In this episode, Dr. Julie Guthman discusses her latest book, The Problem with Solutions: Why Silicon Valley Can’t Hack the Future of Food. She critiques the narrow, short-term solutions for food and agriculture promoted by Silicon Valley, urging us to move beyond these capital-driven, "techno-solutionist" approaches that fail to create a truly just and sustainable food system.

Dr. Guthman is a distinguished professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. For nearly three decades, her research and teaching have focused on how neoliberal capitalism shapes and limits potential transformations in the food system.

📝 Show notes:

The Problem with Solutions by Julie Guthman  https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-problem-with-solutions/

From Farming to Biotechnology: A Theory of Agro-industrial Development.https://www.academia.edu/20776055/Book_Review_From_Farming_to_Biotechnology_A_Theory_of_Agro_Industrial_Development_David_Goodman_Bernardo_Sorj_John_Wilkinson

Gathering for Open Agricultural Technology (GOAT) https://goatech.org/

Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winners_Take_All:_The_Elite_Charade_of_Changing_the_World

Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_After_Technology

Planetary Improvement by Jesse Goldstein https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262535076/planetary-improvement/

Encountering Poverty by Ananya Roy https://www.ucpress.edu/books/encountering-poverty/paper

Tech Won't Save Us (Podcast): https://techwontsave.us/



Episode 2: The problem with solutions: Techno-solutionism in agriculture

In this episode, anthropologist and medical physician Dr. Seth Holmes from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Barcelona shares his two decades of experience studying the role and importance of agricultural farm workers in our current food system. He discusses the structural racism they face and the health issues they endure to put food on our tables.

Having lived alongside Triqui Mexican farm workers during his research—from the mountains of Oaxaca to the illegal crossing of the US border through the desert, to harvesting berries with them in Washington State and California—Dr. Holmes presents a unique perspective on the injustices faced by these essential workers.

📝 Show notes:
Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies (Book): www.ucpress.edu/book/978052039863…uit-broken-bodies [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucpress.edu%2Fbook%2F9780520398634%2Ffresh-fruit-broken-bodies&token=e58ca2-1-1725039439534]

First Time Home (Movie): www.firsttimehomefilm.com/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.firsttimehomefilm.com%2F&token=8a77af-1-1725039439534]

Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities: immigrantinfo.org/resources/binati…ous-communities/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimmigrantinfo.org%2Fresources%2Fbinational-center-for-the-development-of-oaxacan-indigenous-communities%2F&token=813aed-1-1725039439534]

Coalition of Immokalee Workers: ciw-online.org/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fciw-online.org%2F&token=37f4b8-1-1725039439535]

United Farm Workers: ufw.org/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fufw.org%2F&token=c86022-1-1725039439535]

Familias Unidas por la Justicia: familiasunidasjusticia.com/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffamiliasunidasjusticia.com%2F&token=bbc038-1-1725039439535]

Jornaleras en Lucha: jornalerasenlucha.org/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjornalerasenlucha.org%2F&token=435bc8-1-1725039439535]

Codetras: www.codetras.org/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.codetras.org%2F&token=9b4624-1-1725039439535]

Fair Food Program: fairfoodprogram.org/ [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffairfoodprogram.org%2F&token=55f9a5-1-1725039439535]



👋 Let's connect!

Instagram: @tierraylibertad_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tierraylibertad_podcast/]

Episode 1: Migrant workers and structural racism in agriculture, with Dr. Seth Holmes

Welcome to Tierra y Libertad. In this podcast, we listen to agricultural professionals, researchers, and activists from around the world. We explore the sustainable transition of the agricultural and food system while examining social and racial justice, land concentration, the impact of agricultural technology, and the dangers of green capitalism.

Thomas Grandperrin

Shows