Hardback
Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture
This timely Handbook synthesizes and analyzes key issues and concerns relating to the impact of agriculture on both farmers and non-farmers. With a unique focus on humans rather than animals or the environment, the book is interdisciplinary and international in scope, with contributions from sociologists, economists, anthropologists and geographers providing case studies and examples from all six populated continents.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
This timely Handbook synthesizes and analyzes key issues and concerns relating to the impact of agriculture on both farmers and non-farmers. With a unique focus on humans rather than animals or the environment, the book is interdisciplinary and international in scope, with contributions from sociologists, economists, anthropologists and geographers providing case studies and examples from all six populated continents.
Looking at the pervasive impact of agriculture, the Handbook explores all aspects of the production of food and fiber within the agrifood value chain, including: farmers and laborers growing crops and raising livestock, businesses supplying inputs for these operations, and processors transforming plants and animals into intermediate and finished food, beverage and clothing products. Separated into four parts, it analyzes how the agrifood industry affects farmer well-being; the application of science and technology within an agricultural context; the ways in which agriculture affects the well-being of smallholder farmers, especially in developing countries; and agriculture’s impact more broadly on society.
This will be a beneficial read for economics and sociology students, particularly those looking at the impacts of agriculture. Accessible and clear, the Handbook will also be helpful for policymakers and agricultural NGOs wanting a more in-depth understanding of the impact of agriculture on human life.
Looking at the pervasive impact of agriculture, the Handbook explores all aspects of the production of food and fiber within the agrifood value chain, including: farmers and laborers growing crops and raising livestock, businesses supplying inputs for these operations, and processors transforming plants and animals into intermediate and finished food, beverage and clothing products. Separated into four parts, it analyzes how the agrifood industry affects farmer well-being; the application of science and technology within an agricultural context; the ways in which agriculture affects the well-being of smallholder farmers, especially in developing countries; and agriculture’s impact more broadly on society.
This will be a beneficial read for economics and sociology students, particularly those looking at the impacts of agriculture. Accessible and clear, the Handbook will also be helpful for policymakers and agricultural NGOs wanting a more in-depth understanding of the impact of agriculture on human life.
Critical Acclaim
‘This Handbook provides wide-ranging insights into the impact of agriculture on humans. Bringing together authors from multiple disciplines and perspectives, the collection provides fresh understandings of long-standing and up-to-the-minute impacts of agriculture and the broader agrifood system on farmers, farmworkers, and consumers. Readers will encounter new ways of understanding agrarianism, biotechnology, consumer choice, and ethical dilemmas in agriculture.’
– Carolyn E. Sachs, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, US
‘Chapters in the Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture emphasize the impact that industrial technology, trade policy and the growing influence of finance capital are having on the practice of farming, and on the social institution of the household farm. It would be difficult to imagine a work that explores this topic with greater perspicuity or completeness. I will be returning to the book again and again for enlightenment on the future of our food system.’
– Paul B. Thompson, Michigan State University, US
– Carolyn E. Sachs, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, US
‘Chapters in the Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture emphasize the impact that industrial technology, trade policy and the growing influence of finance capital are having on the practice of farming, and on the social institution of the household farm. It would be difficult to imagine a work that explores this topic with greater perspicuity or completeness. I will be returning to the book again and again for enlightenment on the future of our food system.’
– Paul B. Thompson, Michigan State University, US
Contributors
Contributors: A.-R. Abdulai, S. Ahmed, L. Asprooth, G.M. Baldinelli, L. Binford, K. Bronson, C.L. Christensen, D.H. Constance, A. D'Alessandro, E. Duncan, R. Ebel, G.F. Félix, J. Forney, E.D.G. Fraser, R.E. Galt, S. Gingrich, D. Giwa Daramola, L. Glenna, H.S. James, Jr., A. Kalfagianni, G. Kuehne, J.M.L. Laforge, C.Z. Levkoe, S. Lyon, J.M. MacDonald, J. McLaughlin, F. Menalled, A. Rainey, E. Ransom, S. Rotz, J. Sauer, A.A. Sidhoum, K.A. Snyder, D. Stuart, L.-A. Sutherland, M. Vrachioli, L. Zepeda
Contents
Contents:
1 Introduction to the Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture 1
Harvey S. James, Jr.
