生态、价值与饮食之道

Ecology,Values and Foodways

如今的城市化、工业化、全球贸易、超市集约经营使得大多数民众不再直接从自然获取食物,而越来越依靠大型农业企业。小型家庭农场面临难以维系的困境,但小型家庭农场的存续,又与食品安全问题关系密切。科学和农业科技的发展,使农作物大量增产,但人们对食品安全的顾虑也随之加剧。渴望得到安全食品和回归自然,使绿色运动应运而生,有机食品因而越来越受欢迎。与此同时,现代社会需要立法和监督机构,确保消费者的利益并推动顾及他人的价值观。食品安全的思考与生态人文主义息息相关。生态人文主义可以替代传统宗教,它的推广,可以产生新的文化,为人类带来利益,包括可持续农业和食品安全的保障。

Based on the author??s research and observation in Malaysia and China,this paper is a reflection on the issue of local ecology,values and food.While people have come to depend more and more on agricultural commodities produced by large farms,I shall show the importance of small family farms.Small family farms are disappearing,but they should be protected,as they are closely related to the issue of safe food.This article begins with a comment about local ecology and food and then discus?ses the trend away from getting food direct from nature.As a result of urbanization,global trade and in?tensive management of supermarkets,most people have to rely more and more on large agricultural en?terprises for food.Advances in science and agricultural technology have raised food production,but people have become increasingly concerned about food safety.The desire for safe food and for returning to nature has led to green movements and an increasing demand for organic food.In view of this,effec?tive regulations are needed to protect consumers and to cultivate the value of consideration for others.The study of food in fact can provide much philosophical reflection on values and human nature.The concern for safe food is also a concern for what the author calls ecological humanism.Ecological hu?manism,rather than traditional religions,can promote some values to bring about new cultural forms for the well-being of all humanity,including sustainable farming and safe food.