Description
Book SynopsisThis 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.
Trade Review‘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.‘Table of ContentsContents: 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
