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Ethical Debates on Industrial Agriculture

February 21, 2017 by Michelle Peedin, Program Coordinator, Partners in Health and Wholeness

An ethical debate is a bit of a juxtaposition. As we know, ethics are a set of moral principles. It is how we understand right from wrong. So how can what is right and what is wrong be up for debate? In Carl Sigel’s post on the “Caring for Creation” section of the Church of the Nativity webpage he discusses the two main types of ethical practices in the agricultural world. Continuing with the use of Robert Zimdahl’s term “productionist ethic” and Aldo Leopold’s term “land ethic” we place in front of us two incredibly distinct approaches to the western agrarian world. How can these two beliefs of right and wrong differ so greatly when talking about the same industry?

One argument favors the productionist paradigm, and its ethics is that with more high-tech input (which the 21st century seems to be quite proud of) comes more output. With more output can come the food justice of ending hunger around the world. Now this comes with the assumption that food distribution is equal and fair. That sounds very ethical at first glance. Unfortunately, food is not evenly distributed in our own state let alone the world.

An article published by CNBC in 2013 appropriately named “A hungry world: Lots of food, in too few places” argues that we have two to three times the amount of food that is needed to feed the global population. Along with challenges to food distribution, we have the issue of financial means to buy the food.

My question is: Does the ethical argument of the productionist paradigm outweigh the effects of its high-tech input? Often the input required to produce large-scale farming of the same crop on the same land year after year is devastating to the land and surrounding communities. Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and livestock waste (which are often supplemented by antibiotics and hormones) are just a few of the contaminants that can harm the soil, water, and air in and around the farms. In my opinion, no, the pros do not outweigh the cons but maybe there is another ethical advantage of the productionist agriculture that will convince me otherwise. Or maybe not.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Farmworkers, Food, Hunger, Peace, Rural Life

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About Michelle Peedin, Program Coordinator, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Michelle was born and raised in North Carolina. She pursued her higher education at UNC Chapel Hill where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, with a concentration in economics, trade, and development, and a minor in music. Identifying as first generation Peruvian-American, Michelle's area of study while at UNC was Latin America. She credits her time studying in Ireland and volunteering in Costa Rica for how she was shaped both personally and professionally during her undergraduate time. She continued her educational experience as a Fellow at Student Action with Farmworkers, a non-profit organization in Durham, NC. Since February of 2017, Michelle continues to spend her time at the Council working with Partners in Health and Wholeness. She seeks to listen, learn from, and empower all communities of NC to pursue a just future for all beings on earth. In her downtime Michelle loves to travel and sing in a barbershop chorus.

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