>> TODAY, ON "EARTH FOCUS," WITH SOARING FOOD PRICES, A GROWING POPULATION, AND A CHANGING CLIMATE, WHO WILL FEED THE WORLD?

WE'LL LOOK AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH-TECH SOLUTIONS, FROM TREADLE PUMPS AND URBAN FARMING, TO GENETICALLY-MODIFIED ANIMALS AND MEGA FARMS.

ALL COMING UP ON "EARTH FOCUS."

>> TODAY, WE'RE PRODUCING MORE FOOD THAN EVER.

BUT ONE CHILD STILL DIES EVERY 6 SECONDS FROM UNDERNOURISHMENT.

ONE IN SIX PEOPLE GO HUNGRY.

MOST ARE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.

IF WE'RE PRODUCING MORE FOOD THAN EVER, WHY IS THERE HUNGER?

THERE ARE MANY REASONS.

POVERTY IS A KEY FACTOR.

PEOPLE NEED LAND TO GROW FOOD, OR INCOME TO PURCHASE IT.

AND MANY HAVE NEITHER.

1.5 BILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVE ON LESS THAN $1.25 A DAY, AND ALREADY SPEND UP TO 80% OF THEIR INCOME ON FOOD.

FOR THEM, A SLIGHT UPTICK IN FOOD PRICES CAN BE A LIFE-OR-DEATH ISSUE.

FOOD PRICES HAVE ALREADY SOARED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WITH GLOBAL GRAIN STOCKS DOWN, THEY ARE LIKELY TO STAY HIGH FOR SOME TIME.

AND BECAUSE FOOD PRICES ARE LINKED TO VOLATILE FUEL PRICES, THE PROSPECT OF HUNGER FOR THOSE LIVING ON THE BRINK IS GREATER THAN EVER.

POPULATION GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE.

IN 40 YEARS THERE WILL BE 3 BILLION MORE PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET.

MORE MOUTHS TO FEED, WHILE CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BRING MORE DROUGHTS AND FLOODS, AFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO GROW FOOD.

OUR INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE HAS ALSO BEEN AT RECORD LOWS.

BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE.

THE FOCUS IS NOW ON BOOSTING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF SMALL FARMERS, AND IN PROVIDING THEM BETTER ACCESS TO MARKETS.

AN APPROACH THAT BUILDS FOOD SECURITY, WHILE REDUCING POVERTY.

SIMPLE TECHNOLOGIES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON THE GROUND.

UK'S "ROCKHOPPER TV" VISITED WEST BENGAL, INDIA, TO SEE HOW A TREADLE PUMP CAN CHANGE LIVES.

>> MANY FAMILIES IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA, DEPEND ON AGRICULTURE FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

OUTSIDE THE MONSOON SEASON, IRRIGATION IS VITAL.

WITHOUT IT, FARMERS CANNOT GROW CROPS TO EARN AN INCOME ALL YEAR ROUND.

THE PROBLEM ISN'T FINDING WATER, THERE'S PLENTY OF IT JUST TWO METERS UNDERGROUND, IT'S LIFTING IT UP, AND CARRYING IT TO THE CROPS THAT'S HARD.

FOR FARMERS LIKE RAJ BAGULI, WALKING BACK AND FORTH FOR FOUR HOURS A DAY IN TEMPERATURES REACHING 45 DEGREES IS JUST AN EXHAUSTING FACT OF LIFE.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> IT'S HARD WATERING THE CROPS LIKE THIS, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

I USED TO USE WATER FROM PONDS, BUT AFTER THE RAINY SEASON, I COULDN'T FARM MUCH BECAUSE THE PONDS GO DRY.

>> RAJ IS HOPING ALL THIS WILL SOON CHANGE.

HE'S DECIDED TO INVEST IN A TREADLE PUMP, AND TODAY IT'S GOING TO BE INSTALLED.

THE KRISHAK BANDHU OR FARMER'S FRIEND, WAS CREATED BY IDEI.

FOR THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT THAT TREADLE PUMPS HAVE ON THE LIVES OF POOR FARMERS, IDEI WON AN ASHDEN AWARD IN 2006.

