Agriculture’s Ethical Horizon: Third Edition covers the changing environment in which practitioners of agriculture are challenged to produce food for the world. Fully revised and updated, the book encourages discussions on the moral questions that agriculture faces, including what goals should agricultural science pursue and how should practitioners address important ethical questions which are different and more complex than the dominating questions of production? The book presents the story of agriculture from the blood, sweat and tears era, to the present genetic era, including the paradox of agriculture.
This book is ideal for agricultural students, practitioners and anyone who would like to understand the tremendous responsibility of agricultural production. It presents a foundation for the important discussions and decisions that will be necessary to support the future of agriculture.
Author(s): Robert L. Zimdahl
Edition: 3
Publisher: Elsevier
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 348
City: Amsterdam
Agriculture's Ethical Horizon
Copyright
Acknowledgments—First edition
Acknowledgments—Second edition
Acknowledgments—Third edition
Contents
Foreword—First edition
References
Foreword—Second edition
References
Foreword—Third edition
References
List of highlights for each chapter
Preface
References
1 The horizon of agricultural ethics
A Truth models
B Guiding myths
C Scientific agriculture
D The cathartic questions
References
2 The conduct of agricultural science
A What research ought to be done?
References
3 When things go wrong—balancing technology’s safety and risk
A The chemical era of agriculture
B Progress of weed science
C Challenges
1 Environmental concern
2 Science and technology
3 Herbicide resistance
4 Agricultural examples
5 Scientific errors
D The continuing debate
E Appointment in Samarra
References
4 A brief introduction to moral philosophy and ethical theories
A Science and emotion
B Universal values
C Ethics in agriculture
D Contemporary normative ethics
E Moral theories relevant to agriculture
1 Ethical egoism
2 Social contract theory
3 Virtue theory
4 Deontological—Kantian ethics
5 Utilitarianism
F Applying ethics to agriculture and agricultural science
G Multiple strategies utilitarianism
References
5 Moral confidence in agriculture1
A The benefits and costs of modern agriculture
B Goals for agriculture
1 Social goals for agriculture
2 Environmental goals for agriculture
C Expanding agriculture’s moral scope
1 The utilitarian standard
D The relevance of the western agricultural model
E Bottom-line thinking
F Conclusion
References
6 The relevance of ethics to agriculture
References
7 Agricultural sustainability
A The present agricultural situation
B The example of weed management
1 Pesticide poisoning
2 A broader context
C What is sustainability?
D Why must sustainability be achieved?
E The moral case for sustainability
F A concluding comment about sustainable weed science
References
8 Agricultural biotechnology—opportunities and strengths
A The debate
1 Favorable views6.
B Technological problems
C Substantial equivalence
D Arguments in favor of agricultural biotechnology
1 Present achievements
2 Future objectives
3 A few specific examples
a Parasitic weeds
b Cotton
c Vaccines
d Gene drives
e Luminescence
f Petroleum
g Explosives and a weed
h Proteins
i Cost and environment
j Promises
E The environment
References
9 Agricultural biotechnology—challenges and cautions
A The debate
B Arguments opposed to agricultural biotechnology
1 Feeding the world
2 Harm to human health
3 Harm to the environment
4 Transgenic technology and sustainable agricultural systems
5 The role of large companies
C Moral arguments
1 Labeling and biotechnology in the United States and the EU
2 Affects on family farms
3 Academic industry relationships
4 Transgenic pharming
5 The Precautionary Principle
References
10 Alternative/organic agricultural systems
A Characteristics of alternative/organic systems
1 Agroecological/Ecological
2 Biodynamic
3 Conservation
4 Organic
5 Regenerative
B Farmers and productivity
C Transition and advantages
D Vertical agriculture
E Ethical problems
References
11 Animal agriculture
A Western thought and the line
B A person
C Arguments in support of animal agriculture
1 Sustainability
2 Environment
3 Efficiency
4 Competition
5 By-products
6 Nonfood uses
7 Wealth
8 Risk
D Arguments against animal agriculture
1 Land use
2 Water
3 Environment
4 Methane
5 Red meat
6 Deforestation
7 Pollution
8 Covid-19
9 Suffering
10 Antibiotics
E Animal biotechnology
F A new technology—in vitro meat
G Conclusion
References
12 A glimpse ahead
A Eight important issues/problems/matters of concern
1 Soil erosion
2 Land degradation and desertification
3 Depletion of water resources
4 Loss of biodiversity
5 Climate change
6 Pollution
7 Loss of farmers
8 Population
B Dominant myths of agriculture
1 The myth of infinite benefit
2 The myth that science and scientists are value-free
3 The myth of unfettered research
4 The myth of accountability
5 The myth of authoritativeness
6 The myth of the endless frontier
C Production and ethics
D The imperative of responsibility
E Finding partners
F The role of the university
1 Agricultural research and funding
G Sustainability
H Conclusion
References
Index
