The Displacement Paradox of Organic Agricultural Production

• In Event: 254 - Section on Environment and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Agriculture

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the correlation between agrichemical application, economic development, and organic agricultural production. The author uses a fixed effects panel regression model to test two hypotheses, which are developed using two theories within environmental sociology: treadmill of production and ecological modernization. The hypotheses predict that increases in the percent of organic farmland and/or economic development overtime will either increase or decrease the total and per hectare application of agrichemicals. Additionally, the models explore the non-linear relationship between agrichemical application, organic farmland, and economic development to further engage with treadmill of production theory and ecological modernization theory. The findings suggests support for both theoretical perspectives.

Author

• Julius Alexander McGee, University of Oregon