ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

2000, VOLUME 4

Call for Papers

The Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics announces two upcoming special issues and invites submissions on the topics listed below. Submissions should be made as an e-mail attachment to Richard P. Haynes, Editor-in-chief <rhaynes@phil.ufl.edu>.

Has Organic Farming an Added Value?

Special issue editor: Eric Goewie (eric.goewie@eas.dpw.wau.nl)
Deadline for submission is February 1st, 2001.

We would like to receive studies on the following questions:

Which subjective criteria may play a role in organic farmer's judgements about hard information concerning the best technological means for safe farming?
Which subjective criteria may be involved when organic farmers decide to follow their private values and beliefs instead of following objective information?
Which values and beliefs operate on mainstream researchers when they present their knowledge as useful for organic production?
Which objective criteria may be involved when scientists or policy makers decide what publicly accepted values and beliefs should be followed?

Agricultural Biotechnology At A Crossroad?

Special issue editors: Jeffrey Burkhardt & Frans W. A. Brom (burkhardt@fred.ifas.ufl.edu or fbrom@theo.uu.nl)
Deadline for submission is May 1st, 2001.

We invite to papers that address issues such as the following:

What are the underlying values, moral and otherwise, that have led to the current public opinion and regulatory climates regarding agricultural biotechnology in Europe and in North America? Are they similar on both sides of the Atlantic? Different? How so?
What values are at stake in public debates and/or corporate communications about agricultural biotechnology?
What are the likely or morally defensible strategies for biotechnology scientists, biotech companies or governmental on non-governmental organisations as they face increasing consumer and governmental scrutiny?
What are the current/morally defensible communication strategies for biotechnology scientists, biotech companies or governmental on non-governmental organisations in the current and developing climate? In what way(s) do these communication strategies foster or hamper genuine moral dialogue?
Is there a future for agricultural biotechnology? If so, what is it likely to be? And, what should scientists, biotech companies or governmental on non-governmental organisations do in order to communicate to citizens and consumers about this future?
Is Agricultural Biotechnology currently at an important crossroad? Are current public opinion and regulatory hurdles only temporary inconveniences to an industry whose future is unlimited? Or, has the context changed to the extent that new visions, strategies, and products are now practically and ethically required?