I hadn't considered the human side to "Food Justice." In the Gottleib and Joshi Growing Justice chapter, it is interesting to read about the various organizations throughout history that have attempted to improve the lives of farmers. I am shocked to see the term "slavery" thrown around and realize how unaware I am of these horrific conditions some farmers faced.
I found the immigrant farmers piece to be the most interesting. Farming culture, being one of the themes, is unique and different depending on where on Earth you are. When immigrants migrate from rural areas to the U.S., they often turn to their agricultural skills, even if it is in a bustling city. It is something that allows them to retain part of their culture, and as with the NIFI conference, explore other cultures as well. The National Immigrant Farming Initiative (NIFI) really seems to be effective in creating an organization that all U.S. immigrants can look to for support. The "open space technology" approach to a conference is an awesome idea that NIFI used in its conference. The whole "make your own workshop schedule with no keynote speakers or panelists" idea allows the diverse conference members from different nationalities to share with one another, not just their agriculture skills, but also their heritage.
To me, this idea of cultural understanding among farmers best links to the Alkon and Agyeman reading as an example of communitarianism. This theory is "linked with tolerance of other cultures and practices in a community, as with the Amish communities." Not that these immigrant communities are exactly like the Amish. But I do think the same willingness to farm to express culture here connects with communitarianism.
Are there any other theories that are brought up in the Alkon and Agyeman reading that might also connect to the immigrant organizations? What can national organizations like NIFI do to promote local pushes in agriculture?
Good point in connecting the Alkon and Agyeman reading with the Gottlieb and Joshi ones.
ReplyDeleteI think the human side of food justice is such an important factor and is one that I became aware of before I learned the extent to which the corporate food industry harms animals and is an environmental detriment. I also think it is commonly overlooked, despite there being such a strong link to the overall movement for better quality, sustainably grown foods. When you think of environmental justice issues, you often think of the factory that are polluting waste into the waterways or toxins into the air right next to a neighborhood of the socio-disadvantaged. It is also a socio-environmental injustice in the way that our current food system disproportionately treats those same individuals and should be pulled into the conversation more often.