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| A child's envision of a cow, happily munching on grass. |
I was taught in kindergarten that cattle graze peacefully in the hillside, and pigs roll lazily in the mud all day long. As I innocently gazed at the picture books, I longed to be with them, enjoying every day of my youth. Many years later, my childhood dream was shattered as I learned about the harshness of reality. In the world of business where no stone ever gets unturned, multibillion dollar corporations rule the agricultural industry with an iron fist. Humans are exploring the many realms of what is today's agricultural system, and among the most debated issues is the choice between sustainable agriculture and industrial agriculture.
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| Cows in reality. Where is the grass? |
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming characterized by a diversity of plants and animals, and as such, the integration of crops and livestock in one system. Not only are the welfare of the cultivated goods compromised, but the workers and well-being of the environment is also held into consideration. This method of farming produces fewer, but higher quality products than products of their industrial counterpart.
Industrial agriculture is the practice of farming characterized by a factory-like system of crop production; primary emphasis on speed, quantity, and profit; specialization in select high-profit crops; and the segregation of crops and livestock from nature. Workers are often treated with the same type of disrespect as animals, and the surrounding environments are periodically flooded with hazardous runoffs.
To make things worse, the food industry hides many inner details of industrial agriculture from the general public and works with the media to keep the image of their products clean. One of the many myths about industrial agriculture is that it is the only way to produce enough food to supply the whole world. One must take a step back and ask: If that were the case, wouldn’t world hunger and malnutrition be solved by now? Simple deduction brings us to the conclusion that industrial agriculture has done little to relieve these problems.
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| How is it reasonable that one farm can produce so much food and still not feed enough people? |
In fact, industrial agriculture contributes more towards world hunger. In a last ditch effort to keep up with cheap first-world crop prices, farmers in third-world countries have to buy first-world technologies in return for a little to no net profit. How is it that the US is able to keep its multibillion dollar corporations up and running? Would it surprise you to know that governments secretly subsidize the agricultural industry billions of dollars every year? Between 1996 and 2005, the US provided industrial agriculture sector with 177 billion taxpayer dollars. That’s right, our ‘cheap’ food is actually subsidized with our own money, making it equal if not more expensive than food from sustainable agriculture.
I am all for sustainable agriculture.
Humans have been capable of wondrous deeds in the past, such as conquering smallpox and polio, and even the hole in the ozone, which was thought to be an irreparable task, was fixed. I have faith that humanity would come together once again to undo the injustices that industrial agriculture bring.
Sources
Sources
Cohen, Benjamin. “ Industrial Agriculture v. Sustainable Agriculture.” ScienceBlogs. N.p., 12 May 2009. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2009/05/industrial_agriculture_v_susta.php>.
“Definition of the Term ‘Sustainable Agriculture.’” Ecological Agricultural Products. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://eap.mcgill.ca/sustain.htm>.
“Earth.” New Internationalist Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.newint.org/features/2005/05/01/earth/>.
“Economics.” Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/economics/>.
“ Economic Sustainability: Reforming Production.” Greener News. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://greenernewsblog.com/>.
“Factory Farming.” Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/>.
“ Good Trans Fats vs Bad Trans Fats.” Firm - Thighs and Butts. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.firmthighsandbutt.com/fat-and-weight-loss/good-trans-fats-vs-bad-trans-fats/>.
“THE MYTH: Industrial agriculture will feed the world.” Keep Maine Free. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.keepmainefree.org/myth6.html>.
“This or That? Pass!” Science - Sealed, Delivered. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.thinknew.ca/ssd/index.php/2009/05/13/this-or-that-pass/>.
“What is Sustainable Agriculture?” Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/whatis/>.
“What is Sustainable Agriculture?” UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm>.
Commented Blogs:
Judy Tan
Jamie Ching
Commented Blogs:
Judy Tan
Jamie Ching
Heeello Brian!(:
ReplyDeleteI thought that your blog was interesting to read and your paragraph about the industrial agriculture really taught me something new today. I had no idea that the US government would do such a thing to their own citizens. It just seems that money is what makes up our world these days.
Although, industrial farming is more favourable at the moment, I am sure that people would overcome their greeds and help us start a healthier and more justice world.
Hey Brian
ReplyDeleteI agree with how industrial agriculture is not the ideal method to solve world hunger. It's ironic how the farmers who harvest the food of the world struggle to serve their families proper meals. I'm sure sustainable agriculture is safer for the environment in terms of biodiversity, but how do we know for certain that the farmers and labourers aren't being treated the same way?
Hey Brian,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog it was apparent to me that industrial agriculture was nothing but bad news. Sure it allows for the efficient production of food, but are we willing to take the risk of eating from an animal that mass produced? I for one, am not impressed with the big corporates attitudes in regards to the food they feed their citizens. Sustainable agriculture should be availiable everywhere because, like you said, I'd like to our animal friends graze peacefully in the hillside, and roll lazily in the mud all day long. One qualm, I do not agree with you in saying that industrial agriculture has not aided in the relief of world hunger, because at the end of the day, we truly need industrial agriculture to feed our people.
Great entry Brian, I completely agree with your post. Industrial agriculture is certainly not the direction we should be going in if we intend to continue feeding ourselves, let alone end world hunger. I find it interesting that the United States spends so much taxpayer money on funding these farms when the whole point of having high productivity farms is to keep food prices low.
ReplyDelete