“Alternative practices” as in an alternative to conventional monoculture. This is just another attempt to fix monoculture, because it’s not working
When was the last famine in the United States? When was the last famine anywhere on the planet that wasn't due to some kind of fucked-up government?
Drawing down savings to pay the mortgage works just fine too, until they run out. There being no obvious alternatives doesn't mean you won't end up homeless.
Would be an even better comparison if we account for the externalities, like soil erosion and ecocide from pesticide/fertilizer run-off.
Externalities are a /way/ larger issue than just monoculture or even modern pesticides and fertilizer though.