{"id":9586,"date":"2018-03-14T14:01:18","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T17:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeinsyntropy.org\/?p=9586"},"modified":"2018-03-14T14:01:18","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T17:01:18","slug":"pests-agents-otimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/pests-agents-otimization\/","title":{"rendered":"Stories Behind The Concepts – PESTS"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

In Ernst G\u00f6tschs\u2019 agriculture, holes become NESTS<\/strong>, seeds become GENES<\/strong>, weeding becomes HARVESTING<\/strong>, competition gives way to COOPERATION<\/strong> and pests become the \u201cAGENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OPTIMIZATION OF LIFE PROCESSES\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>

The peculiar (and already classic) vocabulary of Ernst G\u00f6tsch features a coherence of form, function, ideology and behavior. It\u2019s \u201cAgents of Oversight\u201d may appear no more than a provocative notion, yet it\u2019s hard to resist putting these concepts to the test and evaluating their legitimacy. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the history behind his concepts and vocabulary.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

The case of the Witch's Broom <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

This case is an example that helps to explain what\u2019s behind the intriguing concept of \u00a0\u201cAgents of the Department of Optimization of Life Processes\u201d which is how Ernst G\u00f6stch refers to pests.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Young Ernst G\u00f6sch<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

To understand how <\/em>and why <\/em>G\u00f6tsch arrived at this name it\u2019s worth looking at a little of his personal history<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

In the nineteen-seventies, when G\u00f6sch worked with plant genetics in Switzerland, his focus of study was on forage plants and the search for genotypes that were more resistant to disease. Beyond the acknowledgments that his research received, it was during this period that Ernst posed the question: \u201cCould we achieve better results if we were to find ways of cultivating crops that provided the conditions for best growth, rather than creating genotypes that support the poor treatment to which we submit them?\u201d<\/em><\/p>

At the risk of compromising his previous genetic research, Ernst began to obstinately test his hypotheses in different climates and conditions around the world including north Switzerland, southern Germany, Costa Rica, the high plains of Bolivia and the diverse biomes of Brazil.<\/em><\/p>

Could we achieve better results if we were to find ways of cultivating crops that provided the conditions for best growth, rather than creating genotypes that support the poor treatment to which we submit them? –\u00a0<\/em>G\u00f6tsch<\/i><\/h3><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Ernst's Cacao Plantation - Bahia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

The way Ernst G\u00f6tsch reacted to the cacao crisis that began at the end of the nineteen-eighties, which affected all production in southern of Bahia was a test in which his ideas would be proven correct.<\/p>

During this time, around 600 thousand hectares of cacao plantation were affected by witches\u2019 broom (C. Perniciosa<\/em>). The region, which was known as a top producer of the high quality \u201cCocoa type 1\u201d or \u201cBahia Cacao Superior\u201d, saw its participation in the international market fall from 14.8% to the current 4%, according to the data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization\u00a0(*1)<\/p>

This story has a tragic twist which has left those affected searching until today for those responsible for the apparently deliberate introduction of the disease (*2).<\/p>

\u00a0ATTEMPTS TO FIGHT THE\u00a0WITCH’S BROOM<\/strong><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Controversies aside, to deal with the problem the Executive Committee on Cacao Farming attempted to help the cacao producers through the application of various techniques to combat the disease. Techniques included the application of pesticides, herbicides, prohibition of production in certain areas, drastic pruning and canopy clearance as well as typical cloning solutions.\u00a0None of these attempts obtained significant results in the control of the disease.\u00a0The one method which provided any results at all was the deforestation of large tracts of Atlantic Rainforest.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

During this time, 70% of the cacao in the region was produced by the Cabruca system in which the cacao tree is shaded by native tree species. Due to this, the only successful attempts for the eradication of the witches\u2019 broom were responsible for the cutting of native trees within the biome, such as the Jacarand\u00e1, Cedro, Jequitib\u00e1 and Ip\u00ea. All tested methods which were sanctioned under the express and auspicious technical recommendation of the \u00a0Cacao Committee proved in the end, to be ineffective (*3).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Ernst G\u00f6tsch was also growing cacao during the same period and in the same area. However, the narrative that he tells about the same witches\u2019 broomstick is disconcertingly different.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Ernst G\u00f6tch - Bahia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Cocoa and witch-broom coevolved, we have to consider this -G\u00f6tsch<\/h3><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Ernsts\u2019 thought process was not bound to any conventional train of thought or growing method. This allowed him to observe the interaction between the fungus and the plant to understand its logic and dynamic. Ernst was accustomed to dealing with diseases and attacks from pests without combating them with fungicide or pesticide. He looked to evaluate the relationship, the goal being, to see if behind the event there might be some beneficial motive for the forest system.\u00a0<\/p>

