Relocalizing the Joy of Food: A Sustainable, Desirable Future Public

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
Mot-clé	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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