In his introduction to the American food system, Michael Pollan provides us with a detailed history of what is arguably the most important food commodity in the world: corn. The role of corn in settling the New World and giving rise to industrial agriculture is demonstrated through examples of the investments in research and government programs to enable farmers to grow more and better corn. It is interesting to note that the corn, unlike the bison and the Indians that depended on both, was not driven out by western settlers, but rather embraced as a means to conquer the new landscape. With the rise of modern technology and its applications in agriculture, the advancements made in hybrid varieties of corn, better fertilizers and more efficient methods of production have allowed farmers to increase the amount of people that are fed by every acre of cultivated land. Pollan pushes us to see corn as the catalyst that has given rise to environmental destruction and unhealthy eating habits, but neglects to mention what would happen to our stable food supply if it weren’t for the crop. This piece opens eyes about the complexity and sophistication of our food system, and gives a glimpse into the often-overlooked life of an American farmer.
Questions:
Pollan describes subsidies and other programs in place to keep corn prices low. What do you suppose would happen to the food prices if these programs were not in place and how would the average American consumer react?
Corn is no longer used simply for human and livestock feed, but has also begun to take the place of non-renewable fossil fuels. What are the long-term implications of this new development?
Farmers in the Corn Belt (and everywhere else) often are faced with declining commodity prices to which the only response is to produce more product, despite the laws of supply and demand. What does this mean for the agriculture industry in the long run?
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