Edible Education 101: Anna Lappé – "The Global Food System: Feeding 9 Billion" Video Lecture | Edible Education: Understand Food & its production - Personal Skills

MAN: GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU, STUDENTS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
FEEDBACK AND WE WILL READ ALL OF
YOUR COMMENTS AND TRY TO
INCORPORATE YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE
FEEDBACK INTO THE REMAINDER OF
THE COURSE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING
THAT.
YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS IS A
TECHNOLOGY FREE ZONE JUST AS A
COURTESY TO OUR SPEAKERS, WE ASK
YOU TO PUT AWAY YOUR SCREENS FOR
THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF OR SO.
ALSO WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT
YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST PAPER DUE.
DID ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT?
DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY BY 6:00 P.M.
PACIFIC TIME.
WE HAVE A MARK DOWN PROGRAM IF
YOU DON'T GET IT IN ON TIME.
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THAT.
ALSO I WANT TO REALLY ENCOURAGE
ALL OF YOU TO BE THINKING AND
WORKING ON A DRAFT OF THIS
PAPER.
THIS WAS NOT AN EASY QUESTION.
YOU WILL REMEMBER IT IS REALLY
ABOUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
CALCULATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF
YOUR CHOICES AND THIS QUESTION
AS KIND OF A CREATIVE DESIGN
DIMENSION IN TERMS OF COMING UP
WITH AN IDEA FOR A RESTAURANT
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE OF
THE SIMPLE DISHES ON THAT
RESTAURANT AND TRACE THE SUPPLY
CHAIN OF ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS.
THIS REQUIRES SOME THINKING,
SOME FORE THOUGHT AND PROBABLY
SOME REVIEW WITH ONE OF YOUR
FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS NOT ONE TO LEAVE FOR THE
NIGHT BEFORE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY AND YOU NEED
HELP TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR
ONE OF THE READERS OR THE GSI IN
THE COURSE.
THEY ARE VERY HAPPY TO HELP YOU.
YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE THEM A
HEADS UP THAT YOU WANT 15 OR 20
MINUTES OF THEIR TIME, NOT THE
DAY BEFORE.
YOU HAVE GOT STILL A WEEK TO GO.
REMEMBER OUR SECRET POWER OR
SUPER POWER TO DEVELOP IN THIS
CLASS IS AROUND TRANSPARENCY.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PEER
BEHIND THE SCENES TO UNDERSTAND
THE PROOFS IN THE FOOD SYSTEM.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT LAST WEEK
WE GOT A LOOK INSIDE
TRANSPARENTLY INTO OUR
MICROBIOMES AND LEARNED ALL
ABOUT HOW SOME -- HOW THIS SORT
OF ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS, NOT A
PASTORAL, LOVELY CALM ECOSYSTEM
LIKE BRUCE GERMS SAYS, IT'S A
VERY HARSH ENVIRONMENT WHERE
BACTERIA EAT OTHER BACTERIA.
WHO ENJOYED THAT LECTURE LAST
WEEK?
THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THAT.
THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO ZOOM
OUT FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE.
WE ARE JUST REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE
TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS, ANNA
LAPPE WHO YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
READ SOME OF HER BOOKS.
SHE IS REALLY ONE OF THE VERY
IMPORTANT VOICES IN THE FOOD
MOVEMENT.
SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL
BOOKS.
SHE AND OUR OTHER GUEST SOPHIE
EAGAN ARE REALLY TALENTED
WRITERS.
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY INQUISITIVE.
THEY ARE LIKE INVESTIGATIVE
JOURNALISTS WHO BRING A VERY
APPROACHABLE VIEW TO THEIR WORK.
I AM DELIGHTED THAT ANNA AND
SOPHIE ARE HERE.
SOPHIE IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF
THE MPA PROGRAM AT BERKELEY AND
I ASKED HER TO COME BECAUSE I
WANTED HER TO NOT ONLY SHARE A
LITTLE READING FROM HER BRAND
NEW, FANTASTIC BOOK "DEVOURED"
BUT ALSO TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT
OF HER PATH FROM STUDENT TO
PROFESSIONAL.
I HOPE WHAT YOU WILL GET OUT OF
THAT AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM
OTHER BERKELEY ALUMNI WITH
VARIED BACKGROUNDS IN THE PAST
IS HOW DO I TAKE MY EDUCATION
AND HOW DO I TAKE MY PERSONAL
INTEREST AND PASSIONS AND HOW DO
I MANIFEST THAT INTO SOME KIND
OF EMPLOYMENT.
SOPHIE IS GOING TO ELABORATE ON
THAT TODAY.
TO TAKE ATTENDANCE TAKE OUT YOUR
CLICKER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED
ABOUT WAS FIBER.
WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO
FIBER THIS WEEK?
A I SOUGHT IT OUT AND ATE MORE
OF IT.
B, I PAID MORE ATTENTIONS TO
LABELS.
I CERTAINLY DID THAT.
C, DIDN'T GIVE IT A SECOND
THOUGHT.
SEE HOW WE CAME OUT.
A, I SOUGHT IT OUT AND ATE MORE
OF IT.
B, I PAID MORE ATTENTION TO
LABELS.
AND C, I DIDN'T GIVE IT A SECOND
THOUGHT.
HOW ARE WE DOING?
SHOULD I SWITCH?
WOW, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
OVER HALF OF YOU ACTUALLY ATE
MORE FIBER INTENTIONALLY.
I THINK CHRISTOPHER GARDNER
WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEND HIM THAT
RESULT.
ONE MOE QUESTION.
THE MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY -- THIS
COMES FROM ONE OF ANNA'S
READINGS.
THE MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY ADHERES TO A, A SET OF
STRICT REGULATIONS.
B, A CENTRAL DOGMA DEVELOPED BY
FRANCES KIRK OR C RIGOROUS
TESTING OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
BEFORE RELEASE.
OR WHO DID
THE READING?
PEOPLE ARE GUESSING.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR
NEIGHBORS.
LITTLE CHEATING GOING ON.
LITTLE CHANGES HERE.
FIVE MORE SECONDS.
I AM GOING TO SWITCH SO YOU CAN
SEE HOW FLUID THIS ANSWER IS.
I
GUESS WE CAN'T CONTROL WHEN WE
STOP.
THE RIGHT ANSWER IS B, THE
CENTRAL DOGMA THAT WAS DISCUSSED
IN ANNA'S CHAPTER WAS TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE BIOTECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY PROJECTS THAT
EVERYTHING IS PREDICTABLE IN
THEIR WORK.
I AM SURE YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR
MORE FROM HER ON THAT.
SO QUICKLY, JUST TO FINISH UP TO
REFRESH EVERYBODY'S MIND AND
ALSO TO SHOW THOSE OF YOU THAT
ARE JOINING US FOR THE FIRST
TIME -- BY THE WAY, WE HAVE A
WHOLE CONTINGENT FROM DENMARK
TONIGHT.
THEY HAVE COME ALL OF THE WAY
FROM DENMARK TO GO TO EDIBLE
EDUCATION.
THE FIRST WEEK ALICE WATERS
TALKED ABOUT FOOD VALUES AND
PARTICULARLY SLOW FOOD VALUES
AND THE RIGHTS OF US HAVE FOOD.
SECOND WEEK WAS DAVID MAS
MASUMOTO A THIRD GENERATION
FARMER WHO REALLY TALKED TO US
ABOUT THE JOY OF FARMING AND
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF FARMING.
THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY PROFESSOR
ROBERT REICH WHO TALKED ABOUT
CONCENTRATION OF POWER IN THE
FOOD INDUSTRY AND WHERE ECONOMIC
POWER AND POLICY POWER KIND OF
COME TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT
CREATES A LOT OF INEQUALITY.
NAOMI STARKMAN THE FOUNDER OF
CIVIL EATS WAS HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE
PRESS.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS WHOLE CLASS
KIND OF PLAY OUT IN REAL TIME.
SARU JAYARAMAN WAS HERE TALKING
ABOUT LABOR ISSUES IN FOOD AND
THE NEXT WEEK WE SAW THE
PROPOSED NOMINEE FOR THE
SECRETARY OF LABOR SORT OF
KICKED OUT OF THAT PROCESS.
SHE WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
LAST WEEK WE GOT INTRODUCED TO
THE MICROBIOME.
WE HAD THE THREE MUSS TAW TEARS
OF MICROBIOTA, CHRIS, BRUCE AND
JUSTIN.
WE ENDED UP WITH THE GOOD GUT.
THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY OUR VERY
SPECIAL GUEST -- I AM SORRY.
I AM GOING TO DO THIS NOW.
NEXT WEEK, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A FOOD AND TECH SHOWCASE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SIX
SPEAKERS FROM REALLY AMAZING
EARLY STAGE COMPANIES, THREE OF
THEM ARE BERKELEY ALUMS, AND SO
IT IS GOING TO BE A VIRTUAL
TASTING MENU OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN FOOD AND TECHNOLOGY.
THEY WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU IT IS AN
HONOR TO WELCOME TOUR -- OUR
NEXT SPEAKER.
I HAVEN'T TOLD ANNA THIS, I MET
HER MOTHER FRANCES MOORE LAPPE
WHO WROTE THE SEMINOLE BOOKS AT
THE BEGINNING OF THIS FOOD
MOVEMENT "DIET FOR A SMALL
PLANET."
I THINK I MET HER IN 1990.
SHE WAS VERY KIND AND INCREDIBLY
SMART AND I LEARNED FROM HER,
AND YOU WILL ALSO LEARN FROM
ANNA THERE IS A WAY TO BE ACTIVE
AND PERSUASIVE IN THIS WORLD
THAT IS NOT ALIENATING, THAT IS
NOT DIVISIVE, BUT IS BASED IN
FACTS AND BASED IN IT EDUCATION,
AND BASED IN PERSISTENCE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, PLEASE
WELCOME ANNA LAPPE.
WOMAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IS THIS ON?
THANKS FOR THE WATER.
CAN YOU HEAR ME IN THE BACK.
DOESN'T SOUND VERY LOUD.
IS THAT LOUDER?
LET'S SEE.
MAN: MOVE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT
MORE.
WOMAN: WE DID A SOUND CHECK JUST
BEFORE.
IS THAT ANY BETTER?
I AM ALSO LOSING MY VOICE A
LITTLE.
YOU CAN GO UP A TAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS SUCH A HUGE PLEASURE TO BE
BACK HERE.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE
EDIBLE EDUCATION CLASSES IN THE
PAST.
UC BERKELEY HAS A SPECIAL PLACE
IN MY HEART.
I WENT TO BROWN UNIVERSITY, BUT
I SPENT MY LAST SEMESTER AT UC
BERKELEY.
I LOVED IT.
IT IS REALLY FUN TO BE BACK.
HOW IS THAT FOR SOUND LEVELS?
YEAH.
OKAY, GREAT.
AND THE CLICKER, I HAVE GOT IT.
GREAT.
SO I WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY AS I ARRANGE THINGS.
HANG ON A SECOND.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY IS THIS BIG QUESTION, HOW
WE ARE GOING TO FEED THE FUTURE.
EXPERTS HAVE BEEN DEBATING THIS
QUESTION FOR A LONG TIME, AND
BOTH NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL
POLICYMAKERS HAVE BEEN BASING
THEIR DECISIONS BASED ON THESE
DEBATES.
I DON'T PRESUME WITH SUCH A HUGE
QUESTION THAT I AM GOING TO COME
ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ANSWERING THAT
QUESTION FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT.
WHAT I TRIED TO DO AS I THOUGHT
ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE
WITH ALL OF YOU IS TO GIVE YOU
SOME IDEAS OF HOW WE MIGHT
APPROACH THIS QUESTION, WHERE
SOLUTIONS MIGHT LIE.
AND HOPEFULLY REALLY PROVOKE
SOME THINKING AND QUESTIONS.
WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR
CONVERSATION AT THE END AND EVEN
DEBATES.
I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW I FOUND MYSELF HERE.
I WAS RAISED IN OAKLAND, SAN
FRANCISCO.
BACK THEN SAN FRANCISCO WAS A
VERY DIFFERENT CITY.
IT WAS THE KIND OF CITY WHERE A
SINGLE MOTHER ON A NONPROFIT
SALARY COULD BUY A HOUSE AND
RAISE HER TWO KIDS AS MY MOM
DID.
WE MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO WHEN I
WAS REALLY YOUNG.
WHEN WE MOVED THERE, MY MOTHER
WHO WILL WAS REFERRING TO
FRANCES MOORE LAPPE STARTED
INSTITUTE FOR FOOD AND
DEVELOPMENT POLICY ALSO KNOWN AS
FOOD FIRST.
IT IS FOUR DECADES LATER STILL
AROUND AND STILL ASKING THESE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE FEED
THE WORLD AND WHY MYTHS ABOUT
WORLD HUNGER PERSIST.
IN MANY WAYS I HAVE BEEN HEARING
PEOPLE DEBATE THIS QUESTION FOR
A LONG TIME.
