To respond to Will Lockeretz' inquiries (though NOT as a defender of
tobacco use - I'm a reformed smoker who is now allergic):
On Tue, 10 Oct 1995 WLockeretz@infonet.tufts.edu wrote:
> 1) Why would any organic producer want to produce tobacco? I once
> read a statement of organic principles somewhere that I seem to recall
> featured words like "wholesome, healthful products."
While I'm sure that participating in the production of wholesome
healthful products is the driving motivation of many organic producers,
it is not the only reason to go organic. It's dangerous to make
sweeping, general assumptions about any population.
Other incentives for organic production include (but are not limited to):
1) Decreasing production costs while increasing market price;
2) Reducing exposure *for the farmer* to hazardous substances such as
chemical herbicides and pesticides.
3) Reducing negative impact of farming on the environment.
All of these goals may be met by organic tobacco production vs. conventional.
In the South tobacco, particularly for smallholders, produces greater
cash income per acre than any other crop grown. Organic vegetable
production may develop into a competitor in this area, but there are
first needs to be met by the NGO community in educating farmers,
consumers and in market development.
If, hypothetically, a farmer wanted to make a transition from
conventional tobacco production (very labor and chemical intensive) to
organic vegetable production, one way to hedge his/her bet would be to
convert part of the acreage to organic tobacco, or rotate early tobacco
with late vegetable production.
> 2) Why would any organic consumer want to consume tobacco?
Again, this question is based on assumed generalities (this time about a
"group" called organic consumers) that are not necessarily valid for all.
> I'd be very interested to hear whether they pay a premium for organic
> tobacco
Tobacco sales are regulated, so "they" the consumer cannot buy tobacco
directly from the grower. The one company I know of that sells organic
tobacco cigarettes does pay a premium to farmers for an organic product.
As far as I know, the big tobacco companies have no interest in buying or
promoting organic tobacco.
> , and if so, why? To safeguard their health?
Actually, there *are* studies that claim most of the health hazards in
cigarette smoking come from additives, not from tobacco itself. But
again, I'm just trying to provide information in response to your
posting, not make an argument for "safe" tobacco consumption.
I would also point out that there are some traditional medicinal and
religious uses for tobacco, but I am not suggesting these markets are
real targets for organic producers. It's for cigarettes and chaw.
> I hadn't heard that there is significant organic tobacco production, but if
> there is, doesn't this raise some pretty serious questions about what in the
> world "organic" is all about?
Only if you're stuck in generalities about what organic "should" be,
which seems (from your questions) to assume a certain homogeneity among
organic producers and consumers. I suggest that, putting organic into
the larger context of sustainability, a goal in agricultural
production (and consumption) should be diversity, not homogeneity.
Your question seems to be a preface to arguing for exclusivity,
rather than inclusiveness around sustainable production. Certainly it
is possible that the organic community may rise up in arms about tobacco
production and exclude it from "the family." But I suggest there are
more important issues facing us.
> Perhaps some organic tobacco
> producers/consumers could enlighten me.
To paraphrase my ole daddy, "Neither a tobacco producer nor consumer be."
But the operative principle here is supply and demand. There is a market
for this commodity, so it is produced. To the extent that such
production may cause conventional farmers to look anew at organic or
low-input methods, that production may even be beneficial.
For those of you who, despite my disclaimers, decide to interpret this
post as a defense of tobacco production please do not be offended if I do
not take part in any continuing debate on this topic. I just feel that
there are better ways to spend my time. Tobacco is a dying industry, in
every sense of the word, but like many of the weed's victims it will die a
long, slow and lingering death.
David Waller
Farm Plan Advocates
Charlotte, North Carolina