Re: The Organic Industry -- its dilemma
Guy Ames (guya@ncatfyv.uark.edu)
Fri, 1 Mar 1996 10:24:13 -0600 (CST)
> >
> > Bart Hall's comment, as well as the use of Fred Kirschenmann' concern,
> >indeed other attempts to question the validity of organics and it's relation
> >to
> >sustainable ag strike me as mean-spirited attempts to knock those
> >producers who have made a committment to sustainable agriculture, rather
> >than thoughtful concerns about the threats to organics on the horizon.
> > Indeed it strikes me as characteristic of the sustainable ag
> >discussions, which definately faces larger threats than the organics
> >industry. Rather than directing our resources in sust. ag. to helping
> >interested or committed producers to create for successful and
> >sustainable operations, much of our effort goes toward qualifying novel
> >chemical approaches (precision farming, no till...) as sustainable.
>
> Dear JJ. I agree with you and thank you for making the point. I often wonder
> what the real motivation is for the "organic bashing" on the part of some
> sustainable agriculture people and environmentalists. The point made by
> Patrick Madden and others about the threat of corporate take-over of organics
> (and all other kind of food) is valid but that issue is separate from the
> effort to build sustainability into organic practices. Organic farmers are
> putting theselves on the line and living up to written standards. I doubt if
> you'll ever see a "precision farmer" with the same level of committment.
>
> Ronald Nigh
> Dana Association
> Mexico
>
>
Dear Ronald and J.J.,
Guessing that I am one of those you would characterize as
"organic bashing," I will respond to your implied question
regarding my "real" motivation (by the way, I deeply resent
the implication that my real motivation is somehow hidden).