Põllumajandus rahvatarkuse ja teaduse vahel: folkloristi vaade

Abstract

On Agricultural Sciences through the Eyes of a
Folklorist

Agriculture is based on understanding and respecting the patterns of nature, and the direct utilisation of nature. The ecological behavioural culture of a dweller of the land, which involves both communion with nature and taking responsibility for one’s part in the relationship, is rooted deep in our subconscious. Both a farmer and cattle breeder have harnessed the fruitfulness of the soil or the reproduction
of cattle for their purposes. The scientific and technological development of agriculture is supported by basic and applied sciences. The sciences that served as the basis of agricultural technology began to evolve in the 18th and 19th century. Practical agricultural guidebooks in the first half of the 18th century still imparted old experiences. The guidelines provided often originated from Ancient Roman authors
and the Bible. As traditional and science-based agriculture began to develop separately, the 19th century brought along a breakthrough. The development of technology changes society as well as nature. Technology adapts to the needs and expectations of people and society, while it becomes easier to attain and operate. Education, upbringing,
and culture as a whole will change in addition to the alteration of technology pursuant to the demands of people and culture.
Science is becoming more important in order to provide enough food for all the inhabitants of the Earth in modernity as the population of the Earth is consistently growing, there is only a limited amount of agricultural land and climate change is causing regional production problems as well as uncertainty. Synthetic analogues are increasingly used in addition to the raw produce received from agriculture. As can
be said on the basis of analysing Internet forums—it is only habit that is stopping us from switching to artificial food, technologically it is already possible.