from the Faces of Agriculture website:
written by Trent Loos, a rancher from Nebraska:
The absolute best opportunity to talk about modern food production has arrived and it is thanks to Robert Kenner, executive director of a movie just released in a theater near you called “Food Inc.” The movie could quite possibly be the most misleading bit of information I have ever witnessed about American agriculture but it does have everyone interested in what is really going on with today’s food system.
The American food system, starting at the farm, is the envy of the world in that no other country feeds and clothes its population with a higher percentage of domestically produced foods using fewer resources to get it done.
I witnessed Robert Kenner and journalist Michael Pollan, who also teaches journalism at the University of California Berkeley, on Good Morning America in the days just before the release of this movie. They started their segment talking about the rapidly growing global population and the risk of a global food shortage. Then they presented an overall message that food production, i.e. agriculture, must go back to the 1930s style of production. The United States farmer produced enough food in the ‘30s to feed 10 people. By contrast, because of science, technology and human fortitude, the American farmer now produces enough food for 164 people each year.
So, if we accept that agriculture, unlike any other sector of society, should go back 80 years in time we must understand that it would require 30 million farmers to produce enough food simply to feed the people in America. Where are those folks? Who is going to do that? What urban areas will volunteer to break up their concrete, condos and consumers that have urbanized America to make that happen? Are we ready to give up land dedicated to our national forests and parks?
I personally own draft animals and rake hay with a team of horses or mules so, yes, it is possible to produce our food like we did in past years but before we do that, let’s make darn sure we all understand the consequences and what we will be giving up.
This Nebraska rancher has the equipment and possesses the desire to go back in time for food production if the consumer is willing to pay for it but I would ask you, Kenner and Pollan, are you willing to head back to the “dirty ‘30s?” In the 1930s, movies were still being produced in black and white and, more importantly, they were silent. So here is my challenge to you big movie execs, release this movie in black and white and without sound and I will farm without using any fossil fuels. Personally, I believe your science fiction movie is meant to be silent!Food Inc., the movie, contains a number of half-truths, errors and misinformation about American agriculture.
Click here for my full Feedstuffs colum
Audio commentary: Get the facts right
Janet Riley of AMI talks about the film
Brad Mitchell of Monsanto provides his perspective
Click here for the facts
