Category Archives: agriculture

Cloning and “Proportionate” Regulatory Response to Risk

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Regulation, it perhaps goes without saying, is a tricky business. It necessarily involves a small number of politicians, bureaucrats, and technical advisors devising and implementing rules on a staggering range of activities and products and services. The number of issues … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, cloning, ethics, health, meat, nanotechnology, public policy, regulation | Comments Off on Cloning and “Proportionate” Regulatory Response to Risk

The Controversial Pom & Pistachio Magnates

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s an excellent piece on California philanthropists/fruit magnates Lynda and Stewart Resnick. By Susan Berfield, writing for Bloomberg Businessweek: A Pistachio Farmer, Pom Wonderful, and the FTC On an unexpectedly rainy October day in Los Angeles, Stewart Resnick looks out … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ethics, farmers, FDA, health claims, regulation | Comments Off on The Controversial Pom & Pistachio Magnates

A (Uniquely?) Ethical Dairy Farm

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

When it comes to marketing food these days, few buzzwords seem to carry more weight than that simple 6-letter word, “ethics.” See this story, from the BBC: A new ethical farm opens at Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishnas at Bhaktivedanta Manor … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, religion | 3 Comments

“Yes Please” and “No Thanks” to Animal Welfare Labels

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Some people want to know more about how their food is produced. On the other hand, some people really really don’t want to know more about how their food is produced. By William Neuman, writing for the NYT: New Way … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, labeling, meat, values | 2 Comments

Water-Efficient Maize and Alternative Models for GM Seeds

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Yesterday’s blog entry (“In Praise of Industrialized Food”) pointed out that we shouldn’t discount entirely the value and potential of mass-produced food simply because so much of the mass-produced food currently available leaves much to be desired, nutritionally. Today’s is … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, ethics, farmers, genetic modification, GMO, science | Comments Off on Water-Efficient Maize and Alternative Models for GM Seeds

In Praise of Industrialized Food

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Check out this piece, by Rachel Laudan, in the Utne Reader: In Praise of Fast Food. (It’s worth noting right up front that the title of the piece is misleading. It’s not a defense of fast food, in the McDonalds … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ethics, factory farms, fast food, health, industrial, junk food, labour, natural, science, values | 2 Comments

Portable Food Factories

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Can the word “factory” ever be used in a food-related context in a way that doesn’t sound like a criticism? Can an chemical company ever produce something that could be welcomed by fans of local, organic agriculture? How about a … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ecosystems, factory farms, industrial, labour, organic, values | Comments Off on Portable Food Factories

What’s the Point of Urban Farming?

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Some people’s enthusiasm for urban farming is downright infectious. See, for example, this article: Will Allen and The Urban Farming Revolution, by Ethan Zuckerman. Will Allen is redefining farming. His farm is a set of greenhouses in a corner of … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, aquaculture, ecosystems, environment, farmers, kids, labour, values | 2 Comments

A Better Factory Farm?

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

A few weeks ago, I asked When is a Factory Farm Not a Factory Farm? I suggested that the problem with some factory farms (including especially the ones that played a central role in the recent salmonella outbreak) is that, … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, farmers, FDA, health, industrial, regulation, safety | 2 Comments

When is a Factory Farm Not a Factory Farm?

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Factory farms are often vilified, with varying degrees of justification. But sometimes, it seems to me, the problem with factory farms is that they’re just not enough like real factories. Let’s start with a report on the condition of one … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ethics, farmers, health, industrial, safety | 2 Comments