It was with this disposition that he observed the witches\u2019 broom in his cacao stands. Taking into consideration that the cacao and the witches\u2019 broom co-evolved throughout history, he realized that they may be able to live in balance with one another.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Through this new lens, in a place where everyone else saw an attack from a pest, Ernst permitted himself to see a sign of the necessity for management<\/strong><\/em>. The pruning he conducted after the observation of the witches\u2019 broom improved the resistance of the cacao guaranteeing his production. It also dispensed with any need for agro-additives chemical or biological. It is important to realize that he passed up defensive agro-additives not out of dogmatic or ideological impulse, but rather out of the search for solutions that are most efficient and, that produce the best results.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Seen from this point of view, the pest comes to have a function that contributes to the betterment of the general environmental conditions in which a plant grows. So, it doesn\u2019t make sense to call them pests or weeds but rather \u201cAGENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OPTIMIZATION OF LIFE PROCESSES\u201d.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Cacao flower at Ernst's<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Ernst's Cacao Plantation - Bahia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

For G\u00f6stch, pruning oriented by the \u201cAgents\u201d promotes the \u201cOptimization of Life Processes\u201d and with this \u201cthe pests function stops being necessary, so the agents \u201cremove themselves\u201d. In fact, informed pruning – among other effects- has a rejuvenating quality on the plantation and, with this breaks the life cycle of the fungus naturally, or rather \u201cit removes itself\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

The example of the cacao and the witches\u2019 broom is just one among many which illustrate and verify this concept. The same logic can be applied in the relation between crickets and beans, boar and corn, cutter ants and manioc, the Pupunha palm fruit and strong winds etc. \u2013 all real stories and experiences in the field. All this remains within the shared perception of scientists that have arrived at similar conclusions to G\u00f6tsch. The Austrian naturalist Viktor Schauberger, for example, at the beginning of the 20th century, already called parasites the \u201csanitation police of nature\u201d (*4). In the 1940\u2019s, the pioneer of organic agriculture Albert Howard also referenced pests and diseases as \u201cAgents of Oversight\u201d (*5). The theory of Trofobiose of Chaboussou launched the basis in the 1970\u2019s for the understanding that the plant is only attacked when it is in a nutritional disequilibrium.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Aside from all the scientific foundation which supports this vision, we cannot forget to appreciate the potential for the breaking of popular practice and perception that these displacements of reasoning promote. Just like poetry destabilizes pre-established concepts, inspires reflection and, in this case, questions our place within the environment in which we live, G\u00f6stchs\u2019 findings help us understand that new solutions are possible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Ernst's Cacao Plantation - Bahia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Translation: Michael Grueter<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

References
<\/span><\/h1>

*1(TAFANI, 2012) -.\u00a0 Cacao Market Information \u2013 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply – Executive Committee on Cacao Farming – 06\/15\/2012,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 year\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 III\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 n\u00ba15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brasilia,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2012.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Available here<\/span><\/p>

*2 \u201cIn Bahia, there is considerable evidence that the disease was not solely introduced but also was spread through human action, after the initial infections established themselves. Further, the occurrence of two distinctive instances of the disease, in Uru\u00e7aca and Camacan, suggests that there was more than just the introduction of infected material. The pathogen was brought directly to the center of the cacao region\u201d. In \u201cDoen\u00e7a vassoura-de-bruxa na Bahia: tentativas de erradica\u00e7\u00e3o e conten\u00e7\u00e3o\u201d \u2013 Authors J.L Pereira, L.C\u00a0 de Aldeida and S.M. Santos \u2013 Center of Cacao Research, Ceplac, Bahia-Brazil,1996.<\/span><\/p>

*3 \u201cThe utilization of pruning in the sense of reducing the availability of a source of inoculation in the tree, aiming to maintain the disease at a level less compromising should be considered as a technique agronomically impractical, onerous and inefficient\u201d \u2013 Document edited and published in 1990 by Ceplac, entitled,\u201d Avalia\u00e7\u00e3o sobre o desenvolvimento das atividades de controle da vassoura-de-bruxa na Bahia”.<\/span><\/p>

*4 “‘Natures\u2019 Health Police’ whose job it is to remove all genetically degenerate organisms in order to safeguard the future.” COATS, Callum. “Living Energies”. Dublin: Gill&Macmillan, 2001. p. 228.<\/span><\/p>

*5 Albert Howard 1940, p.161. \u201cAn agricultural Testament\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Ernst G\u00f6tschs\u2019 agriculture, holes become NESTS, seeds become GENES, weeding becomes HARVESTING, competition gives way to COOPERATION and pests become the \u201cAGENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OPTIMIZATION OF LIFE PROCESSES\u201d. The peculiar (and already classic) vocabulary of Ernst G\u00f6tsch features a coherence of form, function, ideology and behavior. It\u2019s \u201cAgents of Oversight\u201d may appear […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[799],"tags":[118,119,120,121,122,123,124,125],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9586"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agendagotsch.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}