Allen, Patricia 1954-

PERSONAL:

Born June 19, 1954.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food System, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064; fax: 831-459-2799. E-mail—rats@ucsc.edu.

CAREER:

Researcher. University of California, Santa Cruz, Agroecology Program senior analyst.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, with Debra Van Dusen) Global Perspectives on Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems: Proceedings of the Sixth International Scientific Conference of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, Agroecology Program (Santa Cruz, CA), 1988.

(Editor) Food for the Future: Conditions and Contradictions of Sustainability, Wiley (New York, NY), 1993.

Together at the Table: Sustainability and Sustenance in the American Agrifood System, Pennsylvania State University Press (University Park, PA), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Patricia Allen was born on June 19, 1954. After completing her studies, she accepted a position at the University of California, Santa Cruz, as an Agroecology Program senior analyst. With Debra Van Dusen, Allen edited her first book, Global Perspectives on Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems: Proceedings of the Sixth International Scientific Conference of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, in 1988.

Allen edited Food for the Future: Conditions and Contradictions of Sustainability, in 1993. The book looks into the human dimension of the agrifood industry, avoiding the usual academic approach of dealing exclusively with the production aspects, including how to maintain yields while reducing chemical dependence through crop rotation. Allen presents twelve essays that describe different aspects of the human element to the food industry and what steps forward those in the industry should be considering. The collection discusses the main hurdles in making these sorts of changes, including the view of nature as a source for exploitation and not for the complex entity it is. In addition, the book examines difficulties presented by debtor nations in making the change from exporting crops to growing them for themselves, and the wrong assumption by agricultural planners that laborers are merely economic input factors instead of actual people. Essay contributors also address environmental justice issues as a positive tool to lure the attention of poor urban dwellers to their support for progressive agrifood policies.

Jonathan F. King, writing in Sierra, commented that "this book raises far more questions than it answers, its theme is awesomely broad, and its tone is unremittingly academic." King noted, however, that the topics the book covers "could not be more important to us all."

In 2004, Allen published Together at the Table: Sustainability and Sustenance in the American Agrifood System. The book looks at how various socio-environmental movements in the United States are dealing with the problems associated with the modern agrifood industry and other related environmental issues and disasters. Allen argues that a bigger problem than various groups not agreeing on the proper steps forward to help solve environmental issues is the fact that not all viable groups are even considered nationally or internationally as being able to provide assistance to the global problems, including women, workers, and the poor. Allen proposes an alternative method to unite social justice and equality with a progressive environmental policy towards food production and distribution.

Jason Schreiner, writing in Environment, discussed Allen's ability to bring together various workers in the food production industry in her study, remarking that "Together at the Table makes a significant contribution toward this goal and will be of immense value to anyone wanting to understand how alternative agrifood movements can transform the current agrifood system." Jack R. Kloppenburg, reviewing the book in the Geographical Review, found that despite her criticisms on the path the agrifood industry is taking, Allen "provides no concrete, programmatic advice on a better path." Kloppenburg also noted that "many readers will be receptive to the concerns she raises, but some may find Allen's assessment of the ‘alternative agrifood’ landscape to be bleaker than is warranted. Her practice of eliding the great diversity of groups working for changes to the existing food system into the all-encompassing shorthand of ‘alternative agrifood organizations’ obscures important variation." Kloppenburg concluded that "Together at the Table is a salutary reminder that achieving a food system characterized by sustainability and social justice will require more than shopping at a farmers market. Allen insists on calling us to the larger and more challenging task of addressing the structural underpinnings of social inequality and environmental damage. Still, farmers markets don't hurt."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, summer, 1994, Molly D. Anderson, review of Food for the Future: Conditions and Contradictions of Sustainability.

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, June, 2005, J.M. Deutsch, review of Together at the Table: Sustainability and Sustenance in the American Agrifood System, p. 1867.

Environment, July 1, 2005, Jason Schreiner, review of Together at the Table, p. 44.

Futurist, March 1, 2005, review of Together at the Table, p. 61.

Geographical Review, January, 2006, Jack R. Kloppenburg, review of Together at the Table, p. 165.

Sierra, November 1, 1994, Jonathan F. King, review of Food for the Future, p. 98.

ONLINE

Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food System, University of California, Santa Cruz Web site,http://casfs.ucsc.edu/ (March 5, 2008), author profile.