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Food Fight:
Family Farms Two food system approaches
The following is a look at two opposite approaches to the food
system, the corporate and the food circle approach. The food
circle, a way to challenge corporate control of the food system and to
restore family farms and rural communities, was devised by food activist Ben
Kjelshus and promoted throughout the United States by the Food Circle
Networking project.
Corporate approach
- Food system centrally controlled by a few transnational
corporations
- Logic of globalization
- Domination over nature
- Industrial, petrochemical-based -- leads to an
unsustainable food system
- Profit motivated -- food safety, nutritional values of
food and environmental values of lesser concern
- Separates consumers from food production -- consumers
do not know where their food comes from
- Devastates family farms and rural communities, and
makes urban communities vulnerable
- Intensive, factory-type production of meats for the
table -- characterized by inhumane treatment of animals
- Wealth flows to corporate coffers
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Food circle approach
- Food system controlled by communities and regions -- by
farmers, consumers, local retailers and processors, and others
- Logic of local/regional self-reliance
- Production for use
- Harmony with nature
- Ecologically based -- promotes a sustainable food
system
- Motivated by values that people and the environment
really matter -- promotes safe, fresh and nutritious food, and sustainable
agriculture
- Links farmers, consumers and others in regional
settings -- consumers know where their food comes from
- Strengthens family farms, and both rural and urban
communities
- Ecologically based production of meats for the table --
characterized by humane treatment of animals
- Wealth largely remains in areas where food is produced
and consumed
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National Catholic Reporter, May 31,
2002
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