ARUN JANA HAS HAD HIS TREADLE PUMP FOR TWO YEARS.

HE IS WELL AWARE OF ITS BENEFITS.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> I STARTED THE PUMP IN JANUARY 2007.

SINCE THEN, I HAVE GROWN MANY TYPES OF CROP.

USING THE PROFITS, I HAVE BUILT A NEW HOUSE, SAVED SOME MONEY, AND GOT MY BROTHER MARRIED.

I ALSO PLAN TO EXPAND MY FARMING.

>> THE RUGGED SIMPLICITY, DURABILITY, AND LOW MAINTENANCE OF THE KB PUMP MAKES IT MUCH MORE APPEALING THAN ITS MECHANIZED COUNTERPART.

>> A DIESEL PUMP IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

A DIESEL PUMP POLLUTES A LOT, IT CONSUMES A LOT OF DIESEL.

A TREADLE PUMP IS USED FOR ABOUT 1,000 MILES A YEAR, AND IT SAVES UP TO HALF A TON OF CARBON DIOXIDE.

>> AS WELL AS ITS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THE TREADLE PUMP HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE RURAL POOR.

>> THE REASON THEY ARE POOR IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IRRIGATION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WATER, YOU CANNOT FARM.

SO, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RICH AND A POOR FARMER.

MODERN DAY TECHNOLOGIES DO NOT WORK FOR SMALL RURAL FARMERS.

>> SINCE WINNING THE ASHDEN AWARD, IDEI AND ITS FOUNDER, AMITABHA SADANGI, HAVE GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> TO THIS DAY, WE HAVE SOLD 750,000 PUMPS.

THIS MEANS THAT IT HAS IMPROVED THE LIVES OF BETWEEN 3.5 AND 4 MILLION PEOPLE.

WE CALL IT THE GOLDEN EGG-LAYING GOOSE.

>> IT'S MARKET DAY, AND A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ARUN JANA TO SELL HIS PRODUCE.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> BEFORE, I ONLY USED TO GROW GREEN POTATOES, SO I COULDN'T SELL THEM.

NOW, I AM GROWING A VARIETY OF VEGETABLES AND TAKING THEM TO MARKET.

EVERY DAY, I TAKE VEGETABLES TO THE MARKET, ALMOST 7 DAYS A WEEK.

>> BUT IT'S HERE, AT HIS HOME, THAT THE REWARDS OF HIS INVESTMENT ARE CLEAREST TO SEE.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> MY FAMILY IS DOING VERY WELL.

MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE GETTING CLOTHES AND PROPER FOOD.

MY PARENTS ARE ALSO GETTING GOOD CLOTHES AND FOOD.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ANYMORE.

>> RAJ'S PUMP IS NEARLY FINISHED.

HE'S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> I'M FEELING VERY HAPPY.

USING THIS PUMP CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

I CAN GET MORE WATER IN A SHORT TIME, SO, I CAN FARM MORE LAND.

THAT MEANS MORE PROFIT, AND I'LL BE VERY HAPPY.

WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY, YOU FEEL GOOD.

>> AND RAJ FORESEES MORE THAN JUST AGRICULTURAL BENEFITS.

IT MIGHT JUST CHANGE HIS LIFE.

>> [SPEAKING HINDI] >> I'VE PLANNED TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY.

ALL BY FARMING MORE LAND USING THE KB PUMP.

>> IDEI HAS ALSO CREATED AN IMPRESSIVE MARKETING STRUCTURE TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION, AND EDUCATE FARMERS ON THE BENEFITS OF IRRIGATION.

AS WELL AS REGULAR PROMOTIONAL MEETINGS, IDEI HAS COME UP WITH A UNIQUE AND ENTERTAINING WAY TO GET ITS MESSAGE ACROSS.

THEY PRODUCE THEIR VERY OWN BOLLYWOOD MOVIE EXTRAVAGANZAS.

THEY'VE EVEN WON AN AWARD AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.

FARMING HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD.

