Food: The (Agri)cultural Revolution

What is the future of our relationship with food and agriculture? That is the topic of the 5th edition of the Green European Journal “Food: the (agri)cultural revolution”. The issue contains a range of articles covering all aspects of this diverse topic, including CAP reform and the ongoing horse meat scandal

Articles in this edition

01.03.2013
Another Food System!

The food revolution is a cultural and social revolution, claims the Editorial Board of the Green European Journal, who introduce its fifth edition.

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01.03.2013
Food for the Soul, Not Just the Stomach: the Countryside’s Other Role

A focus on food production and protecting biodiversity should not be at the expense of a third key function of the countryside, access to it by the people.

EN
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01.03.2013
Food Without the Go-Between

Food cooperatives are a way of ensuring a supply of local and socially sustainable food. However the barriers to their development should not be underestimated, including opposition from middlemen who have the most to loose. Looking at experiences in Brazil, Poland and the US, Katarzyna S?oboda charts a way forward.

EN
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01.03.2013
Finland, Land of Developing Agriculture

Development continues and the overall number of farms declines. What is it like to be a farmer in today’s Finland? Will the sector still attract new entrepreneurs in the future?

EN
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01.03.2013
France: Epicentre of the ‘Malbouffe’ Crisis

The changes to agriculture in post-war France have had a devastating impact on the environment and on public health. Such changes were the product of international trade agreements and big agri-business, meaning solutions are unlikely to come from the top down. It must be local and small produces that come to the rescue.

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01.03.2013
Hungarian Land-Grabbing: Family Farmers vs. Politically Backed Oligarchs

Often thought of as a problem in developing nations, land-grabbing is a reality in contemporary Hungary. The problem of private hoarding of land began after the fall of Communism in 1990, but the current government is making the situation worse. Through a corrupt relationship between power and agri-business, more and more land is falling into the possession of a powerful few, with devastating consequences for society and the environment.

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01.03.2013
Greens and Farmers: the New Alliance

The Greens want to change the trajectory of the CAP to make European agriculture “greener” as this is the only way in which it will have a future. An urgent and long-term project against the conservative agribusiness model, and one which should be developed in cooperation with the first people affected: the farmers. Interview with José Bové, Greens/EFA MEP.

EN
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01.03.2013
Getting a Taste for It

In the Netherlands, one organisation is making a breakthrough in encouraging a better relationship between people and food. The secret – start young. An interview with Esther Boukema by Erica Meijers.

EN
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01.03.2013
From the Common Agricultural Policy to Sustainable Food Systems

On March 13th the European Parliament (EP), now co-legislator on agricultural and budgetary issues, adopted its position on redesigning the CAP. A period of intense negotiations opens-up between the Council of the EU and the EP. But the complete shift of the CAP towards an ecological transformation of agriculture is now very unlikely to take place. This will not prevent the Greens and other progressive actors to continue to prepare this transition. If the CAP can’t change, can we?

EN
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01.03.2013
Brussels and Wallonia: Green Pioneer Projects in Sustainable Food Systems

Ideological innovation and perseverance can give birth to concrete actions contributing to the Green transformation of agriculture and food systems, despite a difficult political and institutional environment. This is currently experienced by the Belgian Greens of Ecolo in the regional governments of Wallonia and Brussels.

EN
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01.03.2013
EU Agricultural Policy at a Crossroads: the Vision of a Green Minister for Rural Affairs

The German Greens won the premiership of the German land (region) of Baden-Württemberg in 2011, giving them a unique opportunity to implement green policies across a range of areas. For food and agriculture, this meant an ambitious strategy based on high ecological quality standards, versus the industrialisation of our natural resources.

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01.03.2013
Organic Farming and Agricultural Movements in Spain

Against the backdrop of Spain’s desperate economic situation, the organic industry is one source of positive news. However despite its potential, significant barriers to its development remain.

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01.03.2013
Poverty, Food and Citizens’ Responses in Greece

If “you are what you eat” than what happens when you don’t eat? In Greece, the economic crisis is forcing a rethink of people’s relationship with food, and the consequences are positive.

EN
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01.03.2013
Why Farmers Still Struggle When Food Prices Rise

One of the major drivers of change in the agricultural sector has been fluctuations in the price of different commodities. For developing countries, such changes have had a disastrous impact and urgent steps need to be taken to return their agricultural sectors to a sustainable footing.

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01.03.2013
Never Closer Union? The British Test

In a context of an economic crisis and with public finances under stress, the on-going round of negotiations over the next EU Budget and the European legislation for the regulation of the financial industry have taken the British debate on Europe to a new level.

EN
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01.03.2013
Cameron’s EU gamble and the consequences for Scotland

Cameron’s proposal for an in/out referendum on EU membership is likely to cause uncertainty and confusion for years to come, but what impact will it have on Scotland’s independence referendum? Scottish Greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie discusses the consequences.

EN
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