Paul Thompson: Questions d'éthique dans l'Agriculture: Bio, locavore et la modification génétique

in
Network Node: 
Réseau atlantique
Date: 
Wed., Jan. 25, 2012, 7:00pm - , 9:00pm

[en anglais]

Situating Science, Evolution Studies Group at Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, Mount Saint Vincent University and International Development Studies at Dalhousie University are pleased to support Part One of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs series, "The Elements:  Ethical Uses of Our Resources - Food, Oil and Water"

Part One - Food
Ethical Issues in Agriculture: Organic, Locavore and Genetic Modification

Dr. R. Paul Thompson, Ph.D.
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto

Thompson explores the scientific background, legal and ethical concerns of, and ideological objections to genetically modified organisms. He addresses unsubstantiated claims and scare mongering in the wake of intense public scrutiny of the molecular genetic modification of plants and animals.

Thompson's analysis is based on his newly released text Agro-Technology

 

Abstract:

There has been considerable public attention to, and debate, about food in the past two decades.  Advocates for organic agriculture, for eating locally grown food and rejecting genetic modification abound.  Although many of the claims made in support of positions on these topics allude to health, environmental and economic issues, the core of the debates is ethical and philosophical and for some theological.  Those ethical and philosophical issues are the focus of this lecture; obviously, the claims made about health, the environment and the economy will form an essential backdrop.

Respondent:

Dr. Rylan Higgins, Department of Anthropology, Saint Mary's University

Dr. Higgins is a socio-cultural anthropologist who has lived, taught and conducted ethnographic research in the United States and Viet Nam. His scholarly pursuits investigate a range of topics: labour, marginality, social class, gender, consumerism and food. Visual anthropology and applied anthropology, too, are important components of his background. He has several years of experience running study abroad programs in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, where his current research focuses on the anthropology of food.