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J Agric Environ Ethics (2016) 29:549557
DOI 10.1007/s10806-016-9614-y
ARTICLES
Robert L. Zimdahl1 Thomas O. Holtzer2
Accepted: 11 April 2016 / Published online: 29 April 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Abstract Many segments of society have systems of values arising from collective beliefs and motivations. For agriculture, and our food system, increasing production to feed the growing human population clearly is a core value. However, a survey we conducted, together with a previously reported survey, showed that the curricula of most U.S. colleges of agriculture do not offer ethics courses that examine the basis of this core value or include discussion of agricultures ethical dilemmas such as misuse of pesticides, not progressing rapidly enough toward sustainability goals, relative lack of involvement in addressing diet-related health issues, and lack of commitment to reducing agricultures role as a contributor to global climate change. These surveys provide strong evidence that few students have an opportunity to learn ethical concepts and apply them to issues of importance to the agriculture/food system. We suggest that such issues are both growing societal concerns and serious ethical problems that demand attention if our agricultural/food system is not see its relationship with the public further imperiled. Further, we suggest that there is a need for, indeed an obligation of, the faculty of colleges of agriculture to embrace a thorough analysis and discussion of agricultures values and their ethical foundation. We offer our thoughts on why curricula of colleges of agriculture do not provide such opportunities and on the importance of agricultural faculties providing leadership in ethical analysis and discussion.
& Thomas O. Holtzer
Robert L. [email protected]
1 Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
2 College of Agricultural Sciences and the Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Web End = The Ethical Values in the U.S. Agricultural and Food System
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550 R. L. Zimdahl1, T. O. Holtzer
Keywords Agriculture Classes Ethics Food system Survey Values
Introduction
All societies and segments within them (including the agricultural and food system community) have systems of values, which arise from collective beliefs and motivations. These are gained through experience, understanding, knowledge, and feelings about nature, fellow human...