Category Archives: Political Ecology

North Carolina’s Hog Industry Is A Telling Example of Crumbling Tort Law in America

Posted on by
11

After colonial-era tobacco fields gradually fell out of fashion, North Carolina established a rich history of hog farming. What seemed an economic lifeboat has posed serious environmental and health hazards to the people most intertwined in the process. North Carolina produces 10 billion gallons of wet livestock waste annually, most of which resides in uncovered waste lagoons that are prone to flooding during hurricanes- an issue that will only become more prevalent as climate change worsens. To prevent natural overflow, most of the fecal water is used to fertilize crops, which introduces issues of nitrogen concentration groundwater and river runoff.

A rust-colored hog waste basin looks far from any ponds we know. Credit DEFMO via WUNC (Magnus & Stasio, “A Big Look at Big Hog in North Carolina”)

Most of these ponds exist in majority black and latinx communities who, historically, have been disenfranchised through sharecropping, and rarely benefit from the wealth that is generated by multigenerational contract hog farmers. Rather, an experience of lifelong asthma and shortened life spans is steadily present. Community members in Bladen County recently sued Smithfield farms for violating the right to “private use and enjoyment of land” through negligent waste-management practices, and won. Members lamented the lack of mobility, feeling trapped in their houses, as trips outside swiftly caused nausea and headaches- a disadvantage many of us are only recently experiencing. Millions were awarded to plaintiffs, but restrictions on nuisance suits relating to hog operations quickly followed. 

 

The state has a history of restricting suits and issuing moratoriums in relation to swine litigation, as public officials receive sizable campaign donations from contracting companies who control the market, enacting a tort law that, little-by-little, chips away individual capacity to address industry malfeasance- a national pattern in tort law that was exponentially embraced after the famous Liebeck v. McDonald’s hot coffee case. Another product of the litigation required individual farms to significantly reduce odor in ten days, through the installation of pond covers and methane energy converters at their own expense- a demand that farmers under Smithfield felt impossible. With many farmers soon in violation of court demands and breach of Smithfield contract, they saw their pigs carted off and livelihoods destroyed. 

Source: Yeoman, Barry. (2019, Dec 20). Here are the rural residents who sued the world’s largest hog producer over waste and odors— and won. Retrieved from The Fern.

GLARING VULNERABILITIES IN BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

Posted on by
6

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/22/tim-lang-interview-professor-of-food-policy-city-university-supply-chain-crisis

This article written by Jay Rayner, focuses on the writings and texts of Tim Lang, a professor of food policy at London’s City University. Lang’s primary assertion is that Britain has an extremely delicate “just-in-time” food supply chain, leaving it vulnerable to collapse. The author and Lang decide to leave talk of Corona for later, as Lang believes there is a fundamental problem with the food system, virus aside.

(Evening Standard, Tim Lang)

Lang asserts that because just eight companies control 90 percent of Britain’s food supply, primary producers are not making nearly enough money. Lang proposes an expansive solution to address the increasing fragility of Britain’s food supply chain: new sustainability laws, national nutritional guidelines, audits of food production, numerous new bodies and food system commissions, and more. I, as well as the author of this article, would suggest that these policy suggestions are very politically liberal. This is not necessarily a problem in and of itself however, the article does not include any evidence as to why these policies would be best. I believe this article could be improved upon if supporting evidence was included.

(International Life Sciences Institute)

Britain only produces about 50 percent of the food that is consumed in the Nation. This leaves the nation even more so vulnerable to outside influences disrupting their food supply chain. I agree with Lang that policies must be changed and introduced to ensure that the country can become increasingly independent. Furthermore, since a great deal of Britain’s cultivatable land is not being used to grow important crops, the nation does indeed have the capacity to expand and develop their domestic food chain. In the wake of serious food shortages due to Corona Virus, I believe that many countries, including Britain, are going to have to make alterations to food supply chains looking to bolster domestic food production.

