Project Grant 20236702340127

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ARCHETYPES ARE CONCISE STATEMENTS THAT SUMMARIZE A GIVEN PERSPECTIVE ON AGRICULTURE OR THE FOOD SYSTEM, STRESSING THE GOALS OR PURPOSES THAT IT IS EXPECTED TO PERFORM. THE PROJECT DEVELOPS FOUR SUCH ARCHETYPES WITH AN AIM OF PROVOKING BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE DIFFER IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALONG AMONG PEOPLE HOLDING DIFFERENT VIEWS. ONE ARCHETYPE VIEWS THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR MUCH AS AN INNOVATOR WOULD VIEW ANY SECTOR OF AN INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY: INNOVATION SHOULD LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS OR OPEN NEW MARKETS, SUBJECT TO CONSTRAINTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY. WE CALL THIS THE TECHNOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION ARCHETYPE. A SECOND, SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION, EMPHASISES INCREASING THE TOTAL GLOBAL POTENTIAL FOR PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES SUBJECT TO THE CONTRAINT OF MAINTAINING THE RESOURCE BASE (E.G. SOIL FERTILITY, WATER AVAILABILITY) AND THE LANDBASE IN NON-AGRICULTURAL USES NEEDED TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY. THE THIRD, REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS, FOLLOWS A CENTURIES-LONG TRAJECTORY PRESUMING THAT FOOD SYSTEM INNOVATIONS SHOULD SERVE THE INTERESTS AND PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF PRIMARY PRODUCERS (FARMERS, PASTORALISTS, FISHERS). GOALS ADDRESSING CONSERVATION OR PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY SHOULD, IN THIS ARCHETYPE, BE EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FARMING LIFESTYLE AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE LAST ARCHETYPE, URBAN AGRICULTURE, REFLECTS A GROWING SENSE THAT URBAN AREAS CANNOT CONTINUE TO RELY UPON FOOD SYSTEMS BASED IN RURAL AREAS. IT EMBRACES BOTH URBAN FARMING AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WOULD CONVERT FOOD INTO MORE OF A MANUFACTURED GOOD. ALTHOUGH THESE ARE NOT LOGICALLY CONTRADICTORY VISIONS, THEY DO CREATE TENSIONS THAT AFFECT THE FATE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED TO AFFECT CURRENT FOOD SYSTEMS.THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO EXPLORE THE VALUE OF THESE ARCHETYPES. ONE WILL EXAMINE HOW THEY MIGHT CHANGE OR BE CHANGED BY CURRENT SOCIAL SCIENCE APPROACHES TO ANALYZING THE FOOD SYSTEM, OR TO THE EXECUTION OF A PROGRAM TO INNOVATE NEW AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. HERE, OUR PROJECT WILL CONNECT WITH EFFORTS TO CONJOIN AN ETHICAL ANALYSIS TO LARGE PROJECTS INTENED TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. A SECOND ACTIVITY WILL INTRODUCE THE ARCHETYPE IDEA TO TWO KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS: FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, ON THE ONE HAND, AND URBAN RESIDENTS AND PLANNERS, ON THE OTHER. FOR THIS URBAN GROUP, WE WILL BE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN WHETHER ETHICAL ARCHETYPES FOR FOOD SYSTEMS ARE VIEWED AS HELPFUL TO THEM IN ARTICULATING CHALLENGES THEY FACE WITH RESEPECT TO FOOD SECURITY AND LOCAL CONTROL OVER THEIR FOOD.