As several CSANR faculty members have agreed to do, including Andy McGuire, I am responding to the question posed by Center Director Chad Kruger on September 18: Achieving farm and food system sustainability: incremental vs. transformational pathways? First of all, my own bias is that we are not likely to achieve farm and food system […]
I have worked for many years on pesticide use, risks, and regulation, as well as the design, implementation, and benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. Given that all of the commercially significant, first-generation traits in genetically engineered (GE) crops are related to pest management, the real-world impacts of GE crops on pesticide use has […]
As several CSANR faculty members have agreed to do, I am responding to the question posed by Center director Chad Kruger on September 18th: Achieving farm and food system sustainability: incremental vs. transformational pathways? In…
While the general concept of “sustainability” has largely gained acceptance in mainstream society, there remain significant differences in what people mean when they use it. Perhaps the most fundamental difference of opinion is whether sustainability can be achieved (if it can be achieved at all) through incremental changes or whether it requires societal transformation. For […]
There is no better time to find fresh Washington fruit than this time of year, be it cherries, peaches, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, pears, apples, plums… you name it. This abundance, and its quality, is a result of large investments in research and innovation over the years. But does greater quantity and quality mean improved sustainability? […]
To get you up to speed, here are the first two questions: 1.The EPA says agriculture only accounts for 6% of US greenhouse gas emissions (2009). Shouldn’t we focus our efforts on bigger problems such as coal fired power plants and automobile emissions instead? 2. Do “food miles” – the distance that food travels from […]
The most important function of CSANR is to catalyze and incentivize new scientific activity in support of improving the sustainability of farm and food systems. In recent years, the most crucial tool we have had to do this is the BIOAg Grants Program (Biologically Intensive and Organic Agriculture). Over the past decade, CSANR has provided […]
Some time ago I was asked to present at the Cultivating Regional Food Security Conference in Seattle on the topic of “research debunking food system assumptions related to climate change and food”. In preparing the presentation, I decided to address the five most common questions addressed to me regarding agriculture, food and climate change.
Language matters. The words we choose can greatly impact what we communicate. If I say “I see a car” most everyone who speaks English will get the exact same message. If I say “I support local foods” the interpretation will likely be highly variable. Let’s explore some of the language that accompanies society’s current heightened […]