AS A KID MY CHILDHOOD WAS, AS
YOU MIGHT IMAGINE KNOWING A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY MOTHER.
SHE WAS NOT TAKING US OFF TO
DISNEY LAND.
INSTEAD MY VACATIONS WERE
VISITING FACTORY FARMS IN
CALIFORNIA, FARM WORKER
ENCAMPMENTS IN THE MIDWEST OR
GOING WITH HER ON RESEARCH TRIPS
TO CENTRAL AMERICA.
IN THE EVENINGS INSTEAD OF
WATCHING TV IN FACT FOR MOST OF
MY CHILDHOOD OUR TV WAS KEPT IN
A CLOSET.
INSTEAD OF WATCHING TV, I SPENT
EVENINGS STUFFING ENVELOPES FOR
FUNDRAISERS FOR HER NONPROFIT.
THIS WAS WAY BEFORE THERE WAS
E-MAIL, FUNDRAISING DRIVES.
LISTENING TO, HEARING HER
COLLEAGUES DEBATE BIG ISSUES
ABOUT WORLD HUNGER.
I WILL ADMIT, THERE WAS
DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF ME AS A
KID THAT LONGED FOR JUST
WATCHING WHATEVER WAS ON
TELEVISION AND BEING ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT IT AT SCHOOL THE NEXT
DAY OR PLAYING WITH BARBIE WHICH
I ALSO NEVER GOT TO DO OR EATING
ACTUAL CHOCOLATE.
MY MOM WAS REALLY INTO CAROB
WHICH WAS BIG IN THE 1970s.
WE HAD THE ARGUMENT IT TASTES
LIKE CHOCOLATE.
IT NEVER DID.
THERE WAS A PART OF ME THAT
MISSED A LOT OF THAT, BUT THERE
WAS ALSO THIS HUGE PART OF ME AS
A KID THAT I REALLY LOVED TO BE
PART OF WHAT FELT LIKE SO
ENERGIZING, FELT LIKE SO MUCH
BIGGER THAN JUST MY FAMILY AND
MYSELF.
I REALLY, REALLY LOVE THAT ABOUT
MY CHILDHOOD.
AS TIME WENT ON I WENT TO
COLLEGE, AS I SAID I WENT TO
BROWN, THEN I WENT TO NEW YORK
CITY AND IN MY EARLY 20'S I
FOUND MYSELF A BIT ADRIFT.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR MYSELF TO
PLUG INTO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN
JUST MY OWN LIFE.
WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO TRY
TO MAKE IT.
TO BE HONEST I WASN'T COMING UP
WITH ANY ANSWERS.
LIKE MANY 20 SOMETHINGS
STRUGGLING WITH THAT QUESTION I
DECIDED TO TRY GRADUATE SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT I MIGHT FIND THE
ANSWERS AND FIND MY WAY SO I
WENT TO COLUMBIA IN THE
POLITICAL PROGRAM.
GLOBALIZATION AND TRADE POLICY I
HAVE A DEGREE IN.
ONE EVENING I WAS READING NEW
YORK TIMES AND I READ THIS TINY
ARTICLE THAT MENTIONED THERE IS
GOING TO BE A WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION MEETING IN SEATTLE.
THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME LOCAL
GROUPS THAT WOULD BE ORGANIZING
TEACH INS AND PROTESTS.
THE ORGANIZERS WERE SAYING THE
POLICIES OF THIS WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION WOULD TAKE AWAY THE
ABILITY FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AND STATES AND NATIONS TO BE
ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE PROTECT
FARMERS, PROTECT LOCAL FOOD, TO
BE ABLE TO PRESERVE REALLY
STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
AND SO MUCH MORE.
THAT VERY NIGHT AFTER READING
THE ARTICLE I DECIDED I WANTED
TO BE THERE FOR THE TEACH IN AND
THE PROTEST I WAS READING ABOUT.
I COBBLED TOGETHER FREQUENT
FLYER MILES, BOUGHT A TICKET.
FOUND A FRIEND OF A FRIEND WHOSE
COUCH I COULD CRASH ON.
THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS
STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, HAD GONE BY
MYSELF.
I WAS NOT ALONE.
THERE WERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE.
IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST
DEMONSTRATIONS EVER, CERTAINLY
AGAINST THE TRADE POLICY, BUT IT
WAS A MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION IN
THE STREETS IN DECEMBER OF 1999,
AND I REMEMBER STANDING THERE,
AND I REMEMBER I WAS SO COLD, IF
YOU HAVE EVER SPENT COLD ON A
RAINY DAY IN SEATTLE YOU KNOW
WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS FREEZING.
MY SNEAKERS WERE TOTALLY SOAKING
WET.
I WAS IN SO MANY WAYS PHYSICALLY
MISERABLE BUT I WAS ALSO SO
INSPIRED THE ENERGY ALL AROUND
ME.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS
PARTICULAR MOMENT I WAS SORT OF
GETTING THAT SENSE OF ENERGY
AROUND ME.
I LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT AND
THERE WAS A HUGE TROOP OF
TOPLESS LESBIAN AVENGERS.
THEY WERE A RADICAL QUEER GROUP
THAT WAS MARCHING IN THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THEY WERE TOPLESS EXCEPT THEY
HAD ELECTRICAL TAPE ACROSS.
ON MY LEFT WAS A HUGE CONTINGENT
OF BURL LEE -- BURLY UNITED AUTO
WORKERS.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE
CHANTING IN UNISON.
I REMEMBER HAVING THIS MOMENT
THAT THE AUTO WORKERS WERE FOR
ME A SYMBOL OF WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN THE STREETS THAT
DAY.
THIS SYMBOL FOR ME IS WHAT THIS
FIGHT WAS ABOUT TRYING TO
DEMOCRATIZE THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION WASN'T ABOUT
WORKERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR
FEMINISTS AGAINST FARMERS, IT
WAS ABOUT ALL OF US TOGETHER
TAKING ENCORE PRATT POWER AND
SAYING THAT CORPORATE DICTATED
TRADE POLICY SHOULD NOT
SUPERSEDE DEMOCRATICALLY
DETERMINED POLICIES.
IT WAS IN MANY WAYS AS BASIC AS
THAT.
AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I RETURNED
TO COLUMBIA AND EVERYTHING IN MY
CLASSES LOOKED DIFFERENT.
YOU STARTED TO READ MY TEXTBOOKS
DIFFERENTLY AND FOREIGN AB TRACT
AND FOREIGN POLICY LOOKED REAL
TO ME.
THE ENERGY KEPT ME UP REFLECTING
ON HOW I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
CONTRIBUTE.
I ENDED UP PETITIONING MY
ADVISORS TO LET ME WORK WITH MY
MOTHER ON A BOOK TO SORT OF TELL
THE STORY OF SOME OF THESE
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS THAT WERE AT
THE FOREFRONT OF PROMOTING
DEMOCRACY WORLDWIDE AND REALLY
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
HUNGER.
BEFORE THAT BOOK MY MOTHER AND I
TRAVELED TO INDIA, BANGLADESH,
POLAND, KENYA, FRANCE AND A
BUNCH OF PLACES IN THE U.S.
AND WE STILL GET ALONG TODAY.
WE TRAVELED TO ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PLACES LOOKING AT
WHERE THERE WERE EXAMPLES OF
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND
ORGANIZATION, EVEN CITY
GOVERNMENTS THAT WERE LEADING
THE WAY AND TACKLING THE ROOT
CAUSES OF HUNGER.
IN THE 15 YEARS SINCE THEN I
HAVE CONTINUED THIS WORK AS
MENTIONED THROUGH A COUPLE OTHER
BOOKS THROUGH A PROJECT REAL
TEAM MEDIA ADVISING
PHILANTHROPISTS WORKING TO FUND
A TRANSFORMATION IN THE FOOD
SYSTEM.
SO I COME TO THIS WORK FROM THIS
BACKGROUND.
I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST.
I AM NOT A FARMER.
I DON'T HAVE A NARROW EXPERT
CREDENTIAL.
I AM NOT A PARTICULAR EXPERT ON
THE MICROBIOME, ALTHOUGH I LOVE
THOSE FOLKS AND THAT IS GREAT.
WHAT I BRING IS REALLY A
GENERALIST PERSPECTIVE, AND A
HUGE PASSION FOR SHARING THE
STORIES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AT
THE HEART OF THE FOOD SYSTEM,
THE WORKERS, THE FARMERS, THE
FOOD PRODUCERS AND THE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS.
AS WE PONDER THIS BIG QUESTION
ABOUT HOW WE SEE THE FUTURE I
REALLY DO SO WITH THE VOICES OF
THESE LEADERS THAT I HAVE MET
ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND IN THE
FRONT OF MY MIND.
I ALSO DO SO OF COURSE KNOWING
THAT WE ARE AGAIN TALKING TO YOU
ALL OUT OF A PARTICULAR HISTORIC
MOMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.
AT A TIME WHEN THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE IS LED
BY MANY CLIMATE DENIALISTS.
MEANWHILE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD A
17 MILE CRACK JUST BURST ACROSS
ANTARCTICA, RIGHT, THAT WE KNOW
THIS PRESIDENT'S CABINET IS
STACKED WITH CEO'S THREATENING
MASSIVE WELFARE CUTS, MEANWHILE
WE KNOW THERE'S MASSIVE
MALNOURISHMENT AROUND THIS
COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ARE IN THIS CONTEXT.
I KNOW WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY
NEXT MIGHT SOUND TO YOUR EARS A
BIT UNWARRANTED, BUT I AM GOING
TO SAY IT.
I REALLY AM STANDING HERE
TONIGHT TO BEAR AND TO BRING
GOOD NEWS ABOUT FIGHTING HUNGER.
I HOPE BY THE TIME I AM DONE YOU
HAVE A SENSE OF THIS GOOD NEWS,
TOO.
WHAT I AM HERE TO SHARE IS FROM
THIS VANTAGE POINT I HAVE OF
TALKING WITH FOLKS REALLY AROUND
THE WORLD WHAT WE ARE HEARING IS
WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
TODAY RIGHT NOW TO CREATE THE
KIND OF FOOD SYSTEMS WE NEED TO
BE TRULY SUSTAINABLE.
NOT JUST MY BELIEF.
I DON'T JUST FEEL THIS.
ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL IT.
IT IS REALLY WHAT WE ARE HEARING
FROM FARMERS AND FOLKS ON THE
GROUND THAT ARE SEEING THIS WITH
THEIR OWN EYES.
WE ARE FAR FROM THE FOOD SYSTEM
TODAY.
MY MOTHER JUST REPUBLISHED HER
SEMINOLE BOOK "WORLD HUNGER 12
MYTH."
IT WAS RETITLED "WORLD HUNGER 10
MYTHS."
DID YOU FEED THE TWO?
SHE SAID NO WE CONDENSED THEM.
WE STILL HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF HUNGER ALMOST A
BILLION PEOPLE GOING HUNGRY
WHILE THE WORLD IS PRODUCING
ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED ALL OF US.
AS MY MOTHER AND FOOD FIRST AND
MANY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN
SAYING FOR SO MANY YEARS, HUNGER
IS NOT CAUSED BY A SCARCE CITY
OF PRODUCTION.
IT IS CAUSED BY A SCARCITY OF
DEMOCRACY, OF PEOPLE ABLE TO
DECIDE WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS
PRODUCED, WHERE THE FOOD IS
PRODUCED, WHO HAS POWER AND SAY
OVER THE FOOD THAT GETS
PRODUCED.
THE MOTHER AND HER COLLEAGUES
AND ALL OF US ARE REALLY TALKING
ABOUT HAS BEEN SOLUTIONS FOR
FEEDING THE FUTURE THAT AREN'T
ABOUT PRODUCING MORE.
IT WAS JUST A PRODUCTION
QUESTION.
WE SHOULD HAVE NO HUNGER ON THE
PLANET TODAY.
WE ARE SAYING WE NEED A FOOD
SYSTEM THAT REALLY WORKS AT THE
INTERSECTION OF THESE THREE CORE
VALUES THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM,
THIS IS SO BASIC IN MANY WAYS,
BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE NEED TO BE PRODUCING HEALTHY
FOOD.
WE NEED TO BE PROTECTING THE
ENVIRONMENT AND WE NEED TO
PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF FOOD
PRODUCERS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE IF IT IS LIKE A
THREE LEGGED STOOL IF ANY ONE OF
THE LEGS WERE TAKEN AWAY THE
STOOL WOULD NO LONGER STAND.
WE APPROACH THIS FROM
UNDERSTANDING THEN WE NEED ALL
THREE OF THOSE PIECES IN ORDER
TO BE ABLE TO FOOD THE FUTURE
AND HAVE A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM.
THESE ARE KIND OF THE
NONNEGOTIABLE'S AS I WOULD
DESCRIBE THEM.
