Are We Losing Sight of Our True Goals?

A recent advertising campaign from one of the world’s largest agribusinesses misses the larger point when it uses the term ‘sustainable.’

August/September 2009
An editorial from MOTHER EARTH NEWS 
Grain field
Image Gallery
Monsanto and sustainability. Biotech and green. Whether these terms can be closely linked or are mutually exclusive, the heart of the matter is whether we can achieve more with more.
ISTOCKPHOTO/ELENA ELISSEEVA
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

“Having lost sight of our goals, we redouble our efforts.” — Mark Twain

RELATED CONTENT

In a recent magazine advertisement, Monsanto — one of the world’s largest agribusinesses and a purveyor of genetic engineering and agro-chemicals — has appointed itself a representative of “sustainable agriculture.”

In a certain context, they have a point.

Monsanto argues in its advertising campaign that we’ll need to double agricultural production by 2050 to feed 9 billion people in a world afflicted by climate change. The so-called “green revolution” of industrial agricultural that began in the late 1950s allowed us to exploit fossil fuel resources to sustain unprecedented rates of population growth. Therefore, Monsanto suggests, we’ll need more and better technology to survive our continuing growth.

At best, this strategy might carry us through the next 40 years or so. But then what?

“Sustainable” is a buzzword these days, attached to everything from roofing tar to dish soap. However, it is the best of our buzzwords — it’s more descriptive than “eco-friendly,” more specific than “green,” and more succinct than “environmentally sensitive.”

Unfortunately, little that is described as “sustainable” matches the description. None of our agricultural practice  — natural or industrial — are sustainable until we stabilize the human population. Ditto for sustainable housing. Sustainable forestry requires that we grow trees fast enough to satisfy our demand without ruining the forest in the process. Again, we’ll have to stabilize demand eventually.

Listening to the chatter, it seems we’ve almost forgotten the meaning of the word “sustainable.” We’ve lost sight of the real goal: a permanent, healthy home for humanity within the ecosystem we share with the planet’s plants and animals.

“The world’s farmers will need to double food production by 2050. Biotechnology can help,” Monsanto’s ad proclaims.

Reading that, one can’t help but think of Mark Twain. 

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • jim adams 11/11/2009 5:27:38 PM

    There is a corporate strategy to take over the word "local"..it's local if it is grown in the US; it is "local" (Walmart) because they have local potatoes in their local Walmart grocery; and the list goes on.

    This seems to be a similar example of a gigantic industry misusing words that we alternative type use to describe where we want to go in our future. The only strategy i know of is to: write letters, discuss, and above all, call Monsanto on its misuse of the words. Like (or find your own way of saying it):

    "Oh, that's just Monsanto trying to position itself to make big bucks. If they're truthful about themselves, they'd say they are only a little bit kinda-sorta sustainable. After all, they're the folks who push genetic engineering without oversight or responsibility; they're the folks who spent millions trying to intimidate and discredit small and organic farmers. And lots and lots more."

    "Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUT8JRH2xM My point is: Monsanto's Administrators and stockholders and Board of Directors and corporate procedures haven't changed. They've just added a new word to their corporate vocabulary, and for them, it means 'business as usual'. I really dislike seeing a great word like "sustainable" misused like that. Pass it on"

    That's what i know to do: publicize their hypocrisy. Do you have any other suggestions?

  • George Works 11/11/2009 8:31:06 AM

    I have difficulty believing that in the next 40 years the world population will increase by 50% and everyone will have a higher standard of living than we do today. In America we can't even pay our current bills any more, much less generate the capital to invest in growth. Sustainability means no growth. We have a long way to go to get there.

  • Paul Cochran 9/11/2009 11:02:24 PM

    I would just like to point out that Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) products are considered to be truely sustainable, and are audited yearly to make sure they comply to the standards for certification.

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.