The Origins and History of Agribusiness: From Vision to Reality The origins and history of agribusiness can be traced back to 1957 when John H. Davis and Ray A. Goldberg published A Concept of Agribusiness. Their pro-corporate stance argued that the private sector, rather than the government, should be responsible for the stabilization of the agricultural…
Ethanol is a renewable fuel derived from plants like corn and sugarcane. Learn how it’s made, its uses, and its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while supporting sustainability efforts.
Neoliberalism, often associated with economic policies favoring market deregulation and individual responsibility, has had far-reaching implications beyond its economic dimensions. It has permeated into broader cultural and political spheres, reshaping societal structures and institutions. One such institution deeply impacted by neoliberal ideology is the family farm. This article seeks to explore how neoliberalism has influenced…
It’s no secret that property rights are a core element of western civilization and capitalistic societies. These property rights define how goods and services can be used, traded, or saved. Both individual and larger entities can own property and they can choose to use (or not use) that property however they wish. This is of…
Although much of the original motivation to settle America was fueled by a divine imperative to ‘go forth and conquer’ in the name of God, domestic farm policy also played a large role in motivating both citizens and newly arrived immigrants to settle the lands of the vast unknown. This began in the 1800s when…
Agriculture has been the backbone of communities throughout the United States since the birth of the nation. While the field has been wrought with controversy, it can also be considered innovative in many respects. Agricultural education is one of these areas… Until the mid-1800s, universities in the United States were mostly private organizations that focused…
Perhaps you have heard the term open-source. Maybe you heard about it within the context of software and technology as the open-source movement originated within the software development community as a means to encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. As such, the open-source concept is best-known within the technological paradigm. However, the essence of open-source can…
Discover the advantages and disadvantages of agribusiness, from efficiency and economic growth to corporate control, market barriers, and sustainability concerns.
Good or bad, agribusiness is an undeniable part of the agricultural landscape. We often associate the concept with (bad) industry practices and giant corporations. These associations aren’t wrong, but there is so much more to agribusiness than widely- known cultural giants with poor social and environmental track records. So, what does agribusiness really mean? The…
Historically speaking, agriculture has been treated as a single, unified sector in which existing market mechanisms (most commonly government intervention) enabled the coordination of production and distribution. This approach failed to account for the activities engaged in by private entities, e.g. farmers or industries working with farmers. The common understanding of agriculture as a sector…