WHAT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU IS WE
ARE SEEING INKLINGS OF A FOOD
SYSTEM THAT MEETS ALL OF THE
VALUES AT ONCE APPEARING AROUND
THE WORLD I HAVE SEEN IT FROM
MALAYSIA TO MALAWI TO BOLIVIA.
I HAVE SEEN IT IN PLACES AROUND
THE WORLD.
IT WOULD BE FLOURISHING MUCH
MORE WERE IT NOT FOR POWERFUL
FORCES MOUNTED AGAINST IT VERSES
THAT BATTLE THIS KIND OF FOOD
SYSTEM IN THE HALLS OF OUR
CONGRESS AND REGULATORY OFFICE
OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY.
EVEN ON YOUR FACEBOOK FEED AND
TWITTER STREAMS.
IT IS A BATTLE OVER REALLY OUR
HEARTS AND MINDS.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS PROGRESS FOR
FOOD.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS BAT WILL
OVER OUR HEARTS AND MINDS, I
REALLY SEE THERE ARE THREE KEY
QUESTIONS.
I AM GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH
EACH ONE, THAT WE NEED TO BE
ASKING AND REALLY GRAPPLING WITH
IF WE WANT TO CREATE THE
SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM.
ONE IS WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF
EATING?
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE ARE THE FOOD
IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES TO
GET US THERE, TO GET US TO THIS
KIND OF SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FOODS?
THE VERY SEEDS WE NEED TO
PROMOTE THE KIND OF FOOD SYSTEM
WE NEED TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS
WELL FED.
THIS FIRST QUESTION, WHAT IS THE
FUTURE OF EATING?
A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS AT A
CONFERENCE AT A NUMBER OF FOOD
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, AND ONE OF
THEM STOOD UP AND SAID, HE WAS
GIVING HIS REMARKS.
HE SAID WE ENVISION A DAY WHEN
IT WILL SEEM AS BIZARRE TO THE
CONSUMER TO COOK THEIR OWN FOOD
AS IT IS TO SEW THEIR OWN JEANS.
THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME THAT
COMMENT THAT'S THE VISION FOR
SOME FOOD EXECUTIVES.
CLEARLY NOT ALL OF THEM.
THAT'S THE VISION FOR THEIR
FUTURE OF EATING FOR THEM.
IT'S A VISION THAT IS CERTAINLY
PROFITABLE FOR THE INDUSTRY.
IF YOU AND I NO LONGER ARE
COOKING FOR OURSELVES AND WE ARE
TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON BUYING OUR
PROCESSED AND PACKAGED FOODS
FROM SOMEONE ELSE, AND IT IS
CERTAINLY THE DIRECTION WE HAVE
BEEN HEADING HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
I WAS TALKING RECENTLY WITH A
COLLEAGUE AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER
IN VERMONT.
SHE HAD GRADE SCHOOLERS COMING
TO HER AND SHE HAD TO TEACH THEM
HOW TO USE A FORK, SPOON AND A
KNIFE.
IF YOU HAVE A POP TART FOR
BREAKFAST A SLICE OF PIZZA AND
HAMBURG FOR DINNER YOU HAVE NOT
USED A SINGLE UTENSIL.
A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS INVITED
TO ATTEND A SESSION ON THE
FUTURE OF FOOD AT THE
HEADQUARTERS OF AIRBNB IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
IT WAS HOSTED BY A BUNCH OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE FUTURISTS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS A
PROFESSION.
IT IS.
YOU ARE IN BUSINESS SCHOOL SO
MAYBE YOU ALL ARE FUTURISTS.
THEY BROUGHT THESE EXPERTS
TOGETHER TO BRAINSTORM WHAT IS A
FUTURIST GROUP.
IN THIS FUTURIST LEXICON, MAYBE
YOU KNOW THIS, THEY TALK ABOUT
SIGNALS.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNALS AND SIGNS
THEY ARE SEEING, WHAT ARE THE
TRENDS THEY ARE SEEING?
ONE OF THE SIGNALS THEY
MENTIONED WAS SOYLENT.
YOU MAY HAVE INVESTORS OF
SOYLENT HERE.
I AM AWARE OF THAT.
SO HAVE YOU ALL HEARD OF IT?
I AM SEEING NODDING.
SOYLENT IS PRESENTED BY IT'S
MAKERS AS A WAY TO DISRUPT
EATING TO IMPROVE THE FOOD
SYSTEM THROUGH INNOVATION.
INNOVATIVE, I DON'T KNOW.
I TRIED IT.
I SMELLED IT.
I COULDN'T EVEN TRY IT.
IT'S ONLY 8 DEGREES FROM ENSURE
THE MEAL REPLACEMENT THAT HAS
BEEN ON THE MARKET FOREVER.
I AM NOT SO SURE THIS IS AN
INNOVATION.
YET WE LOOK ON THE RIGHT FOOD,
THAT IS FOOD.
THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE, THE
FUTURE OF FOOD MIGHT JUST BE
FOOD.
MIGHT BE ACTUALLY EATING REAL
FOOD AND NOT BEING DEPENDENT
UPON A MANUFACTURER TO MAKE A
PRODUCT LIKE SOYLENT.
SO THE SECOND QUESTION TO BE
ASKING IS THE QUESTION ABOUT
WHAT IS THE FUTURE -- DOES THE
FUTURE OF FARMING LOOK LIKE?
THIS IS MY MASH UP FOR THIS
QUESTION.
MY PICTURES ARE PIXILATED.
ON THE LEFT IS A DOW CHEMICAL
PRODUCT KNOWN IN THIS CASE
LORSBAN, THEY ARE BOTH
ESSENTIALLY INSECTICIDES.
WE HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED TO FEED THE FUTURE.
WE HEAR FROM CHEMICAL COMPANIES
SAYING COMMENTS LIKE IF YOU READ
THE CHAPTER YOU HEARD ME QUOTE
AN EXECUTIVE SAYING ORGANIC
FARMING NOT USING THOSE KIND OF
CHEMICALS IS A WASTE OF
AGRICULTURAL LAND WHEN THE WORLD
NEEDS MORE CROP OUTPUT.
INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE VIEWED THE
TECHNOLOGIES IN INDUSTRIAL
FARMING LIKE THESE AGRICULTURAL
CHEMICALS ARE NOT THAT HARMFUL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THEM.
THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR FROM
COMPANIES THEMSELVES AND TRADE
GROUPS, GROUPS LIKE CROP LICE
AMERICA USED TO BE KNOWN AS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURERS UNTIL THEY GOT
REALLY SMART BUSINESS STUDENTS
TO RE BRAND THEM AS CROP LICE.
WHAT DO THEY TELL US?
WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE
CHEMICALS.
TOXICAL PESTICIDES ARE AT THE
HEART OF AGRICULTURE AND HAVE
HUGE IMPACT.
THEY HAVE IMPACT ON FARMS
WORLDWIDE AND ECOSYSTEMS
WORLDWIDE.
A LOT OF THE PESTICIDES ONLY A
TINY FRACTION OF THEM ARE TAKEN
UP BY -- ACTUALLY USED ON THE
FARM ITSELF.
TRACES OF THESE CHEMICALS CAN BE
FOUND IN WATERWAYS AND OCEANS.
SOILS AND GRASSES RAIN FORESTS
IN SOUTH AMERICA TO THE ARCTIC
ICE.
WE KNOW FROM STUDIES DONE HERE
AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
BERKELEY WE HAVE LONG-TERM
STUDIES LOOKING AT FARM WORKERS
AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT SHOW
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE EXPOSED TO
AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES HAVE
HIGHER RATES OF ADHD, AUTISM,
CHILDREN HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL
DELAYS.
WE KNOW FROM MAJOR STUDIES THAT
HAVE BEEN DONE IN AGRICULTURAL
COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE THAT
FARMERS AND PESTICIDE
APPLICATORS HAVE HIGHER RATES OF
PARKINSON'S DISEASE CERTAIN
CANCERS AND OTHER ILLNESSES.
WE KNOW THESE THINGS.
CHLORPYRIFOS A WIDELY USED
INSECTICIDE HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE 1965.
WE HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES IT
DOESN'T JUST HURT THE INSECTS.
IT IS MEANT TO KILL.
IT EFFECTS HUMANS, TOO.
IN THE EARLY 2000'S WE BANNED
THIS PESTICIDE FROM MOST HOME
USE PRECISELY BECAUSE
RESEARCHERS FOUND IT ALARMING
FROM HOME.
CHANCES ARE YOUR COUNTRY DOESN'T
ALLOW THIS TO BE USED ON YOUR
FARM.
THE EPA HAS EVIDENCE THIS
INSECTICIDE CAUSES
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS IN
FETUSES AND CHILDREN.
THEY INCLUDE THE KINDS OF THINGS
MINUTED, LOWER IQ, ATTENTION
PROBLEMS, INCREASED RISK OF
AUTISM, SPECTRUM DISORDER, BUT
DESPITE THIS EVIDENCE THIS
INSECTICIDE IS STILL USED
WORLDWIDE IN ABOUT 100
COUNTRIES.
THE UNITED STATES IS STILL USED
VERY WIDELY.
6 MILLION POUNDS OF THE
CHEMICALS ARE USED EVERY YEAR ON
OVER 50 CROPS.
IT IS LOOKING LIKE THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION WITH THIS NEW EPA
HEAD WON'T TAKE THAT ANY TIME
SOON.
IN THIS MATCH UP BETWEEN
CHLORPYRIFOS ON ONE SIDE AND
CHILI ON THE OTHER.
I ATTENDED THE BIANNUAL MEETING
OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL
MOVEMENT.
A MOUTHFUL OF ASSOCIATION NAMES.
THEY ARE ACRONYM IS IFOAM WHICH
IS ALSO NOT A GREAT ACRONYM.
IT IS A GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF FARMING COMMUNITIES AND
ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL
SPECIALISTS.
I HEARD THE PORT AFTER THE PORT
OF STUDIES SHOWING NATURAL
INSECTICIDES.
NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO THIS
THING THAT WE KNOW IS HARMFUL.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I HEARD WAS
ABOUT CHILI.
ONE RESEARCHER TALKED ABOUT HIS
WORK WITH WEST AFRICAN FARMERS
HIS FIELD HAD BEEN DECIMATED BY
PESTS.
HIS TEAM DISCOVERED SOME OF THE
CHILIES THAT WERE NATIVE TO THE
REGION WERE A NATURAL REPELLENT
FOR THOSE PARTICULAR PESTS.
THEY TRIED AN EXPERIMENT GROWING
SOME CHILIES ON THE PERIMETER OF
THE FIELD CRUSHING THE CHILI
INTO A SPRAY USING IT ON THE
CROPS.
GUESS WHAT?
IT WORKED.
IT WORKED AND NO ONE HAD TO
WORRY THAT MAYBE THEIR CHILDREN
WOULD BECOME SICK, MAYBE THEY
WOULD GET CANCER, MAYBE THEY
WOULD HAVE ACUTE BOUT OF
PESTICIDE POISONING.
IT WORKED.
WE ARE HEARING EXAMPLES LIKE
THIS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
I SAW A STUDY RECENTLY OUT OF
EAST AFRICA BY A GROUP LOCALLY
THAT REPORTED ON A FARMER
NETWORK THERE USING NATURAL
PRACTICES AGAIN TO DEAL WITH
PESTS.
THE PRACTICE IS WIDELY USED IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD IS
CALLED THE PUSH PULL SYSTEM.
IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
FARMERS PLANT WILD GRASSES ALONG
SIDE THE CROPS THEY WANT TO
PROTECT.
PESTS ARE PULLED TOWARD THESE
DECOY PROPS AND IN THE CASE OF
THESE FARMERS IN EAST AFRICA THE
PESTS IGNORED THE CROPS AND
INSTEAD WENT FOR THE DECOYS.
THE RESULTS IN THIS STUDY 96,000
WERE BENEFITED.
FARMERS WERE SAVING ON COSTLY
INPUT.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE
QUALITIES ON THE RIGHT OF THIS
KIND OF NATURAL WAY OF FARMING
AS ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES ARE
CALLED OR ORGANIC FARMING
PROCESSES.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING WORLDWIDE THE
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THIS KIND OF
KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE FARMING TO
LOOK AT HOW TO PROMOTE BIO
DIVERSITY TO HAVE TREES IN THE
FARM AND OPEN POLLINATED SEEDS
AND SHARING SEEDS TO FOSTER
RESILIENCE IN THE PHASE OF
DROUGHT AND FLOOD.
TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS WITH
LESS ENERGY USED, LESS WATER AND
NO PESTICIDES.
I IMAGINE IF YOU ARE WITH ME SO
FAR, YOU SAY OKAY.
THE BENEFITS SOUND PRETTY
POSITIVE.
BUT WHEN I HEAR, WHEN I ASK WHAT
WORDS COME TO THEIR MIND,
TYPICALLY WHEN THEY HEAR THE
WORD ORGANIC OR THEY EVER HEAR
THE WORD AGRI ECOLOGY WHICH THEY
RARELY HAVE WHAT DO I HEAR IN
RESPONSE?
