Relocalizing the Joy of Food: A Sustainable, Desirable Future Open Access

Abstract

Abstract

Relocalizing the Joy of Food

A Sustainable, Desirable Future

By Joseph Shea

Food production has become an ecologically destructive, socially detrimental, and even economically unsound process that has complicated and erased the simple farm-to-table systems upon which humanity used to rely. In a word, the process has become unsustainable. This thesis brings together academic theory to explore sustainability and apply it to the food production process, examining the effects of industrial food and small-scale alternatives. As an interdisciplinary work, the thesis draws on many fields of study and culminates in a sociological exploration of the effects of commitment to local food on quality of life. The ultimate goal of this project is to conceptualize a sustainable future, and posit that such a future is not only viable long-term, but desirable for individuals and communities today.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction______________________________________________________________________________________________pg. 1

Chapter 1: Defining Sustainability

1.1 Linking Environmental Destruction and Social Inequality_______________________________pg. 5

1.2 Ideological commonalities________________________________________________________________pg. 10

1.3 Examples of Social Inequality Paired with Environmental Destruction_______________pg. 14

1.4 Global Climate Change: A Global Injustice_______________________________________________pg. 19

1.5 The Importance of Food___________________________________________________________________pg. 20

Chapter 2: Industrial Food

2.1 History and Evolution of Modern Food__________________________________________________pg. 23

2.3 The Industrial Means of Production______________________________________________________pg. 27

Chapter 3: The Impact of Industry: Embedded Externalities

3.1 Environmental Impacts: Fossil Fuel Use in Agriculture________________________________ pg. 30

3.2 Increasing Inefficiency____________________________________________________________________pg. 37

Chapter 4: The Social Consequence of Industrial Food

4.1 Rural Emigration ________________________________________________________________________pg. 42

4.2 Community Dismemberment_____________________________________________________________pg. 45

Chapter 5: The Sustainable Present and Future

5.1 Resilience___________________________________________________________________________________pg. 50

5.2 Ecological Sustainability__________________________________________________________________pg. 52

5.3 Small Farms: A Model of Productivity____________________________________________________pg. 55

5.4 Economic Sustainability___________________________________________________________________pg. 60

5.5 Social Benefits: Community Connectivity, and Inclusive Membership________________pg. 63

5.6 Examining Quality of Life_________________________________________________________________pg. 74

Methods________________________________________________________________________________pg. 76

Procedures_____________________________________________________________________________pg. 77

Measures_______________________________________________________________________________pg. 78

Analysis________________________________________________________________________________pg. 81

Discussion_____________________________________________________________________________pg. 83

Reference Tables______________________________________________________________________pg. 89

Conclusion_______________________________________________________________________________________________pg. 86

References_______________________________________________________________________________________________pg. 92 Appendix________________________________________________________________________________________________pg. 95

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Sciences American Studies Sociology, Social Structure and Development
Keyword	Farmers' Markets Quality of Life Philosophy Community Development Community Supported Agriculture Sustainability Social Justice Food Production Small Farm Production Agribusiness Local Food Environmental Sustainability
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Wakefield, Peter, Emory University
Committee Members	Hegtvedt, Karen A, Emory University Reber, Dierdra, Emory University

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