>> [SINGING IN HINDI] >> SHE'S A FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER, AND AN EXPERT ON LIVESTOCK AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

DANIELLE NIERENBERG RECENTLY TRAVELED TO 25 COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY WORKS IN HELPING MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF THE WORLD'S POOR.

HER INSIGHTS ARE PART OF THE 2011 "STATE OF THE WORLD" REPORT, PRODUCED BY THE WASHINGTON, D.C. BASED WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE.

THE REPORT AIMS TO HELP DONORS IDENTIFY THE BEST INVESTMENTS TO MAKE IN SMALL FARMER AGRICULTURE.

>> WE REALLY WENT TO THE CONTINENT, UH, WITH VERY LITTLE HOPE IN OUR HEARTS.

WE WERE SURPRISED BY WHAT WE SAW, BUT WE EXPECTED TO BE VERY DEPRESSED AND SADDENED.

AND WHAT INSTEAD, WE WERE REALLY INVIGORATED AND INSPIRED BY ALL THE AMAZING INNOVATIONS WE SAW ON THE GROUND.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OBSERVED ON THE GROUND IS THAT A LOT FOOD IS WASTED BEFORE IT EVER REACHES MARKET.

EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT ABOUT 40% OF FOOD WORLDWIDE IS WASTED BEFORE FARMERS EVER GET TO SELL IT.

AND, SO, WHAT WE SAW IN PLACES LIKE MALAWI AND NIGER IS THAT, UH, FARMERS ARE WORKING WITH RESEARCHERS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY TO DEVELOP THESE TRIPLE LAYERED, HERMETICALLY SEALED BAGS.

AND SEE--THESE ARE LARGE, PLASTIC BAGS THAT, UH, THE FARMERS CAN STORE THEIR COWPEAS IN, PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING ATTACKED BY MOLD, OR PESTS, OR--OR WHATEVER ELSE ATTACKS COWPEAS, AND--AND IT GIVES THEM A LONGER SHELF LIFE, SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE--THEY'RE EARNING THE INCOME THAT THEY SHOULD FROM IT.

>> WHEN YOU THINK OF FARMING, YOU MIGHT NOT BE THINKING CITIES, BUT ONE OUT OF THREE AFRICANS ALREADY LIVES IN URBAN AREAS.

BY MID-CENTURY, 60% WILL.

SO, HOW DO YOU HELP PREVENT FOOD SHORTAGES FOR THE URBAN POOR?

IN KIBERA, THE LARGEST SLUM IN NAIROBI, KENYA, SOME WOMEN HAVE AN ANSWER.

>> WE SAW WOMEN WHO HAVE ORGANIZED THEMSELVES INTO WHAT THEY CALL SELF-HELP GROUPS, AND THESE SELF-HELP GROUPS HAVE DEVELOPED THIS REALLY INNOVATIVE WAY OF FARMING IN WHAT THEY CALL VERTICAL GARDENS.

THEY'RE FILLING TALL RICE SACKS AND TALL CORN SACKS WITH SOIL, POKING HOLES AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THEM, AND PLANTING SEEDS FOR KALE, AND SPINACH, AND TOMATOES, AND--AND OTHER FOOD.

AND, SO, THEY'RE ABLE TO CONSUME A LOT OF THIS PRODUCE, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SELL PART OF WHAT THEY GROW.

AND, SO, THESE SACKS REALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A CRUCIAL SOURCE OF FOOD SECURITY DURING THE RIOTS THAT OCCURRED IN NAIROBI IN 2007 AND 2008.

>> 70% OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE, AND THE PRODUCE THAT'S DONE IN AFRICA IS BY WOMEN FARMERS, RURAL WOMEN FARMERS.

>> THEY MAY BE THE FARMERS, BUT IT'S THE MEN WHO CONTROL THE SEED, FERTILIZER, CREDIT, AND TECHNOLOGY.

WOMEN'S VOICES ARE RARELY HEARD IN BUSINESS AND POLICY-MAKING.

BUT THAT MAY BE CHANGING IN MALAWI AND MOZAMBIQUE.

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, UH, WE'RE USING THEATER AS A WAY OF ENGAGING THESE WOMEN FARMERS, AS A WAY OF GETTING THEM INVOLVED, AND GETTING THEM TO OPEN UP ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING.

