How to overcome the Food Crisis
One of the best indepth explanation of how the current state of the food chain is, why there is a crisis, why food equals health, why food equals oil and how the fuck to get out of it as fast as possible is written up on the New York Times by Michael Pollan in the form of an open letter to the new ruler of the world the USofA. Apparently Mr. Obama has already read it and included it in some energy dependence meetings. If all the points made in that letter can be fullfilled we see a radical shift that I can only embrace in my fullest. Having looked at the very topic of food production for personal reasons as well as for our podcast the concept given could actually make for a soft landing out of the food crisis. On the other hand it would be so radical that it likely incites riots - the problem with any food related alteration of today economy and society - it needs to happen fast and throughout - there is gain if there are 200 small farmers trying to produce fruits and vegtables when on the field next door they are spraying tons of pesticides on the crops, poisoning water supplies. Same with cattle, if you have huge catle farms that raise cattle inside with anibiotics to get the bugs under control - the farmer who puts the cattle on open fields and tries not use chemicals on the animals will loose out because the diseases are spreading out of these houses. So to change anything in the chain to the effect as Mr. Pollan suggests you need to change it all immediately (and since most fields need a five year recovery from the chemical/oil induced shock this cant happen without people not having enough food).
Interesting times. I think they still might try it - its going to be interesting how the big food producers react to their imminent downfall in the wake of such a change.
One of the more "out there" but very effective ideas he put out to educate (he proposes a school garden of all - all I can say is that in socialistic east germany - you know where everything was so evil that it had to be destroyed - education system first - we learned what crop rotations are imagine that - in primary school !) it to put a barcode (QR Code here we come) with a link to the farm website where it is mandatory that there is a list of all chemicals used in the production, pictures of the farm and - ghasp - a live feed of the farm and for meat a live feed of the slaughterhouse so to educate people about the food chain and make it more transparent...
The government should also throw its support behind putting a second bar code on all food products that, when scanned either in the store or at home (or with a cellphone), brings up on a screen the whole story and pictures of how that product was produced: in the case of crops, images of the farm and lists of agrochemicals used in its production; in the case of meat and dairy, descriptions of the animals’ diet and drug regimen, as well as live video feeds of the CAFO where they live and, yes, the slaughterhouse where they die. The very length and complexity of the modern food chain breeds a culture of ignorance and indifference among eaters. Shortening the food chain is one way to create more conscious consumers, but deploying technology to pierce the veil is another.
A very intense long but amazingly well thought out article. Its what the food culture should be like - if it fails to get there in the not so distant future so will civilization fail.
The Food Issue: Farmer in Chief at the New York Times.