PEOPLE SAY THAT MIGHT BE NICE,
ANNA, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY
PROGRESS.
THAT'S NOT INNOVATION.
THAT'S KIND OF QUAINT ARTISANAL,
EXPENSIVE OR THEY DON'T REALLY
WANT TO WORK WITH TECHNOLOGY.
WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS WHAT
WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE SHIFTED
OUR NARRATIVE ABOUT THOSE MATCH
UPS BETWEEN CHLORPYRIFOS AND
CHILIES AND SOYLENTS IN REAL
FOOD AND SAW INSTEAD THAT THAT
CHEMICAL ARSENAL WE HAVE BEEN
USING FOR DECADES BY THE WAY IS
ANTIQUATED THAT IT ISN'T
PROGRESS OR INNOVATION, AND
INSTEAD WE STARTED TO SEE THAT
ORGANIC FARMING COULD BE THAT
KIND OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO
HAVE US THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT
OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS WE NEED
TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT DO WE
NEED BY TECHNOLOGY?
WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?
I THINK MANY PEOPLE ASSUME THAT
THE TECHNOLOGIES WE SEE TAKING
HOLD FLOURISH, EXPAND BECAUSE
THEY ARE THE BEST, THEY ARE THE
MOST EFFICIENT.
THAT'S WHY THEY ARE WINNING IN
THE MARKETPLACE.
BY THIS LOGIC CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE IS WINNING IN THE
MARKETPLACE BECAUSE IT MUST BE
BETTER THAN ORGANIC PRACTICES.
CHEMICAL AGRICULTURE MUST EXIST
BECAUSE FARMERS AREN'T MAKING
ALTERNATIVES WORK.
WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS THERE'S
A DIFFERENT STORY ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY AND THERE ARE ALWAYS
FORCES BEHIND A TECHNOLOGY'S
INTRODUCTION AND ITS SUCCESS.
THESE FORCES ARE NOT NEUTRAL.
ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS ON THIS
SUBJECT, HE WROTE A BOOK CALLED
"THE WHALE AND THE REACTOR" AND
HE PUTS IT THIS WAY.
TECHNOLOGIES, HE SAYS, EMBODY
SPECIFIC FORMS OF POWER AND
AUTHORITY.
HE WRITES, THERE IS AN ONGOING
SOCIAL PROCESS IN WHICH
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE,
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND
CORPORATE PROFITS REINFORCE EACH
OTHER IN DEEPLY ENTRENCHED
PATTERNS THAT BEAR THE
UNMISTAKABLE STAMP OF POLITICAL
AND ECONOMIC POWER.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE I WOULD SAY
IS NOT FLOURISHING FASTER AND
SPREADING WIDER IN PART BECAUSE
OF THE VESTED INTEREST IN IT THE
GLOBAL FOOD CORPORATIONS THAT
ARE THREATENED BY THIS WAY OF
FARMING.
THESE VESTED INTERESTS HAVE BEEN
AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTING CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE THROUGH LOBBYING,
ELECTED OFFICIALS, FIGHTING
REGULATIONS, BLOCKING RESEARCH.
SISTER FOR INSTANCE GLOBALLY
LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF ALL
RESEARCH DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN
SPENT HAVE GONE TO EXPLORING THE
BENEFITS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.
ONE OF THE CLEAREST EXAMPLES AND
BENEFITS WHEN IT COMES TO FOODS
IS THE SEEDING AND FARMING
PRACTICE PUSHED IN THE GLOBAL
SOUTH AND CALLED THE GREEN
REVOLUTION.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE STUDIED THE
GREEN REVOLUTION ALREADY?
JUST A HANDFUL OF YOU.
IT WAS FUNDED BY U.S.
FOUNDATIONS AND IT WAS FIRST
LAUNCHED IN MEXICO IN EARLY
1940'S AND BROUGHT TO INDIA AND
ASIA IN THE 1960'S.
IT IS DEVELOPMENT OF A PACKAGE
OF TECHNOLOGY.
IT WAS MAINLY WHEAT AND RICE
VARIETIES OF SEEDS THAT WERE
BRED TO BE HIGHLY RESPONSIVE TO
HAVE THE APPLICATIONS OF
FERTILIZER CAREFULLY CONTROLLED
IRRIGATION AND CHEMICAL
PESTICIDES.
THE TECHNOLOGY WAS INHERENTLY
SUPER CAPITAL INTENSIVE MEANING
THE HYBRID SEEDS HAD TO BE
PURCHASED EACH YEAR.
THEY WOULD LOSE WHAT WAS KNOWN
AS THEIR HYBRID VIGOR SO A
FARMER WOULDN'T JUST REPLANT
THEM.
YOU HAD TO KEEP BUYING THE
SEEDS.
ALSO CAPITAL INTENSIVE YOU HAD
TO GET A TRACTOR AND LAY DOWN
IRRIGATION.
THEY WERE MONDAY NO CULTURES.
YOU NEEDED A LOT OF LAND TO MAKE
IT EFFICIENT AND WORK.
WHILE THE GREEN REVOLUTION HAS
BEEN LAUDED AS A TRIUMPH IN KIND
OF ADDRESSING THIS QUESTION
ABOUT HOW TO FEED US ALL,
CRITICS HAVE ACTUALLY STRESSED
THE TECHNOLOGY THAT ACTUALLY
EXACERBATED FOOD AND SECURITY
AND THAT THE ORIGINAL GOALS WERE
NEVER TO SUPPORT SMALL SCALE
FARMING AND BIO DIVERSITIES WE
TALKED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING.
IN A REALLY FABULOUS BOOK WITH A
DRY TITLE "AMERICA'S FOUNDATION"
WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST MARK
DOWDY DIVES INTO THE ARCHIVES OF
THE PHILANTHROPY THAT FUNDED THE
GREEN REVOLUTION.
WHAT HE ARGUES IN THE BOOK
LOOKING AT THE ARCHIVES THE
MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS
TECHNOLOGY WAS GEOPOLITICAL.
THE PROGRAM BUILT THE POWER OF
LARGE LANDOWNERS UNDERMINING THE
PEASANT AND SOCIALIST MOVEMENT
THAT WERE MOBILIZING DURING THAT
PERIOD.
IN MEXICO, IN INDIA,
PHILIPPINES.
IT WAS SEEN AS A WAY TO
STABILIZE THESE REGIONS IN THE
FACE OF THE RED REVOLUTION OF
COMMUNISM AND THE WHITE
REVOLUTION WITH THE RISE OF THE
SHAW OF IRAN, THUS THE GREEN
REVOLUTION.
SO WHILE THE GREEN REVOLUTION
AND TECHNOLOGY INCREASED YIELDS
FOR THE FARMERS TO IMPLEMENT THE
PRACTICES, WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT
THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE INCREASE
IN FERTILIZER USE THERE WAS
INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN CAPITAL
DEPLOYED.
THE TOP LINE FERTILIZER WAS NOT
INCREASE IN CHEMICALS.
WE ALSO SAW MANY FARMERS WERE
INDEBTED.
WE SAW INCREASED FOREIGN
DEPENDENCY, DEPLETED WATER
TABLES AND TOPSOIL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND REALLY
FASCINATING IN MARK DOWDY'S BOOK
HE GOES INTO THE ARCHIVES AND HE
FOUND A HANDWRITTEN LETTER FROM
A UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
GEOGRAPHER TO THE ROCKEFELLER
FOUNDATION IN 1944 ABOUT THE
GREEN REVOLUTION.
IN THAT DOCUMENT THE GEOGRAPHER
SAID, BASICALLY WARNED AGAINST
THIS PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS TECHNOLOGY.
HE SAID, AGGRESSIVE AGRONOMISTS
AND PLANT BREEDERS COULD RUIN
THE RESOURCES FOR GOOD IN ALL BY
PUSHING THEIR COMMERCIAL STOCK.
MEXICAN AGRICULTURE CANNOT BE
POINTED TOWARD STANDARDIZATION
WITHOUT UP SETTING NATIVE
ECONOMY AND CULTURE HOPELESSLY.
UNLESS THE AMERICANS UNDERSTAND
THAT, THEY BETTER KEEP OUT OF
THIS COUNTRY ENTIRELY.
THIS MUST BE APPROACHED FROM AN
APPRECIATION OF THE NATIVE --
THAT THE NATIVE ECONOMIES ARE
BASICALLY SOUND.
INSTEAD OF HEEDING THESE
WARNINGS THE FUNDERS BROUGHT THE
GREEN REVOLUTION TO OTHER
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND
ONE OF THE PLACES THAT THEY
BROUGHT THIS GREEN REVOLUTION
TO, THIS TECHNOLOGY TO WAS THE
PUNJAB IN INDIA.
WHEN MY MOTHER AND I WERE
WRITING THE BOOK THAT WAS ONE OF
THE PLACES THAT WE WENT TO SEE
IN PART THE IMPACT OF THE GREEN
REVOLUTION BUT TO ALSO SEE THE I
AM MER AGAINST OF ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE.
WE WERE DRAWN THERE TO MEET WITH
FARMERS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
THE POSTER CHILDREN OF THIS
TECHNOLOGY AT WORK.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS DAY WE
SPENT HEARING TESTIMONY FROM
FARMERS IN THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY
COLORED TURBANS AND A
BEAUTIFULLY COLORED CLOTHING
TALKING TO US ABOUT WHAT THEY
HAVE EXPERIENCED.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS PACKAGE
THAT THEY WERE TOLD WOULD HELP
FEED THEM AND THE HYBRIDS, THE
FERTILIZER, THE IRRIGATION AND
THE CHEMICALS.
THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAD
HAPPENED IN THEIR REGION.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THEIR WATER
TABLES HAVE BEEN DECIMATED HOW
THEIR SOIL HAD BEEN DAMAGED
ABOUT HOW FARMERS HAD BECOME SO
INDEBTED TO THIS CAPITAL
INTENSIVE WAY OF FARMING.
THEY TOLD US ABOUT NEIGHBORS
ACTUALLY GOING WHO WERE SO
INDEBTED AND SAW NO HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOING INTO
THEIR FIELDS AND DRINKING THE
VERY PESTICIDES THAT HAD SO
INDEBTED THEM TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
AT THE END OF ONE OF THESE DAYS
OF TESTIMONY WE ACTUALLY
RETREATED TO A SMALL HUT THAT
HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SHADE, AND
WE WERE TALKING SOME MORE WITH
THESE FARMERS THAT WERE TELLING
US THEIR STORIES.
IT WAS AN ALL MALE GROUP OF
FARMERS.
BEGINNING THIS CONVERSATION TO
BE HONEST THEY WERE LOOKING AT
US SUSPICIOUSLY.
WE WERE FOREIGNERS, WE WERE
WOMEN.
THEY WERE SHARING WITH US WHAT
THEY WERE EXPERIENCING AND TO
TRY TO TELL US TO THINK
DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW THEY WERE
FARMING.
WE GOT TO THE SUBJECT OF TRADE
POLICY AND I OFFHANDEDLY
MENTIONED I HAD BEEN TO THE WCO
MARCHES IN SEATTLE.
I DIDN'T MENTION THE LESBIAN
AVENGERS.
AS SOON AS I SAID THAT THE
FARMERS ALL KIND OF SHIFTED HOW
THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME AND ONE
OF THE FARMERS, HIS FACE KIND OF
BRIGHTENED UP AND HE SAID, YOU
WERE THERE?
I SAID, YEAH.
I WAS IN THE STREETS.
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAW
THAT NEWS, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
WE EVER KNEW THAT THERE WERE
PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY WHO
ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD.
I THINK BACK AT MY MOMENT OF
EPIPHANY IN THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE.
EVEN THEN I KIND OF SECRETLY
WONDERED WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS
THIS ALL MAKING, REALLY ALL OF
THIS MARCHING IN THE STREET AND
THE BANNER HANGING AND ALL OF
THAT.
I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT THAT I
WOULD LEARN ABOUT ONE OF THOSE
WAYS IN WHICH THAT DEMONSTRATION
WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE SITTING
IN THAT HUT IN THE PUNJAB.
TO REALLY LISTEN TO THE FARMERS
IS TO SEE THESE TECHNOLOGIES,
ARE THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE NEED
TO BE INVESTING IN.
THE NEXT BIG QUESTION THEN, I
THINK, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SEEDS?
I HAVE ONE MORE MATCH UP FOR US.
THAT IS THIS.
ON THE LEFT WE HAVE A BAG OF
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SEEDS AND
ON THE RIGHT A SEED EXCHANGE
LATIN AMERICA OF MANY, MANY
VARIETIES OF CORN.
SO WHAT ARE WE HEARING ABOUT HOW
ARE WE GOING TO FEED THE FUTURE?
ON THE ONE HAND ONE OF THE
STORIES WE HEAR IS THE
INNOVATION OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY
GENETIC ENGINEERING.
IT WAS APPROVED IN THIS COUNTRY
IN 1982.
BY 1999 WE HAD ABOUT 100 MILLION
ACRES OF FARMLAND DEDICATED TO
GMO'S.
