Food production is rigged against small farmers, consumers
I am not surprised by Jerry Crew’s attack on Frances Moore Lappe’s ideas
(“Organic Farming Can’t Feed the Entire World,” Nov. 15 letter). Crew
wrote, “Unless we all become farmers, someone has to decide which 2
billion of us die of starvation.”
How did people feed themselves before corporate agribusiness elbowed
traditional family farmers aside? I know the slogan, “Feed the world.”
Right. After we feed the cars ethanol and fatten the pigs for export to
China’s growing middle class.
With 18 honorary doctorates from distinguished universities, Lappe is a
“heavy hitter.” I heard her speak at the Iowa Environmental Council’s
annual meeting and am now reading her book “EcoMind.”
Lappe is trying to change the culture. She is not saying that we have to
do without. She is saying that we must see ourselves as part of the
ecosystem. Like Aldo Leopold, she sees the need for a “land ethic.”
Of course, those benefiting from subsidies used to support the current
system of fuel and food production will attack her ideas. They may lose
some income if changes occur.
However, the rest of us have much to gain by leaving room for healthy,
local, diversified, sustainable food production. Give our young farmers a
chance to grow nutritious “people food.” Right now the federal food
policy system is rigged against them and consumers.
— Mike Delaney, Des Moines

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