Are There Ideological Aspects to the Modernization of Agriculture?

Abstract

In this paper we try to identify the roots of the persistent contemporary problems in our modernized agriculture: overproduction, loss of biodiversity and of soil fertility, the risk of large animal disease, social controversies on the lack of animal welfare and culling of animals, etc. Attention is paid to the historical development of present-day farming in Holland as an example of European agriculture. We see a blinkered quest for efficiency in the industrialization of agriculture since the Second World War. Key factor is the cultural mindset at the foundation of our modern society, originating from the ideas of the enlightenment. It makes people vulnerable to ideologies, causing them to focus on a certain goal without considering the consequences. Due to the overemphasis on efficiency, modern industrial agriculture has never been comfortably embedded in its ecological and social context, and as a result displays the characteristics of an ideology. The cause of the inability to solve today's problems is therefore deeper than simply a failure to apply the right mix of standard remedies. Unless stakeholders in farming start to counter this very one-sided approach to efficiency, modernization will continue to cause all kinds of friction. The implications of the results for agricultural policy, farming and further research are discussed.

The Historical Dynamics of Social–Ecological Traps

“…This so-called ''modernization project'' (Van der Ploeg 2006) includes: (a) mechanization, i.e., the substitution of human labor with the work of machines, which greatly improves possibilities for the expansion of agricultural production; (b) intensification, i.e., increasing the output per production unit (e.g., hectare or animal); and (c) Fig. 6 The dryland poverty trap specialization, i.e., the process whereby farmers only produce one type of commodity (Hardeman and Jochemsen 2012). As Piore and Sabel point out in their book ''The Second Industrial Divide'' (1984) the modernization of farming and industries was not the only possible development trajectory.…”

The Characteristics of Five Food Production Systems and Their Implications for Sustainable Landscapes

“…By streamlining agricultural techniques along the practises of industrial efficiency, processes and techniques have led to standardisation, which has led to a loss of farm and landscape diversity, which has reduced resilience. New science and technology is called upon to find solutions (Hardeman & Jochemsen, 2012). Specialisation in agriculture has required genetic manipulation to maximise production and resistance to disease and insect predation to support broad scale agriculture.…”

“…The increase in the scale of agriculture has created oversupply, making food cheap and undervalued in industrial societies with a reduced financial return to farmers, thus threatening their livelihood. Farming is a distinct socio-economic sector where the impact of the application of industrial processes has been overlooked (Hardeman & Jochemsen, 2012).…”

“…In developed countries, the adoption of industrially efficient processes, scientifically proven techniques, and technologically engaged machinery has removed much of the socio-cultural fabric of rural life as rural areas continue to depopulate (Hamblin, 2009;Berglund et al, 2014). There is a risk that socio-cultural issues can be forgotten on ideological grounds in the drive to production efficiency (Hardeman & Jochemsen, 2012).…”

Key issues in the welfare of dairy cattle

“…Unfortunately, a unilateral focus on intensified milk production, which by some is considered the best way forward, is likely to aggravate many animal welfare problems. The urge for further intensification ignores the fact that many citizens tend to reject industrial animal production, at least partly attributing this to reduced animal welfare (Hardeman and Jochemsen, 2012;Hötzel, 2014). Consumer demand for cheap, safe and ethically sound milk products will continue, creating incentives for quality assurance based on efforts for sustained or improved animal welfare, as well as biosecurity, limited drug use, reduced environmental impact and a desirable agricultural landscape.…”