TO DATE ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PRODUCERS OF GMO'S IS MONSANTO.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER
COMPANIES.
IT IS A HIGHLY CONSOLIDATED
INDUSTRY.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN
INNOVATION IS TO UNDERSTAND IT
HAS BEEN ABOUT ENGINEERING FOR A
COUPLE OF TRAITS OR LAYERING ON
THOSE TRAITS.
SO IT IS ONE OR THE OTHER OR
MULTIPLE.
WHAT DO THOSE TRAITS TO?
ON THE ONE HAND ONE TYPE OF
TRAIT THAT HAS BEEN ENGINEERED
IS TO ENGINEER SOME SEEDS WITH A
GENE FROM A SOIL BACTERIUM
CAUSING THE SEED TO PRODUCE
PROTEIN TOXIN TO DESTROY
INSECTS.
THE OTHER TYPE OF TRADE WE HAVE
SEEN IS SEEDS ENGINEERED TO BE
HERBICIDE RESISTANT.
IN THE CASE OF MONSANTO PRODUCT
RESISTANT TO ROUNDUP ALSO KNOWN
AS GLYPHOSATES.
IF YOU PLANT WITH THAT
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SEED THAT
HAS THAT TRAIT OF RESISTANCE YOU
CAN SPRAY GLYPHOSATES, YOU PULL
THE SEEDS HOPEFULLY, YOU WON'T
HURT YOUR CROPS.
WE HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY THAT
HAS BEEN PUSHING THESE SEEDS
THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY
HAVE BEEN PROMOTING THEM, THIS
IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE.
WE NEED THIS GENETIC
ENGINEERING.
THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF TRADES
THAT HAVE BEEN COMMERCIALIZED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT SEEDS ARE
BEING ENGINEERED THEY ARE NOT
FOOD WE ARE EATING DIRECTLY AT
LEAST.
IN 2013 FOR INSTANCE MONSANTO,
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SEED SALES
87 PERCENT OF THEIR SEED SALES
CAME FROM CORN, SOYBEANS AND
COTTON.
BUT ALSO WE HEAR FROM THEM THAT
THESE SEEDS, WE NEED THEM
BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE OTHER
ARGUMENTS FOR THEM?
THEY ARE GOING TO PRODUCE MORE.
THEY ARE GOING TO YIELD MORE.
THEREFORE THEY WILL HAVE A
SMALLER FOOTPRINT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE YIELD
RECORD SO FAR AND WE HAVE A LOT
OF YIELD RECORD IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT HAVE WE SEEN?
IT IS PRETTY UNDER WHELMING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE
INDUSTRY SAYS COMPANIES LIKE
MONSANTO ARGUE FOR CORN FROM
1986 TO 2008 CORN YIELDS SHOT UP
28 PERCENT.
THAT'S ONE OF THEIR CLAIMS.
BUT REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
DATA IT'S A CASE OF CONFUSING
CORRELATION WITH CAUSATION.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT YES, IN THIS
COUNTRY YIELDS DID GO UP.
THEY WENT UP FOR A LOT OF CROPS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AND
YOU LOOK AT WHY THE YIELDS WENT
UP VERY LITTLE OF THAT YIELD
INCREASE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING AND HOW
IT DEALS WITH OTHER THINGS IN
THIS COUNTRY.
WE PASSED LEGISLATION TO
ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO ADOPT MORE
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.
WE DID A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN
CONVENTIONAL BREEDING THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH GENETIC
ENGINEERING.
ONE STUDY TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT
ARGUES THE YIELD INCREASE YOU
CAN ATTRIBUTE TO GENETIC
ENGINEERING WAS JUST 4 PERCENT
OVER THAT TIME.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE PROBLEMS.
THE PROBLEMS OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT
WEED RESISTANCE TO GMO'S.
A FEW OF YOU.
IN 2012 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
TOOK A LOOK AT THIS.
THEY FOUND 60 MILLION ACRES IN
THE UNITED STATES NOW ARE
INFESTED WITH WEEDS THAT ARE
RESISTANCE TO GLYPHOSATES A
HERBICIDE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
USE WITH THE GENETICALLY I THINK
NEAR -- ENGINEERED SEEDS.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
LOOKED AT GLYPHOSATES AND
DETERMINING GLYPHOSATES ARE A
PROBABLE CARCINOGEN.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAS THE
INTRODUCTION OF GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED SEEDS DONE IT
ENCOURAGED FARMERS TO SPRAY
GLYPHOSATES.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THEIR
CROPS SO THERE HAVE BEEN AN
INCREASE IN GLYPHOSATES.
THIS SLIDE TAKES US TO 2012.
YOU CAN SEE WHEN THE GLYPHOSATES
RESISTED CORN AND SOYBEANS WERE
INTRODUCED AND HOW MUCH
GLYPHOSATES WE HAVE BEEN USING.
I HAVE GOT THIS MASH UP.
WHAT ABOUT NONGENETICALLY
ENGINEERED SEEDS?
ARE THEY ACTUALLY -- IS THIS
SORT OF THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE
BECAUSE NONGENETICALLY
ENGINEERED SEEDS GOING TO HELP
US?
WE ARE LOOKING AT EVIDENCE FROM
AROUND THE WORLD OF FARMERS THAT
ARE ADOPTING AGO CURE LOGICAL
PROCESSES.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN SHARE
SEEDS AND REUSE SEEDS.
THEY ARE FINDING YIELDS ARE
GOING UP.
ONE STUDY OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF ESSEX IN THE U.S. WHEN THEY
TURNED TO PROCESSES YIELDS ARE
GOING UP 116 PERCENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE IN THESE
SEEDS THAT WE ARE SEEING.
AGAIN WE ARE SEEING IT IN
EVIDENCE ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
THE FINAL THING I WILL SAY ON
THIS IS THAT ONE OF THE OTHER
CLAIMS ABOUT GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED SEEDS IS THEY ARE
GOING TO PRODUCE MORE NUTRITIOUS
CROPS, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD
THIS, VITAMIN A IS A MAJOR
GLOBAL HEALTH PROBLEM MAYBE WE
CAN GENETICALLY ENGINEER SEEDS
TO MORE VITAMIN A.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS
PROMISE FOR A LONG TIME, WHAT WE
ARE SEEING AGAIN ON THE GROUND
ARE COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY GROWING
FOOD.
THAT'S HIGH IN VITAMIN A.
THAT'S ADDRESSING VITAMIN A
DEFICIENCY.
A REPORT CAME OUT FROM THE
ALLIANCE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN
AFRICA DOCUMENTING 55 KEY
STUDIES ACROSS AFRICA OF
AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ON THE
GROUND THAT ARE PRODUCING MORE
NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND HIGHER YIELD
AND HELPING FARMERS NOT HAVE TO
PAY SO MUCH FOR INPUT.
WHAT I AM ASKING US TO DO WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING
TO FEED THE FUTURE IS TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THIS IDEA
OF WHAT IS INNOVATION AND WHAT
IS TECHNOLOGY?
TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS OF ANY
NEW TECHNOLOGY OF THE FOLKS YOU
ARE GOING TO SEE NEXT WEEK FOR
FOLKS COMING UP IN INNOVATION OF
THE FOOD PHASE DOES IT PROMOTE
HEALTH FOOD PRODUCER WELL-BEING
AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT?
WHO BENEFITS?
WHO LOSES?
DOES IT INCREASE OR DECREASE
POWER FOR FARMERS?
ARE THERE INDIANA TENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE
TALK THAT I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS
TO REPORT.
I DO.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS
MESSAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF
AGROECOLOGY IS TAKING ROOT.
AGAIN WE ARE SEEING THE EVIDENCE
IN STUDYING FROM AROUND THE
WORLD, THE MOST SEMINOLE ONE IS
A STUDY CALLED THE -- I WANT TO
KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD
OF THIS ONE INTERNATIONAL
ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY FOR
DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE TO READ MY NOTES.
I CAN NEVER REMEMBER THE TITLE
OF THIS REPORT.
IT IS KNOWN BY THE ACRONYM
IAASTD WHICH IS A TERRIBLE
ACRONYM UNLESS YOU ARE WRITING
ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMISSION
DISEASES.
HAS ANY ONE EVER HEARD OF THE
IAASTD REPORT OR ITCC FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE?
IAASTD THIS IS OUR REPORT FOR
FOOD OF WHAT ITCC IS FOR
CLIMATE.
IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE WORLD
BANK AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
IT WAS PRODUCED BY 900 EXPERTS
FOR 110 COUNTRIES.
ONE OF THE BIG CONCLUSIONS IS
THAT IF WE PERSIST WITH BUSINESS
AS USUAL, THE WORLD'S PEOPLE
CANNOT BE FED OVER THE NEXT HALF
CENTURY.
IT WILL MEAN MORE ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION AND THE GAPS BETWEEN
THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS WILL
EXPAND.
THEY SAID IN THE REPORT WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MARSHALL OUR
INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES TO AVOID
THAT SORT OF FUTURE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRANSFORM
BUSINESS AS USUAL?
IT MEANS INVESTING IN THE KIND
OF INNOVATIONS I AM TALKING
ABOUT.
IT MEANS SEEING THINGS LIKE WE
ARE SEEING ON A HUGE SCALE
AROUND THE COUNTRY LIKE AN
(INDISCERNIBLE) IN 2004
COMMUNITY GROUPS STARTED A PILOT
STUDY TEACHING 300,000 FARMERS
HOW TO USE NATURAL APPROACH TO
PESTICIDES.
THEY WERE TAUGHT THE NATURAL
ALTERNATIVES AND REPLACED THESE
NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO TOXIC
INSECTICIDES.
THE RESULT IS THE DEALS HAVE
BEEN GOING UP AND KEPT THE PESTS
AWAY AND FARMERS ARE SPENDING
LESSON CHEMICALS.
TODAY THAT PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED
TO ROUGHLY 1 MILLION FARMERS
ACROSS 1 MILLION IN THE STATE.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS
AGROTECHNOLOGY IS NOT UNIQUE,
BUT I AM GUESSING YOU MAY BE
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY EVEN
THE TERM AGROECOLOGY.
MAYBE NOT YOU BECAUSE YOU GO TO
THE UNIVERSITY WITH THE WORLD
LEADING A AGRICULTURE EXPERTS.
HOW NANNY OF YOU HEARD OF THIS.
YOU ARE AN UNREPRESENTED TOTAL
OF THE NATION.
OUT OF CURIOSITY, I SEARCHED THE
NEW YORK TIMES TO SEE IF THERE
WAS ANY MENTION OF AGROECOLOGY
IN THAT PAPER OF RECORDS IT
LIKELY WON'T SHOCK YOU THERE
HAVE BEEN 14 MENTIONS OF THE
WORD AGROECOLOGY MOST WERE IN
VOWS OR OBITUARIES OF THE PLACE
WHO WORKED AT THE CENTER OF
AGROECOLOGY.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MARK
BITTMAN ARTICLES IN THERE.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE ARTICLE THAT
HAD ANY SUBSTANTIVE MENTION OF
AGROECOLOGY.
IAASTD REPORT WE DISCUSSED IT
MOST OF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT.
THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
MOST TIMES NOBODY HAS HEARD OF
IT.
AGAIN NONE OF THAT IS A
SURPRISE.
THE IAASTD REPORT WAS SIGNED 57
COUNTRIES, BUT NOT THE UNITED
STATES.
THE IAASTD REPORT WAS ENDORSED
BY A LEADING AGRICULTURAL EXPERT
ALL AROUND THE WORLD BUT IT WAS
CONDEMNED BY THE CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY WHEN THEY
REALIZED WHAT THE EVIDENCE WOULD
LEAD TO WOULD BE A STORY WE NEED
TO BE MOVING AWAY FROM CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE.
IN FACT IN AN ABSOLUTELY
OUTRAGED OPINION PIECE IN THE
ECONOMIST, A COUPLE CHEMICAL
COMPANIES AND CROP LIFE
INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNED THE
REPORT AS BEING MISLEADING.
IT IS NOT THAT THESE STORIES, WE
ARE NOT HEARING THEM BECAUSE
THIS MOVE AM WAS MARGINAL.
WE ARE NOT HEARING THEM BECAUSE
OF THE KIND OF PRESSURE WE ARE
GETTING TO TELL A DIFFERENT
STORY.
SO WHAT I LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE
GETTING OUR STORIES ABOUT FOOD,
HOW THAT NARRATIVE IS GETTING
BUILT, THERE'S MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS BEING SPENT TO SHAPE
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT FOOD.
THE INDUSTRY IS SPENDING
MILLIONS ON PUBLIC RELATIONS
EFFORTS, TRADE GROUPS ARE AS
WELL.
I WILL MENTION ONE EXAMPLE OF
THIS A FEW YEARS AGO THE
BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
ORGANIZATION, THE TRADE GROUP
REPRESENTING THE GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED SEED COMPANIES HIRED
PR KETCHUM TO HELP DEVELOP THEIR
IMAGE.
