Is Intensive Farming Ethically Acceptable?

Intensive farming in which high chemical inputs deliver high outputs, is the object of severe criticism. In this article firstly an ethical framework is presented to ethically evaluate intensive high input farming. The framework consists of six ethical criteria according to which farming styles or regimes can be evaluated. The six criteria are Can the farming and food style reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition? Is it sustainable? Is it animal welfare friendly? Is it fair and just to farmers and others? Does it stimulate rural liveability? Is it consumer friendly: does it decrease the gap between production and consumption and does it connect positively with rural and urban areas? Secondly, in applying these criteria I evaluate the current dominant intensive farming, by analyzing prominent texts and data from international organizations. Finally, I will argue that the balanced fulfilment of the six ethical criteria comprise something like a fair representation of food and farming styles in science, governments and markets, that culminates in food democracy where gaps between consumers and producers are mitigated, bridged or deconstructed.