Sustainable Table was created in 2003 by the nonprofit organization GRACE to help consumers understand the problems with food supply and offer viable solutions and alternatives from
sustainable agriculture. Rather than be overwhelmed by the problems created by the industrial agricultural system, Sustainable Table celebrates the joy of food and eating from
sustainable food systems.
Today’s dominant form of agriculture relies on synthetic
fertilizers and chemical
pesticides
Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampric ...
, large amounts of water, major transportation systems and
factory-style practices for raising livestock and crops. Artificial
hormones in milk,
antibiotic-resistant bacteria,
mad cow disease, and large-scale outbreaks of potentially deadly E. coli are all associated with this industrial form of food production.
Sustainable agriculture involves food production methods that are healthy, do not harm the environment, respect workers, are
humane to animals, provide fair wages to farmers, and support farming communities. But rather than focus on the problems, Sustainable Table promotes the positive shift toward local, small-scale sustainable farming.
The program is home to the Eat Well Guide, an online directory of sustainable products in the U.S. and Canada, and the critically acclaimed, award-winning Meatrix movies -
The Meatrix
''The Meatrix'' is a short flash animation critical of factory farming and industrial agricultural practices. It has been translated into more than 30 languages and watched by more than 30 million people. A parody of ''The Matrix'' series by Warne ...
, The Meatrix II: Revolting and The Meatrix II½. Sustainable Table celebrates local sustainable food, educates consumers on food-related issues and works to build community through food.
See also
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Ethical eating
Ethical eating or food ethics refers to the moral consequences of food choices, both those made by humans and animals. Common concerns are damage to the environment, exploitive labor practices, food shortages for others, inhumane treatment of food ...
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Local food
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Sustainable agriculture
References
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External links
Sustainable Tableofficial site
Sustainable agriculture