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Industrialized agriculture system
Agriculture that relies heavily on machinery, technology, and chemicals
Earth is a resource profit main priority short time horizon
Large scale: monocropping many costs (environmental, health)
Sustainable agriculture
Long-term productive farming methods that are environmentally safe
Regenerative agriculture
A system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services
Main priority: ensuring sustainability, infinit time horizon
small scale, biodiversity
Agroecology
A holistic approach to food production that uses and creates social, cultural, economic, and environmental knowledge to promote food sovereignty, social justice, economic sustainability, and healthy agricultural ecosystem
Anishinaabe food system
The Anishinaabe food system is based on a deep connection to the land and respect for the natural environment
“Flow-through” agriculture
an agricultural system that involves the use of hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, and aquaculture, the cultivation of fish and other aquatic organisms in controlled environments
Biophysical overrides
The range of ways that the biological and problems created or exacerbated by the industrialization of agriculture are managed in order to ensure continuing productivity
Food miles and critiques
the distance of food travels from its site of production to consumer
the distance that food travels from “land to mouth” or “field to fork”
based on the assumption that the further food has to travel, the more energy is required for transportation and the greater the environmental impact
Food insecurity
the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
inadequate or insecure access to food due financial constraints
Food sovereignty
the fundamental right of all peoples, nations, and states to control food and agriculture systems and policies
ensuring everyone has adequate, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food
requires the right to define and control our methods of production, transformation, distribution both at the local and international levels
Indigenous food sovereignty
When Indigenous peoples engage in meaning relationships with food, respecting and upholding our roles and responsibility within interdependent food systems with all our relations
When Indigenous people define where and how food id grown, harvested, cooked, eaten, and cared for
Involves protecting, maintaining, regenerating food sources which includes respecting lands and waters and ensuring they are not misused
Temporary foreign workers
Workers allowed into the country for a prescribed period of time in specified employment
most rights of citizenship are not available to them
Seasonal agricultural workers
jobs that are only for a certain period of time, often in rural areas
e.g. food picking
Problems that temporary/seasonal workers face
exposure to pesticides
heat stress
working long hours
inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare
social isolation
Sustainable protein transition
refers to the shift in the way we produce and consume protein, with a focus on sustainability, health, and animal welfare
involves moving away from conventional animal protein sources such as meat, dairy, and eggs, and towards plant-based proteins and alternative sources of protein such as insects, algae, and cultured meats
The future of sustainable protein
likely to involve continued shift away from conventional animal-based protein sources and towards more sustainable alternatives
including plant-based proteins, alternative sources of protein, and cultured meat
Cultured meat
meat that is grown artificially from small number of cells that were taken from an animal; like ordinary meat
meat made up of animal cells (mostly muscle cells) but the animal does not need to be killed in order to produce it
Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG #2)
End word hunger, achieve food security, and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030
Global hunger
Many people in the world are going hungry because they do not have enough money to buy or grow their own food
Global food insecurity - war and displacement
conflict, especially involving armed forces, prevent rural communities from carrying our their normal farming practices
puts food security at risk
Adapting the food system to climate crisis
Critical challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach
food system is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change
Farm crisis
Mass production of farm products that lower the prices, which lowers the profits for farmers
has led to the decrease in small farms
Precautionary prinicple
a concept that is used in environmental and public health policy
states that if na action or policy has the potential to cause harm to the public or the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus, the burden of proof falls on those who are advocating for the action or policy to demonstrate that it is not harmful
Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Monoculture
Biological simplification of a farm or landscape to focused on the production of a single crop which also usually involved a reduction of genetic diversity of that crop type
Farming strategy in which large fields are planted with a single crop, year after year
Soil mining
a way of describing soil degradation, when the biological and physical materials of soils are depleted at a greater rate than they are returned, in which soil is effectively transformed form a potentially renewable resource to a diminishing one
La Via Campesina
global movement of 73 countries
rural people defending small scale sustainable farming to promote social justice and dignity
food sovereignty, localism
Peasant farmers
organizations of small and middle-scale producers, agricultural workers, rural women, and the Indigenous
National farmers union
Lobbies for higher government price supports for crops and livestock
Green revolution
rapid diffusion of new agricultural technology, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers
Oligopoly
A market or an industry dominated by a small number of large-sized sellers
Development of a limited variety of seeds and development only of seeds that require the company's other inputs.
threatens biodiversity and food security \n ill suited to the small scale agriculture that feeds most of the world
especially in developing countries.
Locks farmers into industrialized agricultural production.
Erodes farmers' right to decide what, how, and for whom to grow
exacerbates social and environmental problems and existing power imbalances.
makes innovation and the shift to sustainable agriculture more difficult and less likely.