WE WANT THE WOMEN FARMERS TO ACTUALLY SAY WHAT THEIR CHALLENGES ARE, AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ALSO BE PART OF THE PROCESS THAT THEN TRIES TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES.

>> AND IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

IN MALAWI, WOMEN ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE TO MARKETS, AND TO DEVELOP MARKETS CLOSER TO HOME.

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN UGANDA, AGRICULTURE IS SOMETIMES A LAST RESORT, A PUNISHMENT.

IT'S WHAT YOU MIGHT DO IF YOU DON'T DO WELL IN SCHOOL.

>> YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY ARE ALL MOVING TO THE TOWN, TO LOOK FOR OTHER KIND OF JOBS, LIKE IN TRANSPORTATION, AND EVEN PROFESSIONAL JOBS.

MOST OF THE AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA IS DONE TO FIND A LIVELIHOOD FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THEN, IF WE LEAVE AGRICULTURE AND GO AWAY, WE ARE RISKING OUR LIVELIHOODS IN AFRICA.

>> EDDIE MUKIIBI STARTED PROJECT DISC IN 2006 TO EXCITE SCHOOL CHILDREN ABOUT GROWING AND PREPARING THEIR OWN FOOD.

THE SCHOOL GARDEN PROJECT IS ALREADY CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD AGRICULTURE, AND NURTURING A NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS.

>> BANANA.

>> WATERMELON.

>> MM-HMM.

THIS ONE...SHE IS SO MUCH INTERESTED IN THE WATERMELONS.

>> OH, NICE.

[LAUGHING] >> AND THIS ONE IS SO MUCH INTERESTED IN THE BANANAS.

THOSE BANANAS AROUND.

WE STARTED WITH 3 SCHOOLS IN 2006.

IT ROSE TO 9 SCHOOLS IN 2008.

CURRENTLY WE ARE WORKING WITH 17 SCHOOLS, WHERE 13 SCHOOL GARDENS HAVE BEEN CREATED AND MANAGED BY THE STUDENTS, AND THE TEACHERS, AND THE PARENTS.

AND IT COVERS NOW 620 STUDENTS WHO HAVE PIQUED INTEREST AND PASSION FOR FARMING, AND EATING THE PRODUCE THEY GROW.

>> THE "STATE OF THE WORLD" REPORT SAYS TO MEET FOOD PRODUCTION AND SECURITY NEEDS OF THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE, WE NEED TO SHIFT RESOURCES TO RURAL AREAS.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN SMALL FARMERS, AND IN THE SIMPLE TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN HELP THEM DO THEIR JOB EVEN MORE EFFECTIVELY.

WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT AFRICAN FARMERS HAVE TAKEN TO.

>> EVERYWHERE I WENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, NEARLY EVERY FARMER HAD A CELL PHONE, OR WAS SHARING A CELL PHONE WITH ANOTHER FARMER OR MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY.

AND THESE FARMERS ARE USING THEIR CELL PHONES, NOT JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, BUT TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT WEATHER, OR MARKETS, UH, OR TO USE THESE PHONES TO MAKE BANKING AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BEFORE.

FARMERS ARE LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER, UH, AND SHARING THE INNOVATIONS THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE GROUND, AND--AND THAT'S THE "TEACH THE MAN TO FISH" SORT OF PROVERB REALLY HOLDS TRUE WHEN YOU SEE THOSE THINGS FIRSTHAND.

>> IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, HIGH-TECH APPROACHES TO PRODUCING MORE FOOD HAVE OFTEN BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.

HERE IS A LOOK AT TWO OF THEM.

IT COULD BE THE FIRST GENETICALLY-MODIFIED ANIMAL PRODUCT THAT YOU'D EAT.

IT'S CALLED THE "AQUADVANTAGE SALMON."

AND IF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVES IT, IT MAY SOON BE ON YOUR PLATE.

