Category Archives: environment

Caution on “Green” Claims for Organics

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

A major UK farmers’ organization is cautioning those of its members who grow organic foods against leaning too heavily on claims that such foods are more environmentally-friendly than non-organics. Here’s the story, by Caroline Stocks, for Farmers Weekly Interactive: Organic … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, environment, farmers, organic | 1 Comment

Food Eco Labels vs Legislation

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

When is choice good? Do labels do enough to help us make good choices? When is legislation required? Should legislation facilitate good decisions, or force them? See this story, by Harry Wallop, for the Daily Telegraph: Food eco labels not … Continue reading →

Posted in certifiction, choice, environment, ethics, labeling, regulation, values | Comments Off on Food Eco Labels vs Legislation

Endangered Dinner DNA

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Earlier this month, the print version of Popular Science ran a really interesting story on using genetic technology to fight the traffic in endangered species. Here’s the web version: Is Your Dinner Endangered? DNA Detectives Investigate In the ongoing campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in endangered species, environment, fisheries, genes, international, regulation, science | Comments Off on Endangered Dinner DNA

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

Meat Production and Utopian Fantasies

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Meat production is perhaps the big ethical issue in the realm of food. Not that long ago, vegetarianism and veganism were the domain of hippies and university undergraduates, but not any longer. Now that the ecological impact of meat production … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, ecosystems, environment, farmers, meat, public policy, vegan, vegetarianism | 5 Comments

GMO Vigilantes

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

The world of GM foods is apparently reinventing the spaghetti western. In Italy these days, the debate over GM has turned into a wild-west-style battle between vigilantes. Here’s the story, from Elisabeth Rosenthal, writing in the NYT: In the Fields … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, environment, farmers, genetic modification, international, regulation | 10 Comments

Battery Cages, Animal Welfare, and the Environment

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Seemingly simple issues seldom are, especially when it comes to food ethics. Sometimes what seems like a simple question of needing to “change how we think” or to “stop corporate greed” or “get back in touch with our food” turns … Continue reading →

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Organic Pesticide Food Labels?

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

When organic foods are produced using organic pesticides, should consumers be told so by means of labels? Many people think “organic” means that no pesticides have been used, but strictly speaking that’s false. “Organic” actually means that no synthetic pesticides … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, environment, farmers, labeling, organic, safety | Comments Off on Organic Pesticide Food Labels?

Part-Time Vegetarianism

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Ethically speaking, does vegetarianism need to be an all-or-nothing thing? The current issue of Time has this piece on the topic: Weekday Vegetarians Part-time vegetarians, a.k.a. flexitarians, choose what to eat and when. The popular Meatless Monday movement, which began … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, animal welfare, environment, ethics, vegetarianism | 2 Comments

Safety of Louisiana Fish & Shrimp

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

In the wake of the BP oil disaster, the fisheries off the Gulf Coast are doubly important. They’re a big source of jobs for folks in the Gulf states, and the health of the shrimp and fish there is an … Continue reading →

Posted in ecosystems, environment, ethics, fisheries, regulation, safety | Comments Off on Safety of Louisiana Fish & Shrimp