bien caractérisés, catégorisés ou entièrement définis. Nous estimons que ces défis sont d'ordre environnemental, géophysique, biologique ou socioéconomique, et que certains des défis sont interreliés. De plus, l'Alaska est d'une grande étendue, et les conditions de croissance varient énormément d'une région à l'autre et d'un microclimat à l'autre de l'État. De manière générale, les défis environnementaux inhérents à l'agriculture alaskienne ont trait à la haute latitude, ce qui comprend une importante saisonnalité, une courte saison de croissance, des températures froides et des gelées imprévisibles. Pour leur part, les défis géophysiques sont caractérisés par un fort pourcentage de sols humides et froids, ou encore, de sols dont la fertilité naturelle est faible, puis les défis d'ordre biologique ont trait à l'adaptabilité et à la sélection des cultiv...

Nutrient Concentrations of Bush Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivated in Subarctic Soils Managed with Intercropping and Willow (Salix spp.) Agroforestry

“…Phosphorus limitations are common in subarctic wetland regions [46] where the availability of P is inhibited by (i) the cool soil temperatures that slows microbial activity [13,46,47]; (ii) an alkaline pH that is ideal for Ca fixation to P preventing the availability of HPO 4 2− compounds [16,44,46]; and (iii) high CEC and pH properties of soil that encourage binding P to clay fractions and organic complexes [46]. Although there were many environmental factors that negatively impact phosphorus availability, potato foliage samples were near or above the critical limit for P at both the open and agroforestry sites.…”

Sustainable Agriculture for Alaska and the Circumpolar North: Part I. Development and Status of Northern Agriculture and Food Security

“…For example, there exists a strong potential for using waste outputs from fish processing as nutrient inputs for agriculture; however, the logistics and costs of organizing and distributing fish wastes to where they are needed remains challenging (see Stevenson et al, 2014a for more details). Alaska's agricultural potential is immense (ARDC, 1974), and responsible development and expansion of the industry by the private sector, although not free from challenges, could provide many benefits to Alaska's communities.…”

Sustainable Agriculture for Alaska and the Circumpolar North: Part III. Meeting the Challenges of High-Latitude Farming

“…Cold soils, excessive or inadequate rainfall, and poor soil conditions can all limit or reduce food production in Subarctic areas (Stevenson et al, 2014b). What solutions are currently in operation or under experimentation to address these issues?…”

“…Although many soils in Alaska are acidic, they vary from acid to alkaline statewide (Stevenson et al, 2014b). Therefore, Extension agents generally recommend testing the soil before directly applying lime.…”

“…A suite of environmental, geophysical, biological, and socioeconomic challenges to agriculture exists in Alaska (Stevenson et al, 2014b). Major environmental challenges, which include low average temperatures, a short growing season, and uncertainty of frosts, are obvious and often related to high latitude.…”