Michael Pollan, author of the book The Omnivore's Dilemma, selected by the New York Times as one of the five best non-fiction books of 2006, teaches journalism at UC Berkeley. David Wood has a lot of money. (See last paragraph.)--Tom In a message dated 10/16/2010 11:27:18 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: https://civileats.com/2010/10/14/the-troubled-waters-of-big-ags-academic-inf luence/ The Troubled Waters of Big Ag's Academic Influence EDITED Last month, the University of Minnesota caused a stir when it postponed the release of "Troubled Waters" - a film that focuses on the effect agriculture is having on U.S. waterways from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The film's team had thoroughly fact-checked the film and followed the review process utilized by the PBS science program NOVA. Not long after the news broke that Troubled Waters was being held up, it came to light that VP of University Relations Karen Himle was behind the film's purgatory. This information was notable because her husband John Himle is president of Himle Horner, a public relations firm that represents the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, a group that promotes both ethanol production and industrial agriculture practices. More troubling, Cargill - which is a key player in ethanol production - has its VP on the University of Minnesota's board. Controversies around agriculture at universities are not new, but it has become more frequent in recent years, as the public becomes more aware of food production methods and industrial agriculture groups feel threatened by the pressure to change. Just last fall Michael Pollan was scheduled to give a solo lecture at California Polytechnic State University when Harris Ranch Beef Company Chairman David Wood threatened to cut off $500,000 in funding to the university if he was allowed to do so. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the CONS-SPST-BIOTECH-FORUM list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/