Sociology faculty talks organic farming on Academic Minute

Brian Obach, professor of sociology and director of the Environmental Studies Program at SUNY New Paltz, was featured on the nationally syndicated educational radio program “The Academic Minute,” in an Oct. 9 broadcast.

Obach spoke about the findings of his recent book, “Organic Struggle,” which looks at the past, present and future of the sustainable agriculture movement’s endeavors to develop and institutionalize responsible practices and principles in producing food.

In his audio essay, Obach gave an overview of the sustainable agriculture movement’s history, drawn largely from first-hand research conducted with the movement’s leaders. He articulates their strategy of attempting to build an alternative food and agriculture system, rather than working with government leaders to regulate the industry, and considers the strengths and weaknesses of that approach.

“The primary strategy was market-based – the movement would grow by getting consumers to vote with their dollars by purchasing organic goods,” Obach said. “The organic market grew just as proponents had hoped, but its popularity attracted profit-seeking companies that weren’t truly committed to organic principles. Without government oversight, there was no way to prevent fraud by those exploiting the organic label for profit. Despite some reluctance, most organic proponents eventually supported the creation of a federal organic system with legally enforceable rules.”

To listen to Obach’s “Academic Minute” in its entirety,  visit http://academicminute.org/2015/10/brian-obach-suny-new-paltz-organic-farming/.

“Organic Struggle” by Brian Obach is published by MIT Press, and is available for purchase on the imprint’s website. Obach is also the author of “Labor and the Environmental Movement: The Quest for Common Ground” (MIT Press 2004) and a number of journal articles on these and related topics.

About “The Academic Minute”
“The Academic Minute” is an educationally focused radio segment produced by WAMC in Albany, N.Y., a National Public Radio member station. The show features an array of faculty from colleges and universities across the country discussing the unique, high-impact aspects of their research. The program airs every weekday and is run multiple times during the day on about 50 different member stations across the National Public Radio spectrum. For more information, visit http://academicminute.org/.