Green Drinks: Agroecology vs. Tech-Intensive Farming: Which Will Shape the Future of Sustainable Agriculture?

The future of farming is at a crossroads, with two very different visions for how we can address the negative impacts of intensive agriculture on our planet’s life support systems. Agroecology, which prioritizes ecological farming and places farmers and consumers at the heart of a sustainable food system, and techno-intensive farming, which relies on information technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance agricultural efficiency.

Join Dr. Charles ‘Merf’ Merfield, an agroecologist and philosopher of agriculture, for an engaging seminar where he will explore both approaches. Dr. Merfield’s research focuses on practical alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides, particularly in weed management, as well as examining the broader planetary challenges posed by current agricultural practices. He will provide a clear explanation of each vision and discuss how the future of food and farming may unfold under each path.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Networking & Mingling: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Merf's Talk: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Discussion & Networking: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Location: The Loft Bar 

Additional Information:
THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in the future of agriculture and sustainability. Don’t miss out on this thought-provoking discussion about what the future of farming could look like!

Green Drinks is an environmental networking event that occurs on the third Thursday of every month, hosted by Christchurch EnviroHub. If you are interested in being a speaker at one of our Green Drinks events, please contact Sarah at communications@chchenvirohub.org.