-Sophie Stein

The Right to Privacy, Free Speech, and a Humane Life

Posted on by
6

The family farm. Rolling green pastures, a red barn, and calves running around with their moms before stopping to suckle. This is where Americans picture their food comes from. What they don’t realize, however, is how many carefully crafted laws there are to keep farming and ranching out of the public eye and away from accusation. I recently went to a family dairy farm. The reality was they owned 3,000 dairy cows, the males sold to an industrial beef farm, the mothers spent 4-5 years standing on wood, sand, and manure before being sold for to an industrial slaughterhouse, and the calves were separated from their mothers the day they’re born.

The news about what is happening and how misleading this industry is gets exemplified through Ag-gag laws. Ag-gag laws are laws that essentially prohbit any recording of what happens on these farms and in slaughterhouses. As per the persecutor’s discretion, filming what happens, even if the footage displays illegal treatment of the animals, can have you tried for terrorism. Many states have begun overturning these ag-gag laws as being unconstitutional due to the first amendment’s freedom of speech as well as offering protection for when abuse is discovered.

https://fernnews-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/01.Slider-Texas-dust.jpg

Yet this year, an article came out on Food and Environment Reporting Network stating that it is now illegal to take drone footage of feedlots in Texas. You are allowed to charter a plane to film, but that is an incredibly expensive venture compared to a drone. The industry argues it is to protect themselves and their private properties. The reporters argue it is still a violation of the first amendment and keeps the public blind to the conditions the animals live in so they don’t have the opportunity to make educated choices when shopping.

What do you think? After reading personal and professional perspectives, do you believe these laws are just? Or do you believe they are in violation of the first amendment and prevent consumers from learning exactly where their food is coming from? Are they there for the small family farmers? Or the industrial agriculturalists who dominate the American meat and dairy market?

Personally, I believe this is just one of the real costs of cheap food.

“Essential Workers”: Heroes or a Sacrifice to Capitalism ?

Posted on by
21

In the face of major shifts and/or unrest both global and domestic, the US has historically relied on the most marginalized groups to uphold the status quo; an aspect of our history that is too often left out of, or skewed within, popular narratives. An example ringing with familiarity, was the onset of WWII (when swaths of the agricultural labor force migrated into war production factories) the 1942 Mexican Farm Labor Program Act systematically promoted the exploitation of immigrant labor as a means to keep meeting food demands on the backs of “cheap” labor. Our immigrant workers are a labor force that has been consistently condemned, ridiculed, and cast out. And again, today, in the face of a global pandemic, we are turning to the numerous undocumented immigrants that make up our 2.4 million farmworkers to continue to supply us with our demands (Honig, 2020). They are essential to keeping America fed.

Yet, as the choir of bells ring through our cities in gratitude to those who are on the front lines, these essential workers continue to work unprotected in close quarters, high risk conditions, and extremely limited access to testing or health care. And when calls are made to solve these issues, and to provide adequate provisioning, they are too often being met with no answer. Ultimately, they are being ignored. Still though, the faces of leadership turn to the media to give praise and show appreciation of our essential workers… our “heroes.”

Is this the way to treat our heroes? Do we truly believe that these people put themselves at risk everyday, in-spite of the love of their families and own lives, to be our “heroes?” Or have they been given no other choice, no other option to sustain themselves, or their families? And, in knowing this well, the faces of leadership can chose to tend to their need or not. The migrant workers, who have always been an essential labor force, are treated as if they are disposable. This pandemic is not an independent actor, it is constantly being fed by the conditions that were already established, long before it’s outbreak. Vulnerable living conditions, limited access to health care, muted voices, and insufficient ground to establish self-determination are the by-products of our capitalist structure that continues to sustain itself through the most marginalized people, who tend to fill our most essential positions.

 

This blog post was inspired by the FERN article: https://thefern.org/2020/04/as-pandemic-spreads-and-growing-season-ramps-up-farmworkers-deemed-essential-but-still-largely-unprotected/

Migrant workers are the backbone of our food system, why don’t we treat them better?

Posted on by
22

Myself, like many other Americans, never think twice about where my food comes from, how it is grown, or whom harvests it. This was true for me before I enrolled in Environment 385, and throughout much of the global pandemic, COVID-19. It was not until I read an article from The Fern that I fully contextualized how inner-connected politics and the food system really is and how complex the process was from sprout to table.

