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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the trends toward work being more suitable for machines than people, which promotes more addictive lifecycles. This paper suggests ways people can reverse this trend to cut them off from their humanity and create ways of working that are more natural, uplifting, life‐affirming and healthier for people.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to cite evidence of growing dysfunction, including facts and studies that support the trends; to explain how this has occurred; to describe how systems behave and misbehave; and to call for transformation.FindingsThis paper finds that people are suffering more stress, experiencing a reduced quality of life, getting sick more often and are less happy. And most of them don't realize why they are less happy because they seem to have so much (material wealth) to be grateful for. The findings include a way to reverse these trends and return to a life more suitable to human beings.Practical implicationsThe practical implications are that people will start working in ways that are consistent with these new values and consciousness, finding newfound excitement and enthusiasm for their work, and reawakening their passions for living and working. This will produce happier people, more effective organizations and a healthier society.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is to provide a “wake‐up call” to those who find themselves entranced by convention and numbed by pressures from the systems they live and work in, so they start thinking less obsessively, working less mechanically and demanding more people‐friendly work and ways of living.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper it to explore the future of Europe's food and drink manufacturing sectorDesign/methodology/approachUsing mainly secondary sources, the paper identifies trends and drivers of change, explores possible alternative futures through scenarios, and considers policy implications.FindingsEurope's food sector is undergoing dramatic change and future policies will be increasingly geared towards preventing non‐communicable diseases resulting from poor diet while ensuring the safety of food and feed. This will require a radical shift away from the productionist paradigm of the past, with emphasis in the future being placed on the impact of food on health and the environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based mainly on existing sources.Originality/valueProvides a broad overview of the wide range of issues facing the food and drink manufacturing sector.