ACCORDING TO AQUABOUNTY TECHNOLOGIES, THE MASSACHUSETTS-BASED COMPANY BEHIND THE TRANSGENIC SALMON, IT CAN GROW TO MARKET SIZE TWICE AS FAST AS REGULAR SALMON, THANKS TO DNA FROM THE CHINOOK SALMON, AND FROM THE OCEAN POUT, WHICH ENABLE IT TO PRODUCE GROWTH HORMONES YEAR ROUND.

>> IT'S NOT BEING ENGINEERED TO BE HEALTHIER.

IT'S NOT BEING ENGINEERED TO BE SAFER, HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF NUTRIENTS.

NOTHING LIKE THAT.

ALL IT DOES IS ALLOW THE ONE COMPANY, AQUABOUNTY, TO SELL MORE SALMON FASTER.

>> THE PLAN IS TO PRODUCE EGGS IN CANADA, GROW THEM IN CONTROLLED FACILITIES IN PANAMA, AND THEN SHIP THEM TO THE U.S. FOR CONSUMPTION.

INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY THIS WILL GIVE CONSUMERS A HEALTHY SOURCE OF PROTEIN, WHILE REDUCING PRESSURE ON OCEAN SALMON, WHOSE STOCKS ARE ALREADY DWINDLING.

BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THE GENETICALLY-MODIFIED FISH.

>> WE THINK THAT THE DATA IS QUESTIONABLE.

SOME OF THE STUDIES ON HUMAN HEALTH, AND POTENTIAL ALLERGIC REACTIONS ONLY INCLUDED 12 FISH.

STUDIES LIKE THAT WOULDN'T MAKE IT OUTSIDE OF A HIGH SCHOOL LABORATORY.

>> THE LACK OF CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE SALMON IS SAFE IS NOT THE ONLY TROUBLING THING ABOUT AQUADVANTAGE.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS WITH THE ESCAPEES.

UH, WHERE THIS GENETICALLY-MODIFIED SALMON GETS, YOU KNOW, ESCAPES FROM THE OPEN PEN AND GOES OUT INTO THE WILD AND BREEDS WITH THE OTHER FISH, THE WILD POPULATION.

UM, USUALLY THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT SO WELL FOR THE WILD POPULATION.

>> WE'RE CONCERNED IF THEY ARE IN FACT ABLE TO BREED WITH WILD SALMON, THAT IT'LL LEAD TO A WEAKENING OF WILD SALMON SPECIES, WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

ATLANTIC SALMON ARE ALREADY LISTED AS ENDANGERED.

AND WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED, IF THESE FISH GET OUT, IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE, AS SOME STUDIES ARE SHOWING, THAT THEY'LL COMPETE FOR FOOD, THEY'LL COMPETE FOR OTHER RESOURCES.

>> AQUABOUNTY SAYS THE FISH WOULD BE GROWN ONLY INLAND, AND ONLY STERILE FEMALES WILL BE SOLD, LIMITING ANY ABILITY TO REPRODUCE.

IN SEPTEMBER, 2010, THE FDA HELD HEARINGS ON THE TRANSGENIC SALMON, BUT MADE NO CONCLUSIVE DECISION, AND CONTINUES TO REVIEW THE AQUABOUNTY APPLICATION.

BUT OPPONENTS AREN'T SATISFIED, AND ARE CALLING FOR A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

>> THAT WOULD ENTAIL A MUCH MORE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS.

UM, THE REVIEW WOULD BE INDEPENDENT.

IT WOULDN'T BE, UM, CONDUCTED BY THE COMPANY ITSELF.

AND IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A MUCH LONGER TIME.

INSTEAD OF A PERIOD OF WEEKS OR MONTHS, IT MIGHT TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> ENVIRONMENTALISTS FEAR THAT IF FDA APPROVES THIS TRANSGENIC SALMON, THIS WILL LEAD TO OTHER GENETICALLY-MODIFIED ANIMALS PRODUCED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

>> THE SAME COMPANY, AQUABOUNTY, HAS GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED TILAPIA, AND TROUT.

THERE'S ALSO GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED COWS, THERE'S GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED GOATS, GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED CHICKENS.

EVERYONE'S JUST WAITING, AND IF THE FDA APPROVES THIS FISH, IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP A FLOODGATE.

>> BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SALMON, WHAT DO THE CONSUMERS THINK?

>> I PREFER TO HAVE ALL, ANYTHING, MEAT, FISH, TO GROW THE NATURAL WAY.

>> I WOULD NOT EAT GENETICALLY-MODIFIED FISH AT THIS TIME UNLESS I KNEW MORE ABOUT THE LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS, AND/OR BENEFITS, FOR THAT MATTER.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE--I JUST ONLY KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SALMON, BUT, ANYTHING THAT'S MODIFIED, I DON'T, UM, THINK IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> IF THIS IS THE FUTURE OF DAIRY FARMING, WE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM.

MEGA DAIRIES PRODUCE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MILK AT LOWER COST, BUT THERE IS A HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR PEOPLE, COWS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

LARGE-SCALE DAIRY FARMS IN THE U.S. HAVE EXPANDED BY MORE THAN 90% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND THEY'RE PUTTING SMALL AND MID-SIZED DAIRIES OUT OF BUSINESS.

BIGGER FARMS ALSO MEAN MORE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, AND THEY RAISE ETHICAL CONCERNS.

WITH PLANS UNDER REVIEW TO OPEN EUROPE'S FIRST U.S.-STYLE MEGA DAIRY IN ENGLAND, BRITAIN'S "ECOLOGIST TV" WENT TO CALIFORNIA FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT U.S.

FACTORY DAIRY FARMS.

>> IF PLANNING COMMISSION IS GIVEN LATER THIS MONTH, THE SLEEPY VILLAGE OF NOCTON COULD SOON SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE'S FIRST MEGA DAIRY, A FARM WITH 8,000 COWS TO BE KEPT INDOORS FOR MUCH OF THEIR LIVES, AND PRODUCING IN EXCESS OF 250,000 LITERS OF MILK EACH DAY.

TO SEE WHAT MEGA DAIRIES MIGHT MEAN FOR BRITAIN, "THE ECOLOGIST" VISITED CALIFORNIA, BIRTHPLACE OF THE INDUSTRIAL MEGA DAIRY.

MUCH OF AMERICA'S MILK COMES FROM CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY, WHERE DAIRY FARMING IS BIG BUSINESS.

IN TULARE COUNTY ALONE, 900,000 COWS PRODUCE IN EXCESS OF ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MILK EACH YEAR.

BUT THERE IS AN UNREPORTED CONFLICT WAGING OVER THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS COMPLAIN BITTERLY ABOUT THE MEGA DAIRIES THAT HAVE SPRUNG UP AROUND THEIR HOMES.

>> THIS IS MAPLE SCHOOL BEHIND ME.

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, A FACTORY DAIRY--I MEAN A DAIRY WITH, UH, THOUSANDS OF COWS WAS BUILT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.

AND, UM, NOBODY THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IT, WE JUST HADN'T SEEN THESE BIG DAIRIES BEFORE.

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THEY HAD A HUGE FLY PROBLEM.

AND THEY HAD TO HANG UP, UH, THESE FLY STRIPS IN THE CLASSROOMS.

AND THEN NITRATES IN THE WATER SHOWED UP.

NOW THEY COULDN'T DRINK THE WATER BECAUSE THE NITRATE LEVELS DOUBLED, AND TRIPLED, AND QUADRUPLED, AND WENT UP OVER THE UNSAFE LEVEL FOR ANYONE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE DAIRY FARMS THAT HAVE PROVEN CONTROVERSIAL IN CALIFORNIA.

PREVENTED FROM GRAZING OUTDOORS, COWS ON MEGA DAIRIES RELY UPON FEED CROPS THAT ARE HEAVILY SPRAYED WITH PESTICIDES.

"THE ECOLOGIST" WAS TAKEN TO SEE SENOR MORALES, A SMALL FARMER WHO HAS FELT THE IMPACTS OF PESTICIDE SPRAYING FOR DAIRY CROPS FIRSTHAND.

HIS NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED AND HE WAS TOO SCARED TO SPEAK ON CAMERA FOR REASONS THAT HE EXPLAINS.