GMO ANSWERS.
YOU GO TO THE SITE IT LOOKS LIKE
EXPERTS WEIGHING IN ON BIG
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IS MANY
OF THE EXPERTS WERE STAFFED AT
MONSANTO.
MANY HAD DIRECT TIES, FINANCIAL
TIES TO THE INDUSTRY.
THE KETCHUM BRAGGED ABOUT HOW
GREAT THIS CAMPAIGN WAS WHEN
THEY ALSO SAID THEY WOULD GO ON
TO TWITTER AND USE ALGORITHMS TO
LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT GMO'S.
IF YOU HOSTED A CONCERN ABOUT
GMO'S OR SOMETHING CRITICAL THEY
WOULD DIRECT MESSAGE YOU TO GO
LOOK AT GMO ANSWERS TO GET YOUR
ANSWERS WITHOUT SAYING... THIS
WAS PAID FOR BY THE BIOTECH
INDUSTRY.
SO DESPITE THIS KIND OF MEDIA
BLACKOUTS ABOUT THIS MOVEMENT, I
AM REALLY SEEING, AND THIS IS
WHERE THE HOPE COMES IN, I AM
SEEING THIS MOVEMENT REALLY
EMERGING ALL AROUND THE WORLD
WHEN I WAS (INDISCERNIBLE) I WAS
HEARING AMAZING STORIES ABOUT
LAVALE CAMPUS.
IT COUNTS 164 LOCAL AND NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS FROM 73 COUNTRIES
REPRESENTING 200 MILLION
FARMERS.
WHEN I WAS IN ISTANBUL I MET
PEOPLE LIKE GABRIELLA SOTA FROM
COSTA RICA WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT
5,000 FARMERS THERE REALIZING
LOWER COSTS.
I MET ANOTHER FROM FIJI WHO
DESCRIBED THE MOVEMENT IN HER
ISLAND NATION TO GO 100 PERCENT
ORGANIC.
I MET PEOPLE AFTER PEOPLE WHO
WERE REALLY SHARING THESE
STORIES.
AND WHAT I WAS HEARING WAS THIS
MESSAGE, AND I AM HEARING THE
OTHER PIECE OF HOPE I AM HERE TO
SAY THIS MESSAGE WE ARE NOT
HEARING ONLY IN THE HALLS OF THE
ORGANIC FARMING MOVEMENT
SUMMITS.
WE ARE HEARING IT IN MAINSTREAM
MEDIA, TOO.
THIS QUOTE MANY PEOPLE WILL TELL
YOU ORGANIC FOOD IS JUST FOR
RICH PEOPLE, THAT IT IS NOT AN
ECONOMICAL WAY TO APPROACH
AGRICULTURE, IT CAN'T FEED THE
WORLD.
GUESS WHAT, NONE OF THAT IS
TRUE.
YOU KNOW WHERE I HEARD THAT?
IT WASN'T IN ONE OF MY MOTHER'S
BOOKS.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ON CNBC WITH
THIS GUY, JIM CRAMER, THE
INVESTOR.
SO I THINK WHEN JIM CRAMER
STARTS SOUNDING LIKE THE
INSTITUTE FOR FOOD AND
DEVELOPMENT POLICY MAYBE WE ARE
STARTING TO MAINSTREAM THIS
MESSAGE A LITTLE BIT.
SO IN CLOSING WHAT I WANT TO SAY
IS I THINK WHEN WE ARE PONDERING
THESE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO FEED THE FUTURE,
THAT TO DO SO WE MUST WORK ON
KIND OF BUSTING OUR MYTHOLOGIES
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, REALLY LOOKING
AT THE CONSOLIDATED POWER THAT
PUSHES ONE FORM OF TECHNOLOGY
OVER ANOTHER.
AND BUILD THE KIND OF SUPER
POWER THAT I SAW IN THE SEATTLE
STREETS.
WHAT I AM SEEING AND WHAT IS SO
ENCOURAGING IS PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD ARE DOING JUST THAT.
THEY ARE CALLING FOR A NEW
DIRECTION ONE THAT RAISES
AGROECOLOGY AT ITS HEART.
AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS
TALK, I WAS ACTUALLY LAST WEEK
IN A RALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA AT
THE INAUGURAL SUMMIT OF A NEW
ALLIANCE OF FOOD MOVEMENT
ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
IT IS CALLED HEAL FOOD ALLIANCE
FOR THE ACRONYM HEALTH,
ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE AND
LABOR.
IT BRINGS TOGETHER GROUPS
WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
THERE WERE NEARLY 100 OF US FROM
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE YOUNGEST WAS 15 THE OLDEST
75.
THERE WERE BLACK FARMERS FROM IT
THE SOUTH, ORGANIZERS FROM THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA THERE WERE
LATINO AND MUSLIM AMERICANS,
SOUTH ASIAN, WHITE AND BLACK.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT CONTRAST
THAT EXPERIENCE WITH THAT
GATHERING AMONG THE FUTURISTS AT
AIRBNB HEADQUARTERS.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL IN A
WAY THAT THAT HEAL FOOD ALLIANCE
SUMMIT WAS MY SIGNAL OF THE
FUTURE, THAT TO ME THOSE PEOPLE
IN THAT ROOM REALLY REPRESENT
THE KIND OF DIVERSITY OF
MOVEMENTS THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR
A FUTURE OF FOOD THAT HAS
PRODUCERS AT THE CENTER THAT
INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE WHO LABOR
ACROSS THE FOOD CHAINS.
A KIND OF FOOD SYSTEM THAT
PROMOTES A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
AND HAS ALL OF US FED NOT AN
INDUSTRIAL PRO CUED CONCOCTION
BUT FED ON REAL HEALTHY AND
DELICIOUS FOOD.
WHEN I LIE AWAKE IN BED AT NIGHT
WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
FOOD, I NEED ONLY THINK OF THE
PEOPLE I SAW IN ISTANBUL, THE
VOICES I HEARD AROUND THE WORLD
PROMOTING AGROECOLOGY AND THE
FACES IN THAT 100 PERSON LARGE
CIRCLE IN A HOTEL ON THE
OUTSKIRTS OF RALLY TO REMEMBER
WHERE THE REAL ANSWERS LIE.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
MAN: THANK YOU ANNA.
HOW ABOUT A FEW QUESTIONS?
WOMAN: YEAH, SURE.
MAN: I HAVE GOT SOME WRITTEN
DOWN HERE.
COME SIT OVER HERE.
HAVE A GLASS OF WATER.
COURTESY OF ALICE WATERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT WAS REALLY COMPELLING.
I FEEL GRATEFUL YOU ARE OUT
TRACKING SIGNALS, AND I THINK
FOR THIS CLASS, IT IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
KNOW WHICH SIGNALS TO PAY
ATTENTION TO AND ALSO TO BEGIN
TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ACTIONS
EITHER CAN REINFORCE A SIGNAL
UNKNOWINGLY OR HOW WE CAN
INTENTIONALLY LOOK AT THE
SIGNALS TO GET TO THE THREE
LEGGED STOOL OF SUSTAINABLE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
JASON BLOCK, ARE YOU HERE
TONIGHT, JASON?
IS WHERE ARE YOU, JASON?
YOU ARE BUSTED.
ANYWAY, YOU HAD A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
JASON, HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY
DISCERN TRUTH AND FICTION WITH
REGARD TO FOOD?
WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHERE YOU
SWITCHED YOUR FOOD TRUTH?
WOMAN: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION
ESPECIALLY IN THIS AGE OF FAKE
NEWS.
MAN: ALTERNATIVE FACTS.
WOMAN: ALTERNATIVE FACTS.
OH MY GOD.
I THINK I AM JUST A NATURALLY
CURIOUS PERSON AND I CONSTANTLY
ASK QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE REALLY
TRIED -- YOU CAN'T HEAR ME?
THAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO IS
CONSTANTLY CLUTCH ON MY OWN
ASSUMPTIONS.
WE ALL NEED TO DO THAT.
PART OF THE WAY I DO THAT IS
TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO I MIGHT
NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH.
--
MAN: WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE WILL KEEP GOING.
WOMAN: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, ALWAYS, WHENEVER YOU
READ SOMETHING, DIG, WHO SAID
IT?
DO THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF
INTEREST?
WHAT CAN YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM?
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS MY
COLLEAGUES AND I DID A REPORT A
COUPLE YEARS AGO CALLED SPINNING
FOOD.
IT WAS ABOUT ESSENTIALLY THIS
WHOLE UNIVERSE, HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLAR UNIVERSE THAT
WAS BEING SPENT TO CREATE
ESSENTIALLY FAKE ORGANIZATIONS,
FRONT GROUPS.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SOUND LIKE
THEY ARE WORKING FOR PUBLIC
INTERESTS, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY
FUNDED BY CHEMICAL AGRICULTURE
OR CORPORATE INTERESTS.
SO GROUPS LIKE THE COALITION FOR
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE FOODS.
YOU MIGHT THINK YOU CAN GO TO
THEM AND THEY MIGHT HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD BE SAFE
FOOD.
WELL, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME
DIGGING, BUT THE INTERNET MAKES
DIGGING POSSIBLE.
YOU WOULD LEARN THAT THE
COALITION FOR SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE FOOD IS ACTUALLY
FUNDED BY PROPONENTS OF CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE TO TRY TO PUSH BACK
AGAINST REGULATION ESPECIALLY IN
THIS STATE AROUND CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST ALWAYS ASK
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE
STORY.
THAT'S PART OF MY BEING
TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE I AM
COMING FROM.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IN THE
WORLD OF REAL FOOD MEDIA WE TAKE
NO CORPORATE DONATIONS, BECAUSE
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY
BE IMPARTIAL BUT BE PERCEIVED AS
IMPARTIAL.
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SOURCES AND
ALWAYS CONTINUE TO ASK
QUESTIONS.
ONE OF MY -- I HAD A BIG MOMENT
GOING TO SEE THE FATHER OF A
GREAT MOMENT SPEAK AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY.
I WENT.
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT HE WOULD
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS
TECHNOLOGY.
HE WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW
DO YOU RESPOND TO THE FACT THAT
INCREASED SOCIAL INEQUALITY?
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE FACT
THAT INCREASED CHEMICAL
PESTICIDE USE.
ESSENTIALLY HIS RESPONSE AROUND
THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDE USE AND
ILLNESSES AND SICKNESS, HE SAID,
PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY GETTING ANY
SICKER.
PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO DETECT THE
PARTS PER MILLION, PARTS PER
BILLION OF CHEMICAL RESIDUES BUT
IT IS NOT ACTUALLY PEOPLE BEING
MORE SICK.
GOING TO THE SOURCES, REALLY
CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING YOUR OWN
ASSUMPTIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
MAN: THERE WAS A FAMOUS RUSSIAN
MYSTIC NAMED GEORGE GURDJIEFF.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF HIM?
HE WAS A PHILOSOPHER AND HE SORT
OF TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING IN
A WAKING SLEEP, THAT WE GO
THROUGH OUR LIVES ALMOST
AUTOMATICALLY WITH SO MANY OF
OUR CHOICES AND DECISIONS, AND
HE CREATED ALL KINDS OF
EXERCISES FOR PEOPLE TO HELP
WAKE THEM UP TO THIS.
I THINK ABOUT OUR KIND OF
AUTOMATION OF FOOD AND THAT
VISION THAT YOU GAVE OF THE FOOD
EXECUTIVE LIKE EVERYTHING WILL
JUST BE MADE FOR US.
HOW DO YOU -- YOU THOUGHT A LOT
ABOUT THIS.
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS OR
SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR
PEOPLE JUST TO WAKE UP IN THEIR
OWN LIVES TO KIND OF CHECKING
THEIR AUTOMATION ABOUT THEIR
CHOICES WHERE WE MAY BE
PARTICIPATING IN FURTHERING A
FOOD SYSTEM THAT WE DON'T REALLY
WANT TO HAVE?
WOMAN: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE
FOLKS FROM DENMARK BUT WE IN THE
BAY AREA ARE FORTUNATE IN THAT
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH
WE CAN DIRECTLY CONNECT TO FOOD
WORKERS AND PRODUCERS IN WAYS
THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONLY FOR
THOSE OF US WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO
SO.
SO ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN KIND
OF WAKE OURSELVES UP IS TO
CONNECT OURSELVES TO REAL FOOD
HOWEVER AND WHENEVER WE CAN, AND
TO ALSO AGAIN PUSH OURSELVES TO
HAVE SOME EXPERIENCES GOING TO
THE FARM, GETTING IN THE DIRT,
GETTING CONNECTED WITH WHERE
EVERYBODY IS COMING FROM.
GETTING INVOLVED IS A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES LOCALLY TO GET
INVOLVED WITH ALSO FOOD
PREPARATIONS.
THERE'S A WONDERFUL GROUP CALLED
THE PEOPLE'S KITCHEN COLLECTIVE
THAT DOES HUGE COMMUNAL FREE
MEALS.