Globalization
The process of the world social transformation affect every aspect of society as each region’s information, goods, and images enter a commoditized global flow
Neoliberalism
A strategy for economic development that calls for free markets, balanced budgets, privatization, free trade and minimal government intervention in the economy
Free trade
A policy by which a government does not discriminate against imports or interfere with exports by applying tariffs and subsidies
Capitalism
An economy dominated by privately owned and controlled companies that hire wage workers and seek to maximize profits by producing commodities for sale in the market
Political ecology
Interdisciplinary field of research on human-environment relation**,** environmental change and development, combined with attention to political economy, environmental science, and human ecology
Supply Management
In its broadest form, refers to the processes that enable the progress of value from raw material to final customer and back to redesign and final disposition
Seed saving
Protect heirloom varieties to preserve biodiversity
protects against "dinnertime boredom". \n active stewardship
if seeds aren't grown out, they eventually die and the plants become extinct.
seed sanctuaries, seed commons, seed banks.
Open pollinated seeds
Pollinated by birds, insects, wind, humans,
greater genetic diversity
offspring are similar to the parents
Heirloom seeds
Open pollinated, with a history of being passed from within a family or community
usually more than 50 years old
known for food taste and flavour
“Nutritionism” (in defense of food)
The art of eating food for its component parts rather than eating food for taste, health, and love of eating
Fatphobia
Patholoigical fear of fatness often manifested as negative attitude and stereotypes about fat people
Diet culture
Belief that equates thinness to health and worth, promotes weight loss as a way to gain social status
Food justice
Addressing race and class disparities in access to food and food sovereignty
Industrial agriculture and COVID
COVID 19 pandemic had significant impacts on the industrial agriculture system
large scale production and processing of food have been particularly affected by the pandemic
Industrial agriculture relies heavily on a large workforce
outbreaks of COVID-19 in meat processing plants and other agricultural facilities have resulted in significant disruptions to the food supply chain
Food system
All the steps a food goes through from being grown to being consumes
including packaging, transporting, and selling
Colonial vs. Indigenous ways of thinking in relation to land and food system
fundamentally different ways of thinking
Colonial: based on the belief in that superiority of Western civilization and its economic and political system
ways of thinking prioritize accumulation of wealth, power, and resources over well-being of the land and its inhabitants
Indigenous: based on the belief that all living things are interconnected
that humans have a responsibility to care for the land
prioritize the well-being of the land and its inhabitants over the accumulation of wealth and resources
As portrayed in the documentary Food Inc. and outlined in the assigned reading by Tony Weis, some of the unintended consequences of the industrialized food system include
Environmental problems such as:
pollution of water by nutrients and animal manure
pesticide resistance in weeds
pollution of crop gene pools by genetically modified crops
According to the film Food Inc, corn can be grown so cheaply in the US because
The production of corn is highly subsidized by the US government
Dr. Power explained that supply management of dairy, eggs, and chicken:
a unique feature of Canadian agriculture and coordinate supply and sets the proce, taking production costs into account
ensures that farmers have a steady, reliable income
prices for Canadian customers are less volatile than in the US
Susan Miller reading states
colonialism’s essential activity is to extract resources from colonized lands and peoples
revitalizing Indigenous languages is at the heart of Indigenous decolonization work because language reflects a unique worldview that includes knowledge of diet and food systems
Appropriationsim
Corporate practice for selling inputs to farmers that were previously produced on the farm itself
main difference between Canada and US agriculture
different regulatory system
not as many mega farms in Canada
Supply management
What are the three myths about supply management?
Stands in the way of a free market
Makes some farmers rich
We will benefit if we get rid of supply management
What are the main ideas of the Anishinaabeg food system?
Involves relationships of care, respect, mutuality
between humans and non-humans
Agriculture as a “Closed-Loop” System
Natures way
animals produce waste, wastes goes into the soil, fertilizes the soil which helps the plants grow, animals eat the plants
Pesticide Treadmill
The cycle of dependence in which monoculture exacerbate pest problems
more or new pesticides are needed as natural predators and controls are eliminated
How to mitigate climate change through agriculture?
Dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sequestration capacity
Food security
When individuals have availability and adequate access to all times to sufficient, sage, nutritious food, to maintain a healthy and active life
What are the 7 pillars of food sovereignty?
Focuses on food for people
Builds knowledge and skills
Works with nature
Values food providers
Localizes food systems
Puts control locally
Food is sacred
Categories of food insecurity
Marginal: worry about running out of food or limited selection
Moderate: compromise in quality or quantity
Severe: missed meals, reduced food intake
What health problems can food insecurity cause?
Poor self-rated health
Poor mental, physical, and dental health
Multiple chronic conditions
diabetes, hypertension, asthma, etc.
Two main problems with food banks:
most people who are food insecure do not use them
Do not address the underlying problem - poverty
Three major issues with Indigenous peoples’ food systems
“Development” rhetoric legitimizes the appropriation (theft of Indigenous lands
Women are often disadvantages when traditional practices are replaced by formal land titling programs
Labelling land as “underutilized” displaces Indigenous uses of land and serves investors interests
What is land trust?
A non-profit charitable organization which legally secures land and land access for the purpose of conservation
What is the defining features of a land trust?
