M.W. Fisher Invermay Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. In addition to traditional measures of efficiency and profitability, the acceptability of agricultural practices is also determined by requirements of food safety, resource use, environmental and animal welfare criteria, and by social and philosophical views. Since moral issues may be difficult to deal with, and are determined by a wide array of influences ranging from philosophers to the media, it is important that we establish a means of clarifying them.
Agricultural ethics provides such a common framework or language.
In addition, the role that virtues and myths play in determining the acceptability of agricultural practices can be incorporated.