permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@bellsouth.net>]

SANET-MG Archives -- October 2008 (#19)
http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0810&L=sanet-mg&T=0&F=&S=&P=12235
Subject:        Re: Sust Ag standard moves into high gear
From:   David Conner <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To:       Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group <[log in to 
unmask]>, David Conner <[log in to unmask]>
Date:   Fri, 3 Oct 2008 09:50:26 -0400

Hi Erik
My short answer is:
Dramatic market share increases have come at great costs:

-Organic is a commodity, organic farmers have become interchangeable
parts in supply chains. Organic supply chains are basically
indistinguishable form conventional. All the market power lies with
processors, distributors, and retailers (not farmers), just like
conventional. The "voice" is not a farmer voice but an industry voice
(OTA).
-Agro-ecological principles have been sacrificed for input substitution
-The founders of the movement have been marginalized, many of the most
sustainable farms (in many ways) cannot even use the word any more, even
though it was their risk, innovation and hard work that built its value
-While it may be better that many farmers worldwide have converted to
(input substitution) organic, there is a lost opportunity. Organic could
have truly transformed the food system. Now it's just a marketing ploy

My statements above are (admittedly) generalizations but
well-documented.

I could suggest more readings if folks are interested.

David
David S. Conner, Ph.D.
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
Department of CARRS
309 Natural Resources Bldg
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48823
Voice: 517-353-1914
Fax: 517 353-3834
Email: [log in to unmask]

http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Kindberg
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:38 PM
Subject: [SANET-MG] Sust Ag standard moves into high gear

And what is it that you feel the NOP did for organic?

Best, Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group
Date:    Thu, 2 Oct 2008 11:26:27 -0400
From:     David Conner <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Sust Ag standard moves  into high gear

Let's just hope this group doesn't do for sustainable  what the NOP and
OTA did for organic!

David S. Conner, Ph.D.