Weeds – Journal of the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society
| Volume |
Issue |
Publication year |
Page No |
Type of article |
|
3 |
2 |
2021 |
20-22 |
Perspective |
ETHICS IN AGRICULTURE: WHERE ARE WE AND WHERE SHOULD WE BE GOING?
Robert L. Zimdahl and Thomas Holtzer
Email:
r.zimdahl@colostate.edu
Address:
Professors Emeriti, Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Keywords:
: Agriculture, classes, ethics, food system, survey, values
Abstract:
Agriculture’s dominant focus is feeding the human population. From an ethical perspective, this is clearly very positive. Still, it does not absolve agriculture from critical and ethical examination of the totality of agriculture’s effects. To earn the public’s ongoing support, agriculture must begin regularly examine its full range of effects and be sure they align with the highest ethical values. Agriculture’s productive record is enviable in the science and technology associated with its primary ethical concern, but we need to do more to address the broader ethical issues that are the public’s increasing concern. The entire agricultural community needs to become engaged in the discussion. The classroom offers an effective starting place, but curricular offerings (focusing on ethical principles, agricultural applications, and expectations of agricultural professionals) are rarely available at public universities. Ethics study should become a key component of agricultural education.