Report on Sorghum Cultivation and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An assessment of sorghum cultivation in Nebraska, based on insights from farmer Tyler Bose, reveals significant economic and environmental advantages. The crop’s characteristics strongly support the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas of responsible production, water conservation, and economic resilience. A national trend of increased acreage underscores the growing importance of sorghum in sustainable agricultural systems.

Economic Resilience and Support for SDG 1 and SDG 8

Sorghum cultivation offers a robust economic model for farmers, especially in conditions of tight profit margins, thereby contributing to local economic health.

• Profitability and Poverty Reduction (SDG 1: No Poverty): With significantly lower input costs, such as a seed cost of approximately $19.00 per acre, sorghum remains profitable even at low market prices. This financial stability provides a secure livelihood for farmers.
• Economic Growth and Market Diversification (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): The expansion of domestic markets for sorghum, including its use in ethanol plants and as feedstock for livestock, diversifies revenue streams and strengthens the agricultural economy.

Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action (SDG 6, SDG 12, SDG 13)

Sorghum’s agronomic traits make it a key crop for advancing sustainable farming practices and climate resilience.

1. Water Efficiency (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation): The crop demonstrates exceptional water-use efficiency, requiring approximately 68% of the water needed to produce a comparable bushel of corn. This directly addresses the goal of sustainable water management.
2. Responsible Production (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production): By thriving with fewer critical resources like water, sorghum farming exemplifies a sustainable production pattern that minimizes environmental impact.
3. Climate Resilience (SDG 13: Climate Action): As a drought-tolerant crop, sorghum is well-suited for adapting to changing climate conditions, enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems.

Contributions to Food Security and Well-being (SDG 2 and SDG 3)

The crop plays an important role in creating resilient food systems and offers potential health benefits.

• Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2: Zero Hunger): By promoting a resilient and productive agricultural option, sorghum cultivation helps ensure stable food and feed supplies.
• Health and Well-being (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being): Emerging applications and research into sorghum’s benefits, such as for gut health in livestock, point to its potential to contribute to healthier food products.

National Acreage and Adoption Trends

Data from the USDA indicates a clear trend of increasing sorghum cultivation, reflecting its growing recognition as a valuable crop.

• Total U.S. sorghum acres were up 6 percent this year.
• In Nebraska, farmers planted 255,000 acres of sorghum.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on sorghum farming in Nebraska connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting practices that promote economic viability, environmental sustainability, and resource efficiency in agriculture. The primary SDGs addressed are:

   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger: This goal focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The article’s discussion of a resilient and productive crop directly relates to this.
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This goal includes ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. The article’s emphasis on sorghum’s water efficiency is highly relevant.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This goal aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. The farmer’s focus on profitability and market development connects to this goal.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This goal is about ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, including the efficient use of natural resources. The low-input nature of sorghum farming aligns with this principle.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the details provided, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
     
     The article directly addresses this target by focusing on the economic benefits for the farmer. Tyler Bose highlights that even with low prices, he can “still be able to make a profit” because his “inputs are much lower.” This focus on increasing the “margin of profit” for a farmer is central to Target 2.3.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
     
     The choice of sorghum is presented as a resilient agricultural practice. The article states that sorghum can “take roughly about 68% of the water that a bushel of corn would take,” making it a more resilient and sustainable option in “dry land” farming conditions and contributing to a more sustainable food production system.
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.
     
     This target is explicitly addressed when the farmer compares the water requirements of sorghum to corn. The statement that sorghum uses significantly less water is a clear example of increasing water-use efficiency in the agricultural sector, which is a major consumer of freshwater resources.
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
     
     The article supports this target by describing sorghum as a crop with low input costs (“My seed cost is a big chunk of it…put it in the ground for about $19.00”) and high water efficiency. This demonstrates a production method that relies on the more efficient use of natural resources (water, soil) and financial resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article contains several pieces of information that can serve as direct or implied indicators for measuring progress:

   • Indicator for Target 2.3 (Farmer Income): The farmer’s calculation of profitability is an implied indicator. He mentions specific figures like “$19.00” for seed cost and being able to make a profit even at “$3 Milo.” This cost-benefit analysis serves as a measure of farmer income and economic viability.
   • Indicator for Target 2.4 (Sustainable Practices): The growth in sorghum cultivation can be used as an indicator for the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The article provides a specific statistic: “U.S. sorghum acres were up 6 percent this year, with Nebraska farmers planting 255,000 acres.” This quantifies the shift towards a more resilient crop.
   • Indicator for Target 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency): A direct, quantifiable indicator is provided in the article. The statement that sorghum uses “roughly about 68% of the water that a bushel of corn would take” is a specific measure of the change in water-use efficiency achieved by switching crops.
   • Indicator for Target 12.2 (Resource Efficiency): The low input cost mentioned by the farmer (“$19.00” for seed) is an indicator of resource efficiency. Lower input costs suggest a reduced need for manufactured resources, contributing to more sustainable production.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: brownfieldagnews.com