Be Careful What You Wish For: Democratic Challenges and Political Opportunities for the Michigan Organic Community

摘要

In early January 2003, the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources invited members of Michigan's organic food and farming community to what was expected to be an ongoing dialogue between proponents of organic agricultureand scientists, educators, and extension specialists. While participants from the organic community welcomed the meeting, they expressed considerable disappointment in what they perceived to be the university's continuing lack of commitment to organic agriculture.This article asks whether the state's organic agenda can be promoted simply by asking land-grant researchers to devote more resources to organic agriculture. What are the implications for Michigan's organic growers of having organic research become moreestablished at MSU What kind of institutional relationships does the Michigan organic community need to cultivate if it seeks to develop in ways that are consistent with the civic promise of organic agricultureIn order to explore these questions, thisarticle reviews two conceptions of organic, proposes an approach for developing a political economy of organic agriculture, and considers some of the critical, controversial, and important ways in which we must begin to change the way we think and talk if organic is going to help us move toward a more civic agriculture.