I guess we all understand the need for new technology and the development of new energy resources. Also, there is the need for housing, highways, schools and recreation parks. All of them have valid arguments. It is all part of urbanization, and, in the end, we as a society are just aiming for the survival of the human race perhaps with a high level of ease.

The price we are willing to pay, to keep comfort and innovation, is too high and is certainly something we won’t be able to afford in the future. It seems that we are forgetting about one of the most elemental things that we need for our survival: food.

Urbanization equals more people; more people need more schools, hospitals, houses, factories, etc. And much of all that land, where we built those facilities, is being taken away from farmland.

It is ironic that agriculture was the key to form communities and create sedentary societies in the past. However, those communities are destroying agriculture.

According to the California Farmland Conversion Report 2004-2006, in Kern County 2,738 acres were converted from irrigated farmland to urban land. Certainly a decrease compared to the 4,275 acres of the 2002-2004 report. Still, we are losing farmland, and the need for food increases as the population does.

Just to illustrate the problem at the local level, with the construction of the Seven Oaks Country Club, more than 250 acres of irrigated farmland were urbanized. Also, in Wasco, a project for building an industrial park had been approved last year. Although that project is on hold now, it would take away 600 acres from farmland.

I am not against the advancement of technology, the construction of any amenities, or urbanization in general. I’m concerned about us decreasing our farmland and the fast growth of the population. Either we protect our farmland or begin planning more carefully our families.

I don’t want to get to a point where I have to fight at the market to buy an avocado and pay $5 for it even though, God knows, I love guacamole.