Dennis Avery
GOEDHART@defender1.dordt.edu
11 Jan 94 16:03:14 CST6CDT
Dear Sanetters:
I believe it would be ill advised to dismiss Dennis Avery as a
crackpot. He is a cagey critter and in the popular press and farm
press he has delivered a message that people want to believe. I
interpret that message to be: "technology will save humankind". (As an
example see the Forbes November 8, 1993 issue). As a matter of fact
he cloaks himself with a pro-environment message "supported" by the
latest in technology. Comments for instance "How many millions of
square miles of wildlife habitat are the environmentalists willing to
sacrifice in order to have organic farming." Read his Hudson
Institute Briefing entitled: Biodiversity: Saving Species with
Biotechnology.
Last November I encountered Dennis Avery for the first time as he
delivered a presentation "A Global Food System for Humanity AND the
Environment". I challenged him on many issues and some obvious
inaccuracies. He doesn't believe that anyone can really farm
organically and have yields equivalent to high-input farming. In the
end he conceded that perhaps in corners of Iowa where "people were
located on huge piles on hog manure" organic techniques (ie relying
on recycling of manures) might work. But he pointed out that
livestock and crop production areas are not synchronized today
and that makes recycling of nutrients impossible in most areas of the
world. Well the discussion went on from there. I interpeted the
from the discussion that he has good points and he is open to
changing his positions on some statements but his overall philosophy
will not change.
Additional information about the Hudson Institute:
"The Hudson Institute is a private,not for profit research
organization founded in 1961 by the late Herman Kahn. Hudson
analyzes and makes recommendations about public policy for business
and government executives, as well as for the public at large. The
institute does not advocate an express ideology or political position.
However, thirty years of work on the most important issues of the day
has forged a viewpoint that embodies skepticism about the
conventional wisdom, optimism about solving problems, a committment
to free institutions, and individual responsibility, an appreciation
of the crucial role of technology in acheiving progress, and an
abiding respect for the importance of values, culture, and religion
in human affairs." Hard to believe no express ideology is advocated!
Dennis Avery has authored the following: Poverty won't save the
Planet, Global Food Progress 1991, and you will be happy to know his
latest book is titled: Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic:
The Environmental Triumph of High Yield Agriculture.
If you care to contact him directly he may be reached@
PO Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421
My analysis is that we will be hearing far more from his corner and
we must do the best job possible educating, refuting, and making the
case for the alternative paradigm.
_________________________________________________________
Dr. Chris Goedhart e-mail: goedhart@dordt.edu
Agriculture Dept phone: (712)722-4394
Dordt College FAX: (712)722-1198
Sioux Center,IA 51250
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