Comments on: What should we eat, and how should it be produced?

By: A Pretty Mess » Blog Archive » Food Crisis a major issue for incoming president

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:43:03 +0000

[…] touched on this same topic earlier in this blog. Most of all, I agree with Pollan that the food crisis paired with our […]

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:31:34 +0000

What excellent points you all have made. Vicki and Lucas–worker and farmer welfare are definitely important.

I am also pleased to see comments about cultural awareness, diversity and tolerance. Food is so integrated into religion and culture.

Mike, I agree that sustainability is probably a good first step, not least of all because it is the one consumers AND producers can both impact immediately and incrementally.

The next question that comes to mind is: How much can we effect change in our food system through our choices as growers or eaters, and how requires ag policy or other political action?

By: lucas

lucas — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:50:38 +0000

on vicki’s point about places that can’t grow food, i’m reminded of a friend currently living in phoenix which basically drains the colorado river to make it possible for people to live there. i wonder what we should do about places that should really not be inhabited because they are a net drain.

i agree with mike that your list is excellent, but prioritizing that list seems the most crucial next step.

and as a christian hoping to work on sustainable food in the “third” world jublke’s point about cultural responsibility is huge and one that the majority of missionaries have really missed for centuries unfortunately.

on the ethical front i would add that we need to learn how to dialogue between people of different faiths, ethical and cultural belief systems. For example, we in the west are exporting a diet heavy on meat consumption to the rest of the world. There should be cultural, religious and ethical dialogue about the implications of this.

By: jublke

jublke — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:13:09 +0000

I would add cultural responsibility to your very thorough list. A while back, I blogged on the topic of edible insects. One of the more interesting aspects of this topic was the concern of some scientists that, as we foist our western sensibilities on the rest of the planet, we turn people away from food sources (like bugs) that we find distasteful but that are part of local culture and are environmentally sustainable.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:39:50 +0000

While I’d love to see all those factors built into the new food regime, some will come later than others. Right now, some level of sustainability needs to be incorporated into our national food system. We have to remove some of the petroleum based inputs from the food chain by exploring more sustainable methods of fertilization and shortening the road from farm to table. Any solution that addresses those issues will probably incorporate some of your other essential factors.

By the way, love your blog!

By: Vickie Hernan-Faivre

Vickie Hernan-Faivre — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:38:57 +0000

Sara:

Great points all around. Since I am a grain farmer, it is also important to us to not only be able to provide consumers with safe, nutritious foods but also have a safe work environment (safe chemicals to work around?). Since some of the grain produced in this country is exported, this is a global food safety problem. Many areas world wide are not able to grow and enjoy locally produced products due to the very nature of the environment they live in. How does one solve the problem of trying to feed the world while trying to stay safe, provide a safe product for everyone who consumes it and still be efficient about it?

These are very important issues with long range ramifications.