Agronomy journal, Vol. 70 No. 2, 2008.
Original scientific paper
AGRICULTURE, BIOTECHNOLOGY, BIOETHICS, AND THE GLOBAL FDA - FOOD-DRUG & AGRICULTURE COMPLEX
Michael W. Fox
Abstract
Food safety, quality and security are rising concerns both nationally and internationally. The hegemony of multinational agribusiness corporations promoting non-sustainable agricultural practices erodes both cultural and biological diversity; promotes cruel and environmentally damaging concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs or factory farms) supported by wholesale use of antibiotics, anabolic steroids, live vaccines, pesticides, and other veterinary drugs; and the planting of patented, genetically engineered/modified (GM) and hybrid crop varieties coupled with toxic agrichemical pesticides and fertilizers The validity of these concerns will be documented from a holistic veterinary, public and environmental health perspective. The bioethical basis for the adoption of bioregionally appropriate, sustainable, traditional, innovative, community supported and supporting, humane, socially just, and organically certified farming practices and marketing cooperatives will be detailed. In the face of climate change, rising oil and food prices, dwindling food reserves, and increasing world hunger, finding and applying alternatives to conventional, petrochemical-based agribusiness is one of humanity’s most urgent priorities.
Keywords
bioethics; holistic approach; sustainable farming; food and environment safety
Hrčak ID:
28408
URI
Publication date:
25.7.2008.
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