In memory of Dr. Arpad Pusztai

An inspiration for scientific integrity, principles and honesty

ETC Group is sad to have learned of the passing of Dr Arpad Pusztai on 17th December this Year. Dr Pustzai was a much respected, highly published UK government food safety scientist originally from Hungary. In 1998 his research, which raised questions about the safety of Genetic Engineering in potatoes, caused a political storm, cost him his job and became the lightning rod for a fierce public debate and popular revolt against GM foods in the UK .

Did you know that the digitalization of agriculture could affect farmers’ rights?

Digital agriculture, as being proposed by giant agribusiness and data companies, should come with a warning for farmers, farm workers and food vendors. Read our blog below to find out about why in more detail (with examples) and about alternative approaches (also with some real world, feasible examples). But if you are short of time, check out our bullet point ‘what to watch out for’ summary:

Farmers:

Disruption! A battle for the future of food

Introducing ETC Group's new board game

Who decides the future of food? When politicians, companies and others talk about ‘the food system’, they include the work of growing, producing and distributing food. But there is more than one way of organising a food system. Over the last few decades, the way in which people grow, share and eat food around the world has become a tale of two conflicting food systems – which we call the Industrial Food Chain and the Peasant Food Web. We created the game Disruption! to bring to life the tension between these two food systems and reveal the dangerous dynamics it creates.

Life, the Pluriverse and everything

Episode 3 of our new podcast mini-series "Spanner in the Works"
Illustration of spanner with icons representing various technologies surrounding a hand holding crops.

In celebration of United Nations World Philosophy Day 2021, ETC Group presents its third and final podcast in the "Spanner in the System" series, focussing on the philosophical underpinnings of corporate visions for disruptive technology.

You can listen to it on our podcast channels on Apple, Google, Spotify and YouTube, and here.

Volcanic Disruptions

Episode 2 of our new “Spanner in the System” podcast mini-series
Graphic with a spanner and representations of various technologies around it.

Find out what geoengineering is, why it's so dangerous, and why the idea of these largely non-existent technologies is being used as an alibi for the fossil fuel industry to continue extracting and polluting.

You can listen to it on our podcast channels on Apple, Google, Spotify and YouTube, and here.

As big oil states plan to promote energy-hungry agtech as a ’climate solution’ at COP26, it’s time to question their AIM

Banner challenging AIM for Climate on floor with La Via Campesina banners

By ETC Group

The USA and the United Arab Emirates both have vested interests in finding ways to justify continuing to extract and sell their vast supplies of oil. It is perhaps not coincidental then, that these two countries are planning a high-profile launch for what is likely to become a controversial climate and agtech initiative, “Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C)”, at UNFCCC’s COP26 in Glasgow in November.

Banana-drama

Episode 1 of our new “Spanner in the System” podcast mini-series
Graphic with a spanner and representations of various technologies around it.

Why not listen to the first episode of our new “Spanner in the System” podcast mini-series during your lunch break today? As we mark World Food Day (16 October), it’s a good time to pause and reflect on our food and where it comes from. Our first podcast, in our new mini-series on disruptive tech, produced in the Asia-Pacific region, does just that!

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