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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>
  • To: nmgreens@yahoogroups.com, livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org, tawapanm@mm2k.net, giannan@avant-gardening.com
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  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Farm & Countryside Commentary
  • Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2003 11:06:54 -0600


Corner Post
Farm & Countryside Commentary by Elbert van Donkersgoed
June 2, 2003

"Resistance is futile!" The phrase has been hardwired into my vocabulary.
Watch a Start Trek episode in which the Borg civilization - no, the Borg
technology is on yet another installment of its one and only mission: the
total assimilation of all existing sentient races, including their cultural
and technical achievements. "Resistance is futile!" will bolt itself into
your vocabulary, too.

There are voices in North American agriculture making the argument that
"resistance is futile" to the industrialization of farming - of turning
plant and animal husbandry over to technical manipulation. I don't share
their pessimism.

First, there are those who will continue to resist assimilation. Consider
the Old Order Mennonites and Amish farming communities. Their relationship
to technology remains fully one of choice. They have chosen for autonomy of
community and dignity of labour. Even though many of us cannot join them in
their rejection of so many labour-saving devices; they have won both our
respect and a valued place among us.

Second, there are a growing number of farmers who are intentional about the
type and amount of modern technology they adopt. Consider organic farmers.
They have made a conscious choice to reject technical solutions that detract
from farming as a part of ecological harmony. Organic farmers emphasize
biological cycles, biodiversity, minimal off-farm inputs and the health &
productivity of soil life, plants, animals while respecting people and
community. They have the attention of a growing number of consumers.

Third, the industrialization of agriculture is dependent on a growing
disconnect between farming as husbandry and food as culture. Industrial
agriculture knows only one mantra: costs must continue to be cut. It has
banked on the belief that consumers will always choose for the lowest price.
They won't. Already industrial agriculture finds it necessary to "educate
the consumer." As consumers demand more transparent information and resist
prepackaged messages, industrial agriculture will discover that delivering
cut-price commodities has also cheapened food as a cultural feature.
Consider Toronto and its desire to be "world class." Food is essential to
entertainment, tourism and culture. Why then does Toronto settle for cheap
food?

Fourth, industrial agriculture needs a massive subsidy every day. Developed
world subsidies for modern farming have climbed to one billion dollars per
day, with the largest handout slices in the United States and the European
Union. Look beyond the official political rhetoric that one billion dollars
buys us family farms and rural communities. Less than 1% of North Americans
are full-time farmers. Farm work has become technology-at-work. Subsidies
keep industrial agriculture's technology bills paid.

Agriculture is husbandry. Resistance to its industrialization is growing -
and should grow.
__________
Elbert van Donkersgoed is the Strategic Policy Advisor of the Christian
Farmers Federation of Ontario, Canada. Corner Post can be heard weekly on
CFCO Radio, Chatham and CKNX Radio, Wingham, Ontario. Corner Post has an
email subscriber list of more than 3,000 and appears regularly on @g
Worldwide Correspondents at
www.agriculture.com/worldwide/correspondents/index.html. Corner Post is
archived at www.christianfarmers.org/commentary/Corner-Post.htm. To be added
to the electronic distribution list of Corner Post send email to
evd@christianfarmers.org with SUBSCRIBE as the message. To remove your name,
send email with UNSUBSCRIBE as the message.






  • [Livingontheland] Farm & Countryside Commentary, Tradingpost, 06/06/2003

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