Mistrust of Science Won’t Help Create Sustainable Agriculture

by Mike Smith · 2009-10-28 06:47:00 UTC
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When it comes to food and farming there is no 'natural' ideal to which we can possibly strive. Though organic food and sustainability helps us reacquaint ourselves with where our food comes from, are we fetishizing the idea of 'natural' and 'real' food? We've never agreed what these words mean, leading us to oppose and mistrust science, to the detriment of a growing population that we'll need to feed. That's the argument of a recent piece in Seed Magazine, asking us to rethink broad and vague terms that have little scientific merit.

Political scientist Robert Paarlberg explained in his 2008 book, Starved for Science, that whilst the productivity of our farms has risen through the application of science, we don't need any more of it; “This turn against new agricultural science is an affordable attitude in rich countries, but it becomes dangerous if exported to science-starved poor countries,” he explained.

It isn't enough to assume organic food is a universal good for the world. If it's shipped half way across the country or planet, conventionally grown local food is better. Similarly, the article speaks favorable of biotech firms and makes the compelling point that shouldn't we mustn't automatically distrust science in the name of 'natural food' — especially when it comes to feeding a growing population.

Photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

Mike Smith
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