Eier von Glücklichen Bauern

Eggs from happy Farmers.
I like to cook. I buy my food at Billa, an Austrian grocery, for no other reason than it's location. Across the street. If there was an Aldi, a cheaper grocery from Germany, I would go there.
But some people drive a great distance to find a farmers market where they pay not less but more for local, organic food.
I frequently get into fights with my sister, when we cook together, since she too insists on organic and local food.
But I don't want to pay more and support farmers in Austria over farmers in, say Chile.
"But those are more happy farms", she insists.
Of course those Austrian farm(er)s are more happy. They get vast amounts of subsidies and protection from the European Union as well as the Austrian government. The little competition left, is further reduced by strict import regulation. Additionally, even the Austrian population favors them for almost any price. Someone really did some great marketing (and lobbying) here.

The Economist offers some arguments why

• Organic Food doesn't help the environment (Without pesticides twice as much land is needed for farming).
  
• Local Food increases pollution (Small trucks from each farm pollute more than efficient international cargo).
  
• and Fair Trade hurts farmers in Africa (The price for coffee is low because of overproduction, subsidizing some farmers with "Fair Trade" will lead to even more production. Decreasing the price for others even further).
  

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Labels: eat+drink, Economics

posted on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 link to this post

Comments:
• Hi Patrik,
  
  Let me thank you for the invitation to put some arguments from my point of view.
  
  The arguments of your so loved economist are - in this case - crude. Whoever wrote this article demonstrates low-brow thinking and you shouldn't assimilate every nonsense without thinking carefully in respect for the creatures of this world.
  
  
  1. Argument
  Organic Food doesn't help the environment (Without pesticides twice as much land is needed for farming.)
  
  a) Counterquestion Argument
  
  What about the ground water pollution from pesticides? They cause cancer and many other illnesses.
  
  a) Counterquestion Argument
  
  What about the humans being harmed due to pesiticides?
  
  c) Counterquestion Argument
  
  What about the the useful animals which are harmed due to pesticides?
  
  d) Counterquestion Argument
  
  What about the pesticid-industry? She takes ressources and pollutes the environment as well.
  
  e) organic means nature. and nature means evolution. evolution means long therm processes. And, as a process manager you should analyse optimation possibilities more accurate.
  
  Local Food increases pollution (Small trucks from each farm pollute more than efficient international cargo.)
  
  a) Counterquestion Argument
  
  I would support international (organic) industries if they are more efficient than local ones. Organic Food does not necessariliy mean local food.
  
  and Fair Trade hurts farmers in Africa (The price for coffee is low because of overproduction, substituting some farmers with "Fair Trade" will lead to even more production. Decreasing the price for others even further.)
  
  a) Counterquestion Argument
  
  Yes, they hurt farmers who hurt the environment. And of course, we should not support people doing this.
  
  b) Counterquestion Argument
  
  Economics: You claim a free market. Therefore, everything - more or less - should be allowed. But in this case, you dont like the idea of organic farming? Let the time and experiences we gain here decide whats true and wrong, and good and bad for all of us. I think, that organic food is better for everyone. I am not sure if you heard about about this: but plants from non-organic farming degenerate in vitamins and all the other supplements.
  
  You did not mention the suffering of animals. I guess, you cant, otherwise you would not write so self evidently.
  
  Last, but not least, think about life more like a philosoph, not an economist. The goal of Philosophy is truth, the goal of economics optimisation. But optimisation is not always optimal. (Think about your example of democraty: 3 men sitting in a boat with one woman voting to have sex with her or not)
  
  Last words:
  
  I have a deep understanding for your wish to explain your world easily, nearly everybody is seeking simple coherences. But nobel prize winners didnt succeed because they argued easily, but the could explain thinks "easily". So, if i can give you an advise as a friend, try to understand complexity, not simplicity.
  
  Yours,
  Alex
  
  posted by  LearnClip on Wednesday, 27 December, 2006
   
• You are right, those arguments are crude and simple. They are less crude but still simple in the full article which I encourage you to read.
  
  I like your counter arguments. Especially on imported organic food. I'm glad you aren't as much about protecting local farms as about protecting the environment. I too favor long term sustainability (long term profits) over short term profits. But I would discount long term profits with about 5% :-)
  
  With regard to your final statement , for me economics and thinking simple about complex matters is quite a rewarding philosophy.
  
  posted by  Patrick on Wednesday, 27 December, 2006
   
• And the outcome? What about cruelty on animals? Why dont you support animal freedom instead of being very particular about the price? ;-)
  
  by the way: come on patrik, go vegetarian again!
  
  posted by  LearnClip on Wednesday, 27 December, 2006
   
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