Food Nexus: power players

Monday, March 7, 2011

Who's Driving the Tractor? A look at the US Government's Power Players with respect to Food

I'm launching a new project. I'll be taking a look at who is in power in our government with respect to food. After watching The Future of Food last night I was both intrigued and disturbed by the deep connections most of our government's people in power have with large agribusiness companies. My findings will appear as a series on this blog. My hope is to help bring to light some of the egregious conflicts of interest as well as identify potential allies in our collective fight to protect our food supply! More to come soon!

about the creator

So, why am I blogging about food? I'm deeply troubled by the direction of food production and health are going in this country. I fear for the food future my children will inherit. I find myself a vocal advocate for sustainable food systems and ethical agriculture.

At age eight I was first introduced to the concept of hunger by images of children my age from Somalia on television, bellies protruding and eyes sunken. I was stirred by the injustice. At age twelve I became a vegetarian after reading Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe and abstained from meat for 18 years, observing a vegan lifestyle for 3 of those years.

I majored in agriculture in college, focusing on sustainable agriculture and biochemistry. I conducted four years of original research on soil ecology and microbial nitrogen mineralization, receiving funding from the National Science Foundation, McNair Scholar Program, the Mowbray Scholar Program, and the CS Mott Foundation. This culminated in a peer-reviewed publication in the proceedings of the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. I studied agriculture and rural development in China for a semester at the Beijing Agricultural University as the recipient of a National Security Education Program grant. I graduated with a B.S. degree from Michigan State University, honed my communication skills at Walt Disney World representing The Rodale Institute at the International Garden Festival at Epcot Center, and landed at the US Environmental Protection Agency on a 2-year fellowship followed by 4 years of work with the Brownfields Program.

Perhaps one concerned and passionate mom can spark valuable dialog and raise awareness of the food crisis in which we find ourselves?

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Monday, March 7, 2011

Who's Driving the Tractor? A look at the US Government's Power Players with respect to Food

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