A lamp-post is also made of iron
Research on the edge of nature and technology. Luke Disney | March 2004 issue Where do the realms of the natural environment end and the new frontiers of man-made technology begin? According to Oliver Lowenstein, founder and editor-in-chief of Fourth Door Review, it’s hard to draw the line. Read More...
Plan B
We are witnessing a global bubble economy of dot-cosmic proportions. We are destroying natural resources at an alarming rate, and robbing futureLester Brown | January 2004 issue First the bad news: China’s economic boom could well lead to a global disaster. A human population of 1.3 billion and Read More...
Fatal harvest
While enough food is being produced to feed the world, a large portion of the population is going hungry. Meanwhile, the incidence of wealth-related disease is increasing in the west due to unhealthy eating habits. Ode launched an investigation and details the devastating myths around modern Read More...
Introductory
Marco Visscher introduces this month's theme on modern agriculture and food.Marco Visscher| April 2003 issue When children are asked where milk comes from, the majority says: 'From the supermarket.' I happen to know that this isn't quite true, as my grandparents had a dairy farm. But even so, I Read More...
Enjoying food
Rob Baris, who owns the Z&M delicatessen and the famous Zinc restaurant in Rotterdam, is a bon vivant without dogmas. He has worked out an action plan for Ode readers: a menu of delicious food that is healthy and socially responsible.Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue Going shopping The first step Read More...
Myth 1: Industrial agriculture will put an end to hunger
Not true. Hunger is not caused by food shortages, but by poverty. Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue Hunger plagues some 800 million people in the world. In India, 200 million do not get enough to eat, in Brazil 70 million and in the United States 33 million. Every four seconds someone in the world Read More...
Myth 2: Industrially produced food is safe, healthy and nutritious
Not true. In fact, industrial agriculture compromises food safety and nutrient values while increasing incidences of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and obesity. Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue A trip to the local supermarket feeds the belief that there is nothing wrong with our food. Read More...
Myth 3: Industrial food is cheap
Not true. Social, health and environmental costs are not included. Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue The more technology and chemicals are used in farming, the cheaper our food. At least that is what the food industry keeps telling us. They insist that without industrial agriculture, our food Read More...
Myth 4: Industrial agriculture is efficient
Not true. Small-scale farms produce more agricultural products per hectare. Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue The bigger the farm, the more efficient, claim the advocates of industrial agriculture. Although they admit that large farms lead to the disappearance of family farms and rural Read More...
Myth 5: Industrial food offers greater choice
Not true. Supermarkets only offer the illusion of increased choice. Marco Visscher | April 2003 issue Thanks to industrial food, there is finally a much greater choice, or so agro companies claim. These days, tomatoes are always in season and kiwis are available all over the world. Pushing a Read More...