Abstract
In addition to obviating the use of synthetic agrochemicals and emphasizing farming in accordance with agro-ecological guidelines, organic farming acknowledges the integrity of plants as an essential element of its natural approaches to crop production. For cultivated plants, integrity refers to their inherent nature, wholeness, completeness, species-specific characteristics, and their being in balance with their (organically farmed) environment, while accomplishing their “natural aim.” We argue that this integrity of plants has ethical value, distinguishing integrity of life, plant-typic integrity, genotypic integrity, and phenotypic integrity. We have developed qualitative criteria to ethically evaluate existing practices and have applied these criteria to assess whether current plant breeding and propagation techniques violate the integrity of crop plants. This process has resulted in a design of a holistic, scientific approach of organic plant breeding and seed production. Our evaluation has met considerable criticism from mainstream (crop) scientists. We respond to the following questions: (1). Can ethics be incorporated into objective crop sciences? (2). What is the nature of the intrinsic value of plants in organic farming? We argue that criteria to take integrity into account can only be assessed from a holistic perspective and we show that a holistic approach is needed to design such ethical notions in a consistent way. The ethical notions have been further elaborated by formulating human responsibility and respect towards crop plants. Responsibility and respect can only be shown by providing crop plants the right to be nurtured and to express natural behavior at all levels of integrity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
T. Baars (1990) Het bosecosysteem als beeld van het bedrijfsorganisme in de biologisch-dynamische landbouw Louis Bolk Institute Driebergen, The Netherlands
Baars, T., Reconciling scientific approaches for organic agricultural research. PhD dissertation, (Wageningen University, Wageningen, 2002).
Bindraban, P., “Hoe lang nog duurt de biologische hype? Met een blinde vlek voor sociale rechtvaardigheid.”[“How long will the organic hype last? With a blind spot for social justice”], Spil 199–200 (2004) pp. 18–20.
Farm Animal Welfare Council (2004), Farm Animal Welfare. http://www.fawc. org.uk [date accessed: 02/05/2004]
B. Gremmen (2004) Intrinsic Value and Plant Genomics J. H. Tavernier Particlede S. Aerts (Eds) Science, Ethics & Society Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven 145–147.
A. Kallhoff (2002) Prinzipien der Pflanzenethik. Die Bewertung pflanzlichen Lebens in Biologie und Philosophie Campus Forschung Frankfurt (Main)
A. Krebs (1999) Ethics of Nature – A Map De Gruyter Berlin, New York
Lammerts van Bueren, E. T. and P. C. Struik, “Integrity of Plants: The Missing Element in a Holistic View on Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation,” in Proceedings Such is Life, Reconciling reductionism and holism. (Louis Bolk Institute, Driebergen, 2005) (in press)
E. T. Lammertsvan Bueren P. C. Struik M. Tiemens-Hulscher E. Jacobsen (2003) ArticleTitleThe Concepts of Intrinsic Value and Integrity of Plants in Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation Crop Science 43 1922–1929
B. Morito (2003) ArticleTitleIntrinsic Value: A Modern Albatross for the Ecological Approach Environmental Values 12 317–336
B. K. Myskja (2004) Is There a Moral Difference Between Intragenic and Transgenic Modification of Plants? J. H. Tavernier Particlede S. Aerts (Eds) Science, Ethics & Society Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven 141–144.
M. W. Pfeiffer (1975) Die landwirtschafliche Individualität – ein Bild eines Menschen. [The agricultural individuality – an image of man]. Selbstverlag Borchen, Deutschland
Plasterk, R., “The Emancipation of Ethics,” in Ethics in Science, 87th Dies Natalis (Wageningen: Wageningen University and Research Centre, 2005) pp. 7–13.
J. Pretty (2002) Agri-culture. Reconnecting People, Land and Nature Earthscan Publications London
C. Rehmann-Sutter (2001) Dignity of Plants and Perception D. Heaf J. Wirz (Eds) Intrinsic Value and Integrity of Plants in the Context of Genetic Engineering. Proceedings of Workshop Ifgene Dornach pp 4–8
F. R. Stafleu C. C. Lauwere Particlede K. H. Greef Particlede (2004) Respect for Functional Determinism. A Farmer’s Interpretation of ‘Respect for Animals’ J.H. Tavernier Particlede S. Aerts (Eds) Science, Ethics & Society Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven 73–75.
Van Kasteren, J., “Dure reclamecampagne van LNV voor biologische producten. Versterking van taboes belemmert duurzame ontwikkeling,” [“Expensive advertizing campaign of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality for organic products. Strengthening taboos impedes sustainable development”], Spil 185–186 (2002) pp. 5–8.
H. Verhoog M. Matze E. Lammerts van Bueren T. Baars (2003) ArticleTitleThe Role of the Concept of the Natural (Naturalness) in Organic Farming Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 16 29–49 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1021714632012
Wirz J. and E. Lammerts van Bueren (Eds) (1997) The Future of DNA. Proceedings of an International Ifgene Conference on Presuppositions in Science and Expectations in Society Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht
Wissenburg, M. L. J., “Mens, natuur en onderwerping. Een humanistisch perspectief op de intrinsieke waarde van de natuur” [“Man, nature and submission. A humanistic perspective on the intrinsic value of nature”], Inaugurele rede (Leerstoelgroep Toegepaste Filosofie, Wageningen Universiteit, Wageningen, 2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bueren, E.T.L.V., Struik, P.C. Integrity and Rights of Plants: Ethical Notions in Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation. J Agric Environ Ethics 18, 479–493 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-0903-0
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-0903-0