The direction action they take to protect and maintain a local land base for future generations
What are the pathways of land repatriation?
Indigenous protected and conserved areas
Addition to reserve
Land claims
Physical occupation
Private purchase
Land trusts
What are the indicators of Indigenous food sovereignty?
Access to adequate and culturally appropriate resources
Local food production
Fair and affordable trade
Consumption
Policy - Self-governance
Community involvement
Culture
Indigenous Knowledge
The cultural traditions, values, and belief systems that have enabled many generations of First Nation people in Canada to practice nourishing, healthful relationships with their natural and social environments
Traditional Foods
Originate from the natural environment, either form farming or wild harvesting
Traditional Foods
Original from the natural environment, either form farming of wild harvesting
What is environmental dispossession?
Large scale processes that reduce Indigenous peoples’ access to their traditional lands
Goal of Plant Breeding?
Produce crops with improved characteristics by changing their genetic makeup
What are the two types of seeds?
Open-pollinated and Heirloom
What are open-pollinated seeds?
Pollinated by birds, insects, wind, human
greater genetic diversity
Are all open-pollinated seeds heirloom?
No
What is the advantage of hybrid seeds?
Disease resistance
Pest resistance
Uniformity
Marketability
Vigour
Timing or ripening
What are the disadvantages to hybrid seeds?
Cost up to 5x more
Require the optimal conditions to thrive
Many varieties no long produce seeds (by design)
Nutritional content and taste/flavour of the crop is often worse
What is greenhouse revolution?
Effort to reduce poverty as it was sought to increase and modernize agricultural production through he use of industrial agriculture techniques and technologies
What is Genetically Modified Ogransims? (GMOs)
Insertion of DNA fomr one species into another, giving ti new or different characteristics
What is Monsanto?
A chemical company, the first to produce GMOs
Concerns about GMOs
Effect on human health
Pollen contamination of non-GMO crops can never be reversed
Increases herbicide use
Unintended side effects (allergens, toxins, etc)
Poor government oversight - too much reliance on the industry
Intellectural property rights issue
What are the “Big Four” agrochemical giants?
Bayer
DowDupont
Chemichina
BASF
How does oligopoly work in the seed market?
Development of a limited variety of seeds and development only of seed that require the company’s other inputs
Erodes farmers’ rights to decide what, how, and who to grow for
Exacerbates social and environmental problems and existing power imbalances
Makes innovation and the shift to sustainable agriculture more difficult and less likely
Free market
A market in which individuals, companies, and countries compete for scarce resource without any intervention or interference from government
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers when qualified Canadians are not available
Four streams of temporary foreign worker program
High wage stream
Low wage stream
Primary agricultural stream
Stream supporting permanent residency
What is the main goal of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
To import labour, not people, creating a system that is flexible and sustainable
What are the main health risks of temporary foreign worker program?
Occupational exposures and hazards
Working long hours and many days with inadequate breaks
Poor living and housing conditions
Stressful separations from families
Cultural dislocation
What is border imperialism?
The process that colonial states employ to manage border, restrict migration, produce labour precarity, and secure their own economic interests and those of multinational corporations
What are the biggest factors of lab-grown meat?
The biggest small factories
Costs
Need for sterile, pharmaceutical grade conditions
Prices of the growing medium
Cell waste and biological limits
Size
Lowered expectations
What is the sustainable protein transition?
Shift from diets centred on animal-sourced proteins to diets centred on plant-based proteins to other “novel” proteins
What are the 3 vision of the future of sustainable protein?
Repairing protein
Replacing protein
Restoring protein
What is meant by “repairing” protein?
Technological solutions in industrial food production to make it more sustainable
What is meant by “restoring” protein?
Restoring a more holistic balance between human and food, emphasis on biodiverse agricultural sytems
What is protein plurality?
A range of different perspectives on what constitutes the most beneficial role and make-up of protein foods in a healthy and sustainable diet
What are the transformative possibilities of veganism?
Destabilizing hierarchies between human nad other-than-human animals to cultivate compassion for all
Promoting social justice
Reducing environmental impact of the food system
Promoting sustainability
Problems with mainstream media portrayals of veganism
Representations of vegan practices are aligned with white, cis, straight, slim, able-bodied women
using moralizing language implying virtue and aligned with diet culture
Erases the history of veganism and vegetarianism
Erases vegan practices rooted in equity and anti-oppression
Can promote inequalities
As described by Alya Fenton, the Canadian government prioritized agriculture oriented to export beginning in 1969. What are some effects of this policy?
Canadian agricultural-food exports have increased significantly by net farm incomes, have remained more or less stable, and large mulit-national agri-food corporations have reaped the benefits
Kiss the Ground’s relflects a colonial mindset as it has:
The narrative of a solitary white man who is the hero/saviour, travelling the country to rescue farmers from their ignorance about soil ecology and free them from government “welfare”
The lack of acknowledgement of other people, espeically Indigenous peoples, who have farmed ecologically for centuries
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