Asia Institute - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 4 of 4
-
ItemThe Reinvention of Moral Ecologies in Indonesia(Routledge, 2023)The desolate state of global ecosystems now calls for food systems that are sustainable and regenerative. Proponents of a still hegemonic modernist ecology demand ever more ruthless production maximization instead. The battle for hegemony between the two different ecologies is heating up. In practice, however, compromises are inevitable and bound to produce plural ecologies at the local level, and what happens locally is vital because local food systems largely determine whether the overall ecology of a nation will be sustainable or not. Using the island of Java in Indonesia as a case study, this paper explores an emerging movement for more ‘moral’ ecologies that nevertheless also retain elements of modernist scientific ecologies based on rational control of nature. A regenerative agriculture movement has grown in Java that advocates for food systems and wider ecologies to become more sustainable and equitable. While evoking traditional ecologies and associated values, this movement embraces environmental science and innovation. Overall, their post-modern “plural ecologies” strive for high productivity, secure livelihoods, food security for all, and balanced coexistence with nature.
-
ItemMaking “The Healing of Bali”(Monash University Publishing, 2022-11)This collection of essays is a multifaceted portrayal of Darling's years in Bali, revealing the cultural experiences that shaped him.
-
ItemNanotechnology in Food: Ethics, Industry Practices and Regulatory Frameworks(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2021)What are the ethical implications of nanomaterials in food systems, given the potential of such a material to cause harm to human health and the environment? Following an outline of relevant ethical principles, this chapter charts the current use of nanomaterials in food and what we do and do not know about the risks associated therewith. Regulatory frameworks are then examined for their ability to mitigate risks. Three recommendations are put forward. First, it is best to avoid all unnecessary food processing categorically; second, nano-processed food products should only enter the market when harmful impacts can be categorically ruled out on the basis of independent and in-depth research and where benefits are very significant; and finally, complete transparency on the use of nanomaterials and other additives is needed so that consumers can exercise individual discretion regarding their own exposure to nano-food products, even if they are safe, and the more so while any doubts remain about their safety. Overall, the trend of the largely profit-driven global food industry has been and is still toward hyper-processing - despite consistent warnings of health professions about hyper-processed food. Nanotech takes this trend to a new level. Current voluntary producer ethics do not even guarantee transparency, let alone safety, except in jurisdictions where legislation demands it. While some nanomaterials may be beneficial and safe for some applications, industry self-regulation is not viable under these circumstances. While regulations have been strengthened in some jurisdictions such as the European Union, regulators still struggle to catch up with the rapid development and application of ever-new nanotech products by the food industry. A restructure of our innovation systems is recommended so that all stakeholders are included in shaping its future direction from the start.
-
ItemState of the Grain: Grain of the State: The Political - and Moral -Economy of Rice in Indonesia(Routledge, 2021)In so doing, the volume provides tools not only for understanding states’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also for judging what effects these responses are likely to have.