From: Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM
Date: Thu Mar 17 2005 - 06:44:34 EST
a Marxian analysis by Paul Rye Kledal, a researcher at the Danish
Research Institute of Food Economics:
< http://www.foi.dk/cv/paul-kledal/paper-SAFO-PE-organicfoods.doc >
This topic is related to our recent, brief discussion on
consumption initiated by Jurriaan.
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Questions:
o What role has consumer demand by the working-class played
in the transition to different "food regimes"? Have the
trends towards organic farming and vegetarianism occurred
because of or in spite of what capital wanted?
o It's been long known that the "Green Revolution" caused
an increase in concentration in farming because large and
wealthy producers were better positioned to benefit from the
new farming technologies. Has the growth of organic farming
(in a sense, a counter-trend) created a niche for smaller farmers
or has this market also become increasingly taken over by
wealthy landowners and agribusiness?
o Should Marxians champion organic farming or not? Should
we champion vegetarianism or not? Should we advance positions
on these issues which are culturally- and regionally-specific
or should there be a international working class perspective
on organic farming and vegetarianism?
In solidarity, Jerry
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