>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> "THE ECOLOGIST" ALSO MET WITH SMALL DAIRY FARMERS IN CALIFORNIA TO FIND OUT THE IMPACT MEGA DAIRIES HAD HAD ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

>> WELL, IT JUST KILLED US BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T COMPETE WITH THOSE BIG GUYS DOWN THERE.

BECAUSE THEY GO ON VOLUME, AND WE CAN ONLY MILK SO MANY COWS COMPARED TO WHAT THOSE GUYS MILK IN A FEW ACRES DOWN THERE.

AND THEIR COST IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN WHAT OUR COST IS HERE.

>> PAUL IS NO EXCEPTION.

IN THE 5 YEARS LEADING UP TO 2002, 33,000 DAIRIES WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN THE U.S.A. SQUEEZED OUT BY LOW MILK PRICES, AND UNABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE OFFERED BY DAIRY HERDS UP TO A HUNDRED TIMES BIGGER THAN TRADITIONAL FAMILY FARMS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, BIG DAIRIES CONTROLLING MOST OF THE MILK SUPPLY, THEY HAVE A LOT MORE POLITICAL POWER THAN THE SMALL FAMILY FARMS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY UNITED.

MEGA DAIRIES NEED TO USE MANY DRUGS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO BE PROFITABLE, AND TO BE PROFITABLE, THEY HAVE TO GET THE MOST MILK PRODUCTION THEY CAN GET.

SO, THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO PUSH THE ANIMALS WITH THE FEEDS THAT THEY FEED THEM, THE RATIONS.

AND ALSO, USING THE GROWTH HORMONES, WHICH SHORTENS THEIR LIFESPAN.

AND SO, YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS TO TRY TO MANIPULATE THE ANIMALS TO GET THE MOST THEY CAN, AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.

>> FOR MEGA DAIRY FARMERS, HOWEVER, THE EVER-LARGER HERDS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO STAY PROFITABLE.

>> HERE IN CALIFORNIA WE'VE HAD TO EXPAND, UH, BECAUSE YOU JUST HAVE TO GET LARGER OR YOU CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE BIG GUYS.

AND I THINK THAT THE SMALLER GUYS, IF THEY REALLY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT STAYING IN THE BUSINESS, IF THEY'LL LEARN AND WATCH THE EFFICIENT TOOLS AND IDEAS THAT THE LARGER GUYS HAVE, AND IMPLEMENT THEM IN A WAY ON THEIR FARMS, I THINK THEY CAN BE AS EFFICIENT AND SUCCESSFUL ON A SMALLER SCALE.

>> BRITISH DAIRY FARMS HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 113 ANIMALS PER HERD, FAR LESS THAN THE 8,000 PROPOSED AT NOCTON.

>> SO, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE 8,000 COWS CRAMMED INTO SHEDS, LIVING IN CUBICLES, AND FED ON CONCENTRATES.

WITH ALL OF THE RESULTING NOISE, THE POLLUTION, THE TRAFFIC.

THE SCALE OF THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNPRECEDENTED IN WESTERN EUROPE.

IF WE ALLOW THIS, ALL SUCH FACILITIES BECOME ALLOWABLE.

>> IT IS A PLAN THAT ALREADY WORRIES SOME FARMERS IN BRITAIN.

>> WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT COSTS OTHER THAN JUST FINANCIAL COSTS.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF WELFARE?

WHAT ARE THE COSTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT?

WHAT ARE, PERHAPS, THE SOCIAL COSTS?

I DON'T THINK INCREASING HERD SIZE AND VOLUME OF OUTPUT IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR U.K.

DAIRY FARMS.

I DON'T THINK WE WANT IT TO BE, BECAUSE WE WILL SEE A FAR GREATER MOVE TOWARDS FACTORY-TYPE FARMING IF THAT IS THE CASE.

>> IF PLANNING PERMISSION IS GRANTED NEXT MONTH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRITAIN'S FIRST MEGA DAIRY COULD MEAN SWARMS OF FLIES, AND POLLUTED GROUNDWATER FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE BRITISH DAIRY INDUSTRY.