IT IS A FABULOUS WAY AGAIN TO
CONNECT TO EACH OTHER BUT ALSO
REAL FOOD TO PREPARING FOOD.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT --
MAN: REAL FOOD MEDIA WOULD GIVE
US SUGGESTIONS.
MAN: REAL FOOD MEDIA IS A WAY TO
GET CONNECTED TO US.
MAN: NEXT WEEK ONE OF THE
READINGS IS CALLED "THE FUTURE
OF FOOD IS FOOD" WRITTEN BY
STEVE CASE.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A READING I
WROTE NEXT WEEK WHICH TALKS
ABOUT HOW TWO FORMER BERKELEY
STUDENTS STARTED REVOLUTION FOOD
TO FEED SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THE THIRD READING IS REALLY FROM
MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW WHICH
GIVES AN OVER VIEW OF ALL OF THE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE COMING
INTO THE WORLD OF FOOD.
MAN: WHAT I HOPE IS CLEAR, I
HOPE WAS CLEAR FROM THE TALK WAS
THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT ANTI
TECHNOLOGY.
WE NEED TO BE SURE TECHNOLOGY
GETS VETTED IN OUR SOCIAL
VALUES.
NOT JUST -- THAT'S THE VALUES OF
WHAT KIND OF FOOD WE WANT.
PASSING THE LITMUS TEST AND THE
SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT
MEETS THOSE VALUES.
IF NOT RETHINK IT.
MAN: THANK YOU ANNA LAPPE FOR
BEING HERE.
(APPLAUSE)
ONE OF ANNA'S STORIES REMINDED
ME ABOUT KETCHUM.
THERE'S ANOTHER LARGE PUBLIC
RELATIONS AGENCY, I WON'T
MENTION THE NAME RIGHT NOW, THAT
ACTUALLY HAD A REAL DILEMMA
WHERE ONE PART OF THEIR PRACTICE
WAS WORKING ON HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING AND PROMOTING THE
PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES,
AND ANOTHER PART OF THEIR
PRACTICE WAS ACTUALLY PROMOTING
THE COMPANIES THAT WERE CREATING
THE PRODUCTS THAT CAUSED THOSE
DISEASES.
IT CREATED A BIT OF A KIND OF
INTERNAL CULTURAL CONFLICT,
BECAUSE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
WANT TO WORK IN A PLACE WHERE
THEIR VALUES ALIGN WITH THEIR
PLACE OF WORK.
THIS IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY
IMPORTANT.
AND I WAS REALLY MOVED AND
INSPIRED WHEN I MET SOPHIE EGAN
WHEN SHE WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT.
I WAS WORKING ON A PROJECT
CALLED "FOOD AT WORK" TO EXPLORE
THE ROLE OF FOOD IN THE
WORKPLACE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF EMPLOYERS TO THINK ABOUT
FOSTERING HEALTHY EMPLOYEES AND
A MORE PRODUCTIVE WORK FORCE AND
LESS MEDICAL COSTS DOWN THE LINE
BY ACTUALLY INTEGRATING AND
EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT FOOD AND
MAKING IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO EAT
FOOD AT WORK.
SOPHIE PLAYED A REALLY KEY ROLE
IN US ARTICULATING THE NARRATIVE
OF THAT STORY.
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND
WHAT I TAKE AWAY FROM IT BOTH OF
OUR SPEAKERS TODAY IS JUST THE
POWER OF THE NARRATIVE TO BE
WELL RESEARCHED, TO BE FACT
BASED, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
YOUR A CERTIFICATIONS AND TO LET
YOUR CURIOSITY GUIDE YOU.
WHEN I WAS READING YOUR BOOK,
ANNA, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY
YOUR SENSE OF CURIOSITY, YOUR
OPTIMISM.
YOU DON'T SPEAK WITH
CONDEMNATION.
YOU ARE REALLY TRYING TO OFFER
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS, AND I THINK
ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE COMES
OUT OF EDIBLE EDUCATION IS THAT
OUR STUDENTS FEEL EMPOWERED AND
TO DEVELOP SOME OF THE KIND OF
SKILLFUL MEANS AROUND THE
NARRATIVE.
THIS IS A SEGUE TO INVITE SOPHIE
TO THE PODIUM.
SOPHIE EGAN IS THE AUTHOR OF
"DEVOURED."
IF MASON BLOCK WERE HERE TODAY I
WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM A COPY OF
THE BOOK.
I AM GOING TO GIVE IT TO ATESHA
INSTEAD FOR DOING THE SURVEY.
YOU CAN GO UP TO SOPHIE
AFTERWARD AND SHE WILL SIGN IT
FOR YOU.
PLEASE WELCOME SOPHIE EGAN.
(APPLAUSE)
WOMAN: CAN YOU HEAR ME?
ANOTHER FUN WITH MICROPHONES.
CAN ANY ONE IN THE BACK HEAR ME?
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK WE ARE ALL SITUATED
HERE.
CLICKER, WATER.
YES, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
YOU CAN HEAR ME?
OKAY.
ANNA KNOWS HOW THIS GOES.
IT IS A HUGE HONOR TO BE HERE
TONIGHT AMONG -- REALLY ON THE
ROSTER OF THIS INCREDIBLE FOOD
COURSE WITH SOME OF MY ALL TIME
FOOD HEROS, I HAVE TO SAY.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ARE
HONESTLY LIVING LEGENDS, SO IT
IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH WILL FOR THE
INVITATION TO SPEAK.
SO BEFORE I SHARE SOME INSIGHTS
ABOUT -- OR FROM MY BOOK I WANT
TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MY PAST.
AND HOW I GOT TO WHERE I AM NOW
PROFESSIONALLY.
WHERE I AM PROFESSIONALLY IS I
WEAR A NUMBER OF HATS.
SO I AM A DIRECTOR AT THE
CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA,
THE CIA.
LET THAT SINK IN.
I OVERSEE ALL OF OUR FOOD
INDUSTRY THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
INITIATIVE RELATED TO HEALTH AND
SUSTAINABILITY.
WE PROVIDE CULINARY STRATEGY TO
MAKE MENUS BETTER FOR HUMAN AND
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
ON THE SIDE I AM ALSO A WRITER.
I CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEW YORK
TIMES HEALTH SECTION AND I HAVE
WRITTEN THIS BOOK "DEVOURED."
MY PATH IS RATHER
UNCONVENTIONAL.
MY STORIES HAS A LOT OF SIMILAR
ASPECTS WITH THOSE OF ANNA.
TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO PLUG IN.
SO IN COLLEGE I STUDIED HISTORY
AND MATH.
I GOT INVOLVED WITH FOOD BY
MANAGING A STUDENT DINING HALL.
I STUDIED ABROAD IN BOLOGNA
WHICH IS THE STOMACH OF ITALY.
AFTER COLLEGE I SPENT ABOUT
THREE YEARS AS A FOOD AND TRAVEL
WRITER FOR SUNSET MAGAZINE WHICH
WAS A LOT OF FUN BUT I WANTED TO
HAVE A BROADER IMPACT.
THAT IS WHEN I CAME TO UC
BERKELEY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
HEALTH.
I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND
COLLEGES ON THE CAMPUS COBBLING
TOGETHER A FOOD SYSTEM LENS
THROUGH WHICH TO VIEW PUBLIC
HEALTH.
I WENT OVER TO THE GOLDMAN
SCHOOL AND TOOK FOOD POLICY WITH
SARU JAYARAMAN I TOOK FOOD
WRITING WITH MICHAEL COLIN.
I THOUGHT EDIBLE EDUCATION WAS
SO ENGROSSING I TOOK IT TWICE.
DURING MY TIME AT BERKELEY THERE
WERE THREE PIVOTAL MOMENTS THAT
REALLY SHAPED MY TRAJECTORY.
THE FIRST WAS DURING A FOOD
WRITING CLASS WHEN I WROTE A
STORY ABOUT STUNT FOODS AND
DORITOS LOCOS TACOS.
IT WAS A COVER STORY FOR WIRED
MAGAZINE FIRST EVER ISSUE ON
FOOD.
THAT BECAME ONE OF THE KEY
CHAPTERS OF MY BOOK DEVOURED
WHICH COVERED THE BROADER TOPICS
OF AMERICAN FOOD CULTURE.
THE SECOND KEY MOMENT WAS
ACTUALLY THE LAST SEMESTER I WAS
AT BERKELEY AT AN INCREDIBLY
INTERDISCIPLINARY CLASS.
THAT'S WHERE I MET WILL
ROSENZWEIG.
THAT LED TO THE JOB I HOLD NOW
AT THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF
AMERICA.
IN WILL I GAINED AN INCREDIBLE
MENTOR.
THE LAST MOMENT WAS ACTUALLY A
COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE GRADUATION,
AGAIN IN THAT E THINK DESIGN
CLASS.
ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS, I WAS
TELLING HIM HOW I WAS REALLY
STRUGGLING WITH WHAT I WAS GOING
TO DO NEXT.
I DIDN'T CONSIDER MYSELF A
PUBLIC HEALTH PERSON PER SE, BUT
I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE AN
IMPACT ON THESE KIND OF FOOD
ISSUES I CARED SO MUCH ABOUT.
HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, YOU
WANT TO REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
GO WORK AT WAL-MART.
HE KIND OF LET THAT HANG THERE
FOR A MINUTE.
AT FIRST I THOUGHT HE WAS
KIDDING.
BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
THE MORE I REALIZED THE ENORMOUS
OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES WITH
SITTING ACROSS FROM PEOPLE FROM
SOME OF THE BIGGEST PLAYERS IN
THIS SYSTEM WITH COMPANIES
PERHAPS WHOSE VALUES ARE MOST AT
ODDS WITH MY OWN.
NOW THAT'S REALLY WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT MY JOB AT THE CULINARY
INSTITUTE WHERE WE TAKE WHAT MY
BOSS CALLS A BIG TENT APPROACH.
I GET TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE
MOST CUTTING EDGE COMPANIES,
GOOGLE, CAMPUS DINING PROGRAMS,
REMARKABLE FOOD PROGRAM, BUT I
ALSO WORK WITH MCDONALDS AND
TACO BELLS OF THE WORLD.
THESE COMPANIES THAT FEED
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS EVERY DAY,
IF WE CAN GET THEM TO MAKE VERY
SMALL CHANGES TO THE MENUS FROM
ANTIBIOTIC USE AND REDUCING THE
PORTION SIZES, I CAN HAVE AN
ENORMOUS IMPACT ON HUMAN AND
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS WHO HELPED
SHAPE MY PATH AND MY CAREER THUS
FAR, AND I REALLY WANT TO URGE
ALL OF YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AND
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
EXIST ON THIS CAMPUS.
DURING GRAD SCHOOL, BUT ALSO
BEFORE AS A WRITER I SPENT A LOT
OF TIME RESEARCHING AND THINKING
ABOUT WHAT CONTRIBUTION IF ANY I
MIGHT MAKE TO THE NATIONAL
DIALOGUE ABOUT FOOD AND SOCIETY.
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE CANNON
THAT HAS BEEN LEFT TO US MICHAEL
POLLAN AND ANNA LAPPE, ERIC
SCHLOSSER AND MICHAEL MOSS AND
SO FORTH.
WHAT I LANDED ON IS WHAT I
CONSIDER AN UNDER APPRECIATION
FOR POWERFUL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
NORMS TO SHAPE EATING BEHAVIOR
FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE.
WHAT IS SOCIALLY NORMAL AND
ACCEPTABLE, THESE THINGS ARE
PERVASIVE FORCES THAT REALLY
EFFECT ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL
ACTIONS, BUT THEY ARE LIKE WATER
TO FISH OR AIR TO HUMANS.
YOU CAN'T SEE THEM BUT THEY ARE
ALWAYS THERE.
AND AMIDST THIS ENVIRONMENT,
THIS SOCIAL CLIMATE, IF YOU
WILL, I WAS REALLY TRYING TO
FIND OUT WHAT COLLECTIVELY WHAT
MIGHT BE SAID ABOUT A NATIONAL
FOOD CULTURE, ABOUT A SHARED WAY
OF RELATING TO FOOD.
SO I WAS DRIVEN BY THIS
QUESTION.
WHAT UNITES US AS EATERS IN
AMERICA?
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IN
THE WAKE OF THE ELECTION, I FEEL
LIKE UNCOVERING WHAT UNITES US
AS ANYTHING IN AMERICA IS
PERHAPS MORE WORTH UNDERSTANDING
TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE.
IN THE COURSE OF MY RESEARCH I
FOUND THERE ARE THESE THREE CORE
VALUES ARE DEEPLY ENGRAINED IN
OUR FOOD PSYCHE, THE AMERICAN
MIND SET.
I KNOW YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT
VALUES IN THIS CLASS.
THREE CORE VALUES THAT I
DISCOVERED HAVE BEEN WITH US
THROUGH OUR FOUNDING AS A NATION
AND TODAY SHAPE OUR EATING
HABITS IN PROFOUND WAYS.