PART I IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
AND ORGANIZATIONS
2 How farm consolidation affects farmers and farmworkers 13
James M. MacDonald
3 The real game of chicken: the tournament, broiler contracts
and integrator power 31
Douglas H. Constance and Anthony Rainey
4 Input industry influence on farmer decision-making: an
example of negative impacts to the environment and farmers 51
Diana Stuart
5 Identities on the family farm: agrarianism, materiality and the
‘good farmer’ 65
Jérémie Forney and Lee-Ann Sutherland
PART II IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
6 Impacts of GE crop technologies on farmers 86
Leland L. Glenna and Elizabeth Ransom
7 Agricultural mechanization and farm labor development 102
Amer Ait Sidhoum, Maria Vrachioli and Johannes Sauer
8 The human impact of data bias and the digital agricultural revolution 119
Kelly Bronson, Sarah Rotz and Adrian D’Alessandro
9 Modernizing agriculture through digital technologies:
prospects and challenges 138
Emily Duncan, Abdul-Rahim Abdulai and Evan D.G. Fraser
PART III IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON SMALLHOLDER
FARMERS AND FARM LABORERS
10 ‘Modern’ agriculture and its impact on smallholder farmer livelihoods 163
Katherine A. Snyder
11 The impacts of private standards on smallholder well-being 179
Agni Kalfagianni
12 Fair trade’s impact on smallholders 194
Sarah Lyon
13 The human impact from Indian farmers’ productive but
damaging use of pesticides 218
Geoff Kuehne
14 The social protection function of agriculture 233
Damilola Giwa Daramola and Harvey S. James, Jr.
15 Entrenched exploitation: temporary foreign agricultural
worker programs in North America 256
Leigh Binford and Janet McLaughlin
16 The impacts of agroecology training within and beyond farmer
training 275
Julia M.L. Laforge and Charles Z. Levkoe
PART IV BROADER IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON SOCIETY
17 The effects of agrochemicals on humans 297
Ryan E. Galt and Lauren Asprooth
18 How agrarian values affect society 333
Chad L. Christensen
19 How biodiversity loss affects society 352
Roland Ebel, Fabian Menalled, Selena Ahmed, Simone Gingrich,
Giulia Maria Baldinelli and Georges F. Félix
20 Ethical issues arising from modern agriculture 377
Harvey S. James, Jr.
21 Finding alternatives in our broken food system: the illusion of choice 399
Lydia Zepeda
Index 416
1 Introduction to the Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture 1
Harvey S. James, Jr.
PART I IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
AND ORGANIZATIONS
2 How farm consolidation affects farmers and farmworkers 13
James M. MacDonald
3 The real game of chicken: the tournament, broiler contracts
and integrator power 31
Douglas H. Constance and Anthony Rainey
4 Input industry influence on farmer decision-making: an
example of negative impacts to the environment and farmers 51
Diana Stuart
5 Identities on the family farm: agrarianism, materiality and the
‘good farmer’ 65
Jérémie Forney and Lee-Ann Sutherland
PART II IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
6 Impacts of GE crop technologies on farmers 86
Leland L. Glenna and Elizabeth Ransom
7 Agricultural mechanization and farm labor development 102
Amer Ait Sidhoum, Maria Vrachioli and Johannes Sauer
8 The human impact of data bias and the digital agricultural revolution 119
Kelly Bronson, Sarah Rotz and Adrian D’Alessandro
9 Modernizing agriculture through digital technologies:
prospects and challenges 138
Emily Duncan, Abdul-Rahim Abdulai and Evan D.G. Fraser
PART III IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON SMALLHOLDER
FARMERS AND FARM LABORERS
10 ‘Modern’ agriculture and its impact on smallholder farmer livelihoods 163
Katherine A. Snyder
11 The impacts of private standards on smallholder well-being 179
Agni Kalfagianni
12 Fair trade’s impact on smallholders 194
Sarah Lyon
13 The human impact from Indian farmers’ productive but
damaging use of pesticides 218
Geoff Kuehne
14 The social protection function of agriculture 233
Damilola Giwa Daramola and Harvey S. James, Jr.
15 Entrenched exploitation: temporary foreign agricultural
worker programs in North America 256
Leigh Binford and Janet McLaughlin
16 The impacts of agroecology training within and beyond farmer
training 275
Julia M.L. Laforge and Charles Z. Levkoe
PART IV BROADER IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON SOCIETY
17 The effects of agrochemicals on humans 297
Ryan E. Galt and Lauren Asprooth
18 How agrarian values affect society 333
Chad L. Christensen
19 How biodiversity loss affects society 352
Roland Ebel, Fabian Menalled, Selena Ahmed, Simone Gingrich,
Giulia Maria Baldinelli and Georges F. Félix
20 Ethical issues arising from modern agriculture 377
Harvey S. James, Jr.
21 Finding alternatives in our broken food system: the illusion of choice 399
Lydia Zepeda
Index 416
