Comments Ariane Lotti has made

  • Hi Tom,

    Interesting question. It seems to be hardwired into our culture that all technology is good and, of particular concern, apolitical. I'd say where we might start with pointing out technology's downsides, like some have tried to do (all of the downsides and failures of biotech). And, of particular concern to ag, as you know and have written about, a lot of the technology has actually created that infamous treadmill that is making it hard for younger conventional farmers to become and succeed as farmers because the costs are so high.

    Short of a cultural change about the role of technology in society, perhaps we can try to shift the objectives of technological advancement in ag. Technology is currently used to increase production and decrease labor. Perhaps the focus should be on decreasing the impact of the environment, creating more jobs in rural communities, etc.

    Thoughts?

    On An 'agri-intellectual' talks back posted 3 months, 1 week ago 49 Responses

  • Excellent points, Tom.


    While there are many flaws with Hurst's arguments (which you've pointed out), I think much of the frustration expressed in Hurst's article is that people are talking about farming without knowing anything about it.  I think that many of the critiques by sust ag and food supporters are made without knowing much about the system they are critiquing. Knowing, for example, that most corn and bean farms in Iowa are owned by families (who have accumulated a lot of wealth over time with government help -- same as in other sectors) can help us engage more with the "conventional" farmers and find common ground from which to work on better policies and systems together.


    That being said, the damning of organic agriculture (like Hurst does) is something that is trendy and that completely ignores how innovative organic and sustainable farmers have had to be in order to even keep their farm businesses alive under such odds (ie, government supporting conventional and undermining organic and sustainable ag for several decades). Also, there are organic farmers in Iowa that achieve that enviable 200-bushel-an-acre corn just as well as the conventional guys -- it just takes a lot more knowledge about farm systems and soil than many conventional farmers have.


    Additionally, organic farming is not the type of farming that Hurst's grandfather did however-many years ago. Those two get equated without much basis apart from the lack of pesticide use. Organic farmers use technology but also rely on knowledge and experience of systems and the environment to manage their farms.

    The "how do we feed the world" without conventional ag always misses many points that have been discussed here and elsewhere -- issues of food security and infrastructure, conventional ag hasn't fed the world, biotech has failed to yield, if the same amount of money dumped into conventional research were dumped into organic/sust ag research.... etc etc. We have not effectively countered that message, but the writing on the wall is clear that conventional hasn't fed the world.

     

     

     

     

     

    On An 'agri-intellectual' talks back posted 3 months, 1 week ago 49 Responses

  • classic inside vs. outside the beltway debate

    What people who live inside the beltway believe to be possible is very different from what those who live outside of it do.

    The 'this-is-not-possible' critique of Waters ignores the fact that there are a lot of projects across the country that are doing just what she is talking about.

    The 'this doesn't make sense in national policy' side uncovers some of the reality of what policy-making is in DC, like it or not. The policies we're talking about were created at a time when things were simpler, and the system of policy-making we have doesn't know how to deal with complex, multi-issue problems or whole-systems solutions to those problems.

    Here's my kumbayah moment: how about the policy wonks have an open mind about what is possible through good policy and how about the foodie folks come down from their high horses to work with the wonks on better policy, which will not be ideal, but can help chip away at some of the ridiculous inequalities and injustices in the current system.On For the first time in decades, a healthy school-lunch debate opens posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 10 Responses

  • Corn Refiners Association Press Release

    http://www.hfcsfacts.com/Mercury-Study-Outdated.html

    "This study appears to be based on outdated information of dubious significance."

    Outdated. Gotta love it.

    It'll be interesting to see whether they have been using mercury-free versions of the two re-agents or are just trying to dig their way out of this one. Keep us posted, Tom.On The FDA sat on evidence of mercury-tainted high-fructose corn syrup posted 10 months ago 13 Responses

  • just some thoughts

    excellent post, Tom.

    A piece like this is an important step in starting to change the discourse and narrative around this financial crisis that is so focused on loss and inability.

    I wonder why this narrative is so lacking and how we as a community committed to sustainability, etc can strategize to make it more of a dominant narrative and so that the people in power support investment in bottom-up community development.On While global markets crater, a Vermont town unites around food posted 1 year, 1 month ago 2 Responses

  • Response to state fairs

    Valentine,

    I think you hit it on the nail -- this is one of the places where we (the progressive ag types) should be looking to engage the conventional ag system. The Minnesota State Fair is already on that path, and I think that similar efforts at the Iowa State Fair would be great. While it is important to have separate progressive ag fairs (a la Slow Food nation), we must also engage the food system on its own terms, in its own arenas, if we are really going to make progressive ag more of a dominant player.On What I saw at the Iowa State Fair, the nation's most popular annual food event posted 1 year, 2 months ago 7 Responses

  • Response to ISU

    Matthew,

    Thank you for pointing out the diversity of ISU's students, researchers, and profs. It often seems like ISU wears two hats -- the production ag hat (which is much more prevalent) and the smaller but present sust ag hat. That diversity in an academic institution is necessary but I wonder how much discussion and cross pollination there is between those two camps? When I was in undergrad, I can definitely say that I was the only person attending both the GM plant seminars and the agroecology conferences. On What I saw at the Iowa State Fair, the nation's most popular annual food event posted 1 year, 2 months ago 7 Responses

  • Changing that Structure

    There's no water left in the tub, and the baby's no where to be found. If we can't have it all, then we should just throw up our hands and "organize locally" (I'll be fair: "for now, organize locally").

    Let's be clear - we are fighting tooth and nail for sustainable agriculture programs in the farm bill that are counted in millions of dollars and not the billions that define the piece of legislation. Peanuts.

    But the way to achieve the structure that Hendrickson describes is precisely to work on the national policy (that farm bill thing) that defines the agricultural system we live in. We have, for example, a real chance in this farm bill to get a Livestock Title that addresses the very market concentration issues that Hendrickson writes about.

    Yes, we must work locally. And regionally. But just focusing on the local ignores the fact that national policy can either enable or obstruct regional and local efforts. (Anyone out there go to a farmers' market? Participate in a community food project? Guess where funding comes from.)

    The farm bill is a flawed, agribusiness-happy piece of legislation. But creating a sustainable ag system structure requires working on changing national policies in addition to organizing locally. The baby's here; let's make sure we raise it well rather than throwing it out. On After all the fuss, looks like we might get an extension of the 2002 farm bill posted 1 year, 9 months ago 6 Responses