ABSTRACT
The environmental dimensions of large-scale industrial agriculture and the rise of a globally organized food system are widely understood, but there is no clear agreement on the pathway forward toward a more sustainable way to feed the world – at least as organized on a global scale. There are vastly different interpretations of what exactly constitutes a more environmentally friendly international organization of agricultural and food systems, and how such a system should be structured and governed. Some argue that agroecological methods and more locally oriented food systems will reduce the environmental damage caused by agriculture and global food trade and finance. But others are skeptical that such methods will be sufficient to feed the world’s growing population. Instead, they argue that the use of more sophisticated technologies, such as agricultural biotechnology, as well as the development of more globally integrated markets, are more promising methods to provide the required food at the least environmental cost. This debate has played out in global forums, from the World Bank to the International
Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) process.