After reading the article Migrant farmworkers feed America, and they’re at a high risk for a coronavirus outbreak, I was overcome with emotion. With over 2.7 million farmers in the United States, undocumented workers make up 70%. I learned that every single day, millions of people are subjected to long hours in the blistering heat, live in horrible conditions, and lack basic quality healthcare. With the growing burden of COVID-19, migrant workers are disproportionately at risk of becoming inflected and exposing others to a virus that has already claimed thousands of lives in the United States alone. We rely on them to grow our food, tend our crops, and entrust them to feed and keep us healthy, yet we do little in return.

"Migrant workers harvest sweet potatoes (BELOW) and weed rows of tobacco (ABOVE) in eastern North Carolina. Often, pickers are paid by the bin instead of by the hour" - Brain Barth

“Migrant workers harvest sweet potatoes (BELOW) and weed rows of tobacco (ABOVE) in eastern North Carolina. Often, pickers are paid by the bin instead of by the hour” – Brain Barth

Gross and Honig highlight reasonable pleas on how to make life better for the undocumented workers. But, why do they go ignored? Why do things never seem to change? One thing that has been made clear is that the power and safety is still held within the in-group and no one wants to share the spoils with the out-group. Everyone should be afforded the same rights on American soil, especially if they are providing such an essential service.

References

Migrant farmworkers feed America, and they’re at high risk for a coronavirus outbreak

Photo: https://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/migrant-farm-workers-the-high-cost-of-cheap-labor/

https://who.sprinklr.com/region/amro/country/us

Examining the impact of carbon sequestration and the extent to which the actors involved actually care about fighting climate change

Posted on by
7

I read an article that examined carbon sequestration, a practice in which farmers alter their cultivation methods to store harmful carbon and other greenhouse gasses in the soil on farms instead of letting them out into the air. Wealthy organizations began investing in farmers to adopt these methods, however, the author highlighted data that shows carbon sequestration efforts may not be very effective in combating climate change, which made me question which of the actors involved in this process genuinely care about doing everything they can to stop climate change. One quote from a farmer who adopted carbon sequestration stated “he didn’t adopt ‘carbon smart’ practices like cover-cropping to fight climate change. He did it to build soil, retain water, and make money.” (Popkin). This view is likely representative of many farmers, because while some of them may genuinely care about combating climate change, so much of their life is tied up in competition and making profits, which would understandably be a higher priority for them over fighting climate change in our capitalist economy.

Article: https://thefern.org/2020/03/is-carbon-farming-a-climate-boon-or-boondoggle/

Further, affluent consumers are drawn to climate friendly solutions such as carbon sequestration, but do they care to look into how effective it actually is? Or do they simply commend themselves for doing a good deed while their money could be spent more effectively elsewhere. Leaders in carbon sequestration such as Nori have built their organization around carbon sequestration investment, but will they admit the need to revamp their methods, even at a financial loss to achieve their mission? Eschewing profits to face truths about effective methods to fight climate change is an extremely hard thing to do across every industry in America, it is clear it needs to be done by powerful, wealthy actors. But will anyone care enough to do it?

 

Food Waste & Food Insecurity: COVID-19

Posted on by
7

Since beginning the Political Ecology of the World’s Food System course, I find myself awakening to the way I, my family, my nation, and the world contribute to this planetary system. In the wake of COVID-19, one consequence of our current system that has been more apparent to me is food waste.

Due to the shutdown of bulk buyers like restaurants, the disruption of the food chain has led to farmers struggling to find the demand for their perishable products. As food banks are being overwhelmed by government-bought surplus donations, dairy farmers dump thousands of liters of milk. The abundance of food does not match my individual experience in the grocery store midst COVID-19 where food products appear limited.

The lack of food on the shelves is driven by fear buying and the shortage of labor that cannot keep up with new demands. Fear buying is cited to be a substantial contributor to the current exacerbation of food waste. While the US maneuvers surplus and food hoarding, other nations fear a food crisis due to job shortages and the halt of open trade.