THOSE VALUES ARE WORK, FREEDOM
AND PROGRESS.
TONIGHT I WANT TO COLLABORATE
BRIEFLY ON THE VALUE OF FREEDOM.
THIS IS INDEPENDENCE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
STOOD OUT TO ME IN MY RESEARCH
IS INDIVIDUALISM IS ACTUALLY ONE
OF THE MOST DEFINING ATTRIBUTES
OF US AS AMERICANS.
WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS
DISTINCT AND SEPARATE FROM
OTHERS AS OPPOSED TO A LARGER
COLLECTIVE.
VERY FEW PEOPLE WANT TO BE
DESCRIBED AS AVERAGE.
THAT'S LIKE AN INSULT.
WE WANT TO BE EXCEPTIONAL.
WE WANT TO BE OUR OWN SPECIAL
SNOWFLAKE.
THIS INDEPENDENCE ORIENTATION AS
OPPOSED TO INTERDEPENDENCE
SHAPES OUR EATING HABITS IN SOME
REALLY FASCINATING WAYS.
ONE OF THE KEY WAYS IS
CUSTOMIZATION, PERSONALIZE AND
CUSTOMIZE MORE OF OUR FOOD
EXPERIENCES.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHAT THIS
NUMBER REFERS TO?
THAT IS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF
DRINK COMBINATIONS OF STARBUCKS.
WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT,
EACH TIME YOU STEP UP TO THAT
STARBUCKS COUNTER AND ANNOUNCE
YOUR FOUR ADJECTIVE LONG
FRAPPUCCINO ORDERS YOU ARE
EXPRESSING YOUR IDENTITY YOU ARE
DEVIATING FROM A PRESCRIBED BOX.
CUSTOMIZATION INTERESTINGLY GOES
BACK TO THE 1970s AND THE BURGER
KING SLOGAN, HAVE IT YOUR WAY.
WHAT'S IRONIC ABOUT THIS IS IT
WAS THE FURTHEST THING FROM
HAVING IT YOUR WAY.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT HOLDING THE
PICKLES.
TODAY WE HAVE COUNTLESS CASUAL
CHAINS, CHIPOTLE, BUILDING YOUR
OWN MODELS.
MORE CUSTOMIZATION IS EXPECTED.
I WANT TO SHARE A BRIEF PASSAGE
FROM MY BOOK ON THE CHAPTER
THAT'S CALLED "HAVING IT OUR
WAY."
CONSUMER INSIGHTS RESEARCHER
CALLS DIRECTING YOUR ORDER,
ADDING TOMATO OR DOUBLING THE
PEPPER JACK, SHEPPING.
IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT SUBWAY
AND BASKIN ROBINS FOR YEARS.
IT IS SO WIDESPREAD WE DON'T
THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.
BY CONTRAST FOOD PSYCHOLOGIST
PAUL ROSS SIN SAID THE FRENCH
HAVE A STRONG NATIONAL CUISINE
THEY LOVE SO YOU DON'T MISS
AROUND WITH IT.
END QUOTE.
YOU WOULD NEVER WALK INTO A
FRENCH RESTAURANT AND ADD
KETCHUP OR SALT OR PEPPER TO
YOUR ENTREE.
IN THE UNITED STATES SHEPPING IS
EXPECTED.
IT IS MORE THAN ABOUT NAILING
YOUR SANDWICH TOPPINGS, IT IS
ABOUT NOT FEELING LIKE A HOG IN
A MACHINE HE SAYS.
THE WHEN YOU GO TO MCDONALDS AND
SEE IT WITH FRESH EYES IT IS
TERRIFYING.
THINGS ARE BEEPING AND BUZZING,
THE IDEA OF I WON'T BE
PROCESSED.
END QUOTE.
REMOVING AND ADDING AND
DICTATING THE SMALLEST
SPECIFICATIONS GOES A TREMENDOUS
DISTANCE IN OUR MINDS.
YOU COULD ORDER A CHICKEN CANNED
WHICH THAT HAS BEEN LYING AROUND
FOR WEEKS IN WHO KNOWS WHAT
CORNER OF A WALK IN FREEZER, A
DELI COUNTER WORKER HEATS IT UP
AND PESTO MAYO YOU SUB FOR MAYO
AND IT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED.
WHEN A FAST FOOD WORKER LOOKS AT
CUSTOMERS WHILE PREPARING THEIR
MEALS THEY REPORT THEIR FOOD
ACTUALLY TASTES FRESHER.
SHEPPING HE SAYS IS IN MANY WAYS
ABOUT REGAINING SOME AMOUNT OF
CONTROL.
IT'S ABOUT SEEING WHO IS MAKING
YOUR FOOD AND WHAT KIND OF
TREATMENT IT RECEIVES BEFORE
ARRIVING IN YOUR BELLY.
SHEPPING IS ALSO ABOUT
FRESHNESS.
ANOTHER TREAT WE VALUE IN OUR
FOODS.
IT IS AT ODDS WITH OTHER VALUES.
DEPENDING ON OUR INDIVIDUAL
SITUATIONS MOST OF US DON'T HAVE
TIME/MAKE TIME/FEEL LIKE
SPENDING TIME PREPARING OUR OWN
FOOD.
YET THE MACHINERY DESIGNED FOR
MASS PRODUCTION IS NOT BUILT FOR
DELIVERING FOOD, IT IS EITHER
FRESH OR INDIVIDUALIZED.
THE PROCESSING AND PREPARATION
ARE FAR AWAY FROM CONSUMPTION
AND WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY
CUSTOMER.
ADDING LETTUCE OR TOMATO IS
ABOUT DENYING THIS REALITY.
IN ADDITION TO CUSTOMIZATION,
WHAT INDEPENDENCE -- OUR
INDEPENDENT MIND SET DOES FOR US
IN TERMS OF OUR EATING HABITS,
IT LEADS US TO EAT BY OURSELF.
SOLO DINING IS AN AT ALL TIME
HIGH.
IT IS COINCIDING WITH AN
ALL-TIME HIGH OF RELATED
CONDITION WHICH IS SOCIAL
ISOLATION.
THIS DEEPLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LITERATURE
THE SINGLE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF
HAPPINESS IS SOCIAL
CONNECTEDNESS.
YOU HEARD ALICE WATERS TALK
ABOUT THIS THE SLOW FOOD VALUE
HOW WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED.
THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM.
WITH THAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU
WITH A CHALLENGE.
THAT IS TO MEET AT THE TABLE.
SOLO DINING IS DRIVEN BY THIS
INDEPENDENT MIND SET THAT IS
RIGHT -- SENSES OUR RIGHT TO
EAT, HOW MUCH WE WANT, WITH OR
NOT WITH WHOM EVER WE WANT.
IT IS ALSO DRIVEN BY LACK OF
TIME OR PERCEIVED LACK OF TIME.
ONE OF THOSE -- ONE OF THE ROOT
CAUSES OF LACK OF TIME IS OVER
WORKED.
IN THE UNITED STATES WE PLACE AN
INCREDIBLE PREMIUM ON
PRODUCTIVITY AND WE GO AROUND
THE WORLD FOR OUR WORK ETHIC.
THEY ARE OUT WORKING OURSELVES
BY ABOUT 200 HOURS PER YEAR
COMPARED TO A GENERATION OR TWO
AGO.
WE ARE TAKING VACATION AT THE
LOWEST RATE IN 40 YEARS.
THAT DOESN'T LEAVE A WHOLE LOT
OF TIME FOR FOOD.
FROM CHILDHOOD WE ARE GIVEN THE
SENSE THAT FOOD IS FUEL, IT IS A
PIT STOP.
IT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD
MINIMIZE TO GET ON WITH YOUR DAY
FOR THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER
IN LIFE.
THINK ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
KIDS GET 15 MINUTES TO WOLF DOWN
A GREASY SLICE OF PIZZA.
BY THE TIME THEY ARE IN COLLEGE
I HAVE DINING DIRECTORS AROUND
THE COUNTRY ARE TELLING ME THEY
DESIGNED THESE BEAUTIFUL SPACES
FOR EATING, THEY ARE MEANT TO
FOSTER MINDFULNESS AND DE
STRESSING ONLY TO SEE THE GRAB
AND GO ITEMS FLAY OFF THE SHELF.
THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH DEMAND
FOR THINGS THAT ARE PORTABLE AND
ONE HAND-ABLE.
YOU CAN SCROLL THROUGH YOUR
PHONE OR GUIDE YOUR BIKE WITH
ONE HAND.
IN ADULT HOOD THIS MANIFESTS IN
THE NATIONAL EPIDEMIC KNOWN AS
SAD DESK LUNCH.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE USED
YOUR KEYBOARD AS A PLACE MAT.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE.
IT IS REALLY THIS SENSE AS I
MENTIONED THAT FOOD IS NOT
NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHATEVER
ELSE WE HAVE TO DO.
SO TO OVER COME THOSE KINDS OF
SITUATIONS, WE ARE GOING TO NEED
SYSTEMIC CHANGE, POLICY CHANGE
THAT ALLOCATES MORE TIME FOR
SCHOOL LUNCH OR GREAT PROGRAMS
LIKE EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED CULTURAL
CHANGE AT THE INSTITUTIONAL
LEVEL, EMPLOYERS MAKING IT
CULTURALLY NORMAL TO TAKE A REAL
LUNCH BREAK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE SALMON
SWIMMING UPSTREAM.
IN THE MEANTIME AND TO HELP US
GET THERE, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL
ACTIONS EACH OF YOU CAN TAKE
THAT CAN REALLY START TO PUT
FOOD FIRST.
SO A COUPLE OF EASY EXAMPLES,
BRUNCH.
WEEKEND BRUNCH IS ONE OF THOSE
RARE TIMES THAT MANY OF US PUSH
THE PAUSE BUTTON.
I HAVE A CHAPTER CALLED SECULAR
CHURCH WHERE I CONNECT IT TO A
DECREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF US
WHO ARE AFFILIATED WITH
ORGANIZED RELIGION.
CHURCH REALLY CAN BECOME THIS
PLACE FOR COMMUNITY A WAY OF
BREAKING BREAD AND MARKING THE
PASSING OF TIME.
DURING THE WEEK ONE OF THE
GREATEST IDEAS I HEARD IS CALLED
A LUNCH BUNCH IF YOU WORK IN THE
OFFICE OR EVEN AS A STUDENT YOU
AND SEVERAL FRIENDS OR
COLLEAGUES GRAB FOUR AND SPLIT
UP THE FIVE DAYS OF THE WEEK AND
ALTERNATE COOKING FOR EACH OTHER
AND TAKE A LUNCH BREAK ALL
TOGETHER.
YOU COULD HAVE A SUPPER CLUB
WHERE YOU ALL GET TOGETHER AND
COOK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
BECAUSE BY THE WAY, COOKING IS
HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE IT
YOUR WAY.
SO TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY THESE
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS WILL START TO
TAKE FOOD ISSUES FROM THE OUTER
RINGS OF OUR SOCIETAL ORBIT AND
PUT THEM SMACK IN THE MIDDLE.
TOGETHER THE STUFF YOU CAN TAKE
CAN HELP AMERICA REVIVE
SOMETHING THAT IS LOST, THE ART
OF CONVIVIALITY.
AS I MENTIONED MEET AT THE
TABLE.
NOW THE TABLE PART IS
NEGOTIABLE.
IT COULD BE A PICNIC BLANKET.
I AM GOOD WITH PARK BENCHES, BUT
IT'S THE MEETING THAT I MUST
INSIST UPON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
(APPLAUSE)
MAN: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I LOVE HEARING YOUR PATH FROM
SCHOOL TO FULL EMPLOYMENT.
THAT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK RYAN
PETERSON ONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF
THE TEACHING TEAM.
HE HAS CONSTRUCTED THE FIRST
OFFICIAL EDIBLE EDUCATION 101
FACEBOOK PAGE AT UC BERKELEY.
EDIBLE EDUCATION 101@UC
BERKELEY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 151 FOLKS
RIGHT NOW FROM YOUR CLICKER --
NO, IT'S NOT HOOKED UP FOR THAT.
SHARE THAT.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO TAKE THE
GENEROSITY OF ONE OF OUR
BERKELEY ALUMNI WHO HAS
GENEROUSLY MADE OUR CLASSES TO
BE ABLE TO BE VIDEOTAPED AND
LIVE STREAMED.
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN POINT TO
YOUR FRIENDS AND SAY YOU HEARD
HAVE HEARD ANNA AND SOPHIE LAST
WEEK THEY WERE AWESOME.
THIS IS A WAY TO HELP THEM
CONNECT EASILY TO THE REPORTINGS
OF THE CLASS.
I AM GOING TO STOP A FEW MINUTES
EARLY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT
TO STAY TO TALK TO ANNA AND
SOPHIE YOU CAN DO SO.
DRIVE SAFELY.
GET SAFELY HOME AND SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK WITH THE FOOD TECH TASTING
MENU.