Here is an example of the kind of technological intervention in earth-human relationships which one contemporary urban- and intellectually-based elite sees as the solution for a shrinking food supply and an increasing population.
In agriculture, new ideas will be vital to satisfying growing demand in the face of diminishing resources.
Source: As the Pool of Agribusiness Giants Shrinks, Will Innovation Follow?
That’s right, hyper-industrialization and even robotics (do read the article), to reduce unit costs and increase efficiency … efficiency, however, of what? Of feeding people? Perhaps not. Let us remember that at the base of our food supply lies the earth, and the presumption that the earth will continue to provide endlessly, powered by the sun, and that we can just tap into this flow without feeding it. What’s more, at the base of the contemporary economy lies work, and if humans aren’t doing the work then the money for the work is not flowing through their hands, their bodies, their families and their communities, and they will do anything, anything at all, to see that it does.
The article points out that cooperation with small producers will be necessary to keep agribusiness from becoming moribund, but that’s the same as saying that dominant corporate capitalism, or dominant communism, or any globally dominant system of organization, will grow stale and unresponsive if unresponsive to its citizens.
It is one kind of state which has agribusiness corporations and industrial networks as its citizens, and another kind of state which has humans and social and community networks as its citizens. This article makes this mistake, and the mistake is profound.
It is time to remember our humanity and our planet, for they are one and the same.
Categories: Agriculture, Erosion, Ethics, Industry, Innovation
Okanagan Okanogan 
Hi Harold,
Bad analogy perhaps, but the same was said about the beer industry at the turn of the century, when the breweries all amalgamated into 3 or 4 global brands. Innovation came, but not through them. It emerged from all the micro-breweries that immediately filled the void the big guys had created by commoditizing something that customers want to be more than a beverage and to actually taste wonderful. With your, and I’m sure many other blogs, about re-connecting, re-discovering the old ways, and discovering new ways and quickly sharing them amoungst the cognoscenti, you are the innovator and maybe you should be happy that the big guys are getting of the way to let you move on through.
Jim
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Good analogy, Jim! I will raise a glass to that.
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You have inspired me to think of a post with a concrete alternative. Thanks.
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Thank you for your analysis – and response!
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It was an experiment to see whether it was worthwhile to comment on news items. You know me… always curious.
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