A Call to Action put out by The Food and Land Use Coalition calls on world leaders to maintain open trade, strengthen social programs, and invest in domestic farming. This letter focuses on countries where food insecurity heavily affects their population, such as countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although this letter was written for and during the pandemic, the issues addressed such as malnutrition and access to healthcare have spanned long before Coronavirus.

Food waste and food insecurity are both products of our current system and with COVID-19 disrupting the ability of grocery store workers and trade, this pandemic has magnified pre-existing infrastructure deficiencies.

The Dangers of Biodiversity Loss in Africa

Posted on by
7

Before the emergence of COVID19, there was a common misconception that the “era of infectious diseases” was history due to technological advances and the widespread use of antibiotics and vaccines. However, recent studies have pointed to the growing emergence of zoonotic pathogens, specifically in Africa. 

Key causes of new viral infections stem from areas with high population densities and frequent human interaction with wild animals. The food and agriculture system is increasingly impeding into wildlife, putting global health at risk. Rising populations in Africa are accelerating the expansion of agricultural lands and human settlements into wildlife, while simultaneously fueling the growing bushmeat market. Wet markets for these bushmeats are commonly found in Africa with limited regulations and/or resources leading to overexploitation, hunting and poaching.

Transmission of Wildlife Zoonotic Pathogens

Livestock farmers face severe pressure to meet the market demands and are highly vulnerable to potential infectious diseases. The most common emergence of pathogens from primates are known to come from bats. But, we are seeing more frequently that amplifier hosts, such as pigs and other livestock, are increasing the transmission rates to humans. With overall meat production being at an all time high, this is highly problematic.

Bushmeat has been hunted for centuries by communities who relied on it for subsistence. Bushmeat remains a vital source of food for many impoverished areas in Africa, so it is unrealistic to ban the consumption of these animals altogether. However, bushmeat is often used today to feed Africa’s wealthy urban population, shifting its original purpose of subsistence to a highly profitable commodity. 

To address the growing concern of zoonotic pathogens, there must be effective enforcement of hunting quotas. Cultural preference for the “exotic” bushmeat must also be shifted. Implementing educational programs linking bushmeat practices to zoonotic pathogens could be a start to reducing the number of wildlife animals hunted.

Website: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/africas-growing-risk-diseases-spread-animals-people

The Difficulties of Being a Young Farmer in the New Climate Change Era

Posted on by
8

 

Young and beginning farmers in this day in age are grappling with ways to adapt to climate change under challenging circumstances. Weak finances and lack of governmental support to help them with this new climate change era, young farmers are fighting to survive in the agricultural industry. 

Economically, young farmers are in a sensitive position. Two-thirds of young, beginner farmers were found to have less than $10,000 in revenue and are facing serious financial constraints with paying off their student debt. These financial hardships are no help when these farmers are experiencing rising land prices, and unpredictable climate patterns. 

New patterns in inconstant weather conditions have been at the forefront of many farmer’s worries. In the past year there has been the smallest harvest in decades due to unstable weather conditions including intense storms, irregular rainfall, and frost. The only way to curtail the ever present issue of climate change and it’s devastating effects on farmers is through governmental action. 

Culturally, our society is divided on beliefs on the legitimacy of climate change. The combination of powerful corporations and climate change disbelievers are ceasing any governmental action. The big question is: How can we gain momentum for governmental support? I think we need to demonstrate urgency for political action by contacting our representatives, supporting climate change charities  (Clean Air Task Force or Sandbag are great options), and participating in climate change activist groups. 

What this article fails to realize is that a majority of existing farmers in the US are 57.5 years old (US 2017 Census of Agriculture) and are aging out. It is deeply important to set our young farmers for success so they continue the agricultural industry for future generations. If we continue placing financial and environmental burdens on young farmers the future implications for future food supply will be costly. 

Sources:

(Original Article) Douglas, Leah. “Climate Change Is Making It Harder to Be a Young Farmer.” Grist, Grist, 1 Feb. 2020, https://grist.org/food/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-to-be-a-young-farmer/.

(Image) Parker, Michael, and Holly Rippon-Butler. “U.S. Department of Agriculture.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land Access Team, National Young Farmers Coalition, 18 Sept. 2019, https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/farm-life/finding-farmland-resources-support-land-access.