I got an e-mail from an old friend tonight asking me about Tom Vilsack and what I thought about him as potential agriculture secretary. The friend subscribes to a newsletter from the Organic Consumers Association. The OCA is trying to submarine the former Iowa governor's chances for being considered by President-elect Barack Obama.
"Ten thousand organic consumers signed OCA's petition last week to Barack Obama, asking him to take a clear position in support of organic agriculture. Thanks to all who joined in to deliver this resounding message to the incoming administration. Unfortunately, it is now being widely reported that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is being considered for the Secretary of Agriculture position in the Obama Administration. Vilsack is a notorious cheerleader for genetically engineered crops and chemical and energy-intensive industrial agriculture--certainly no friend of organic food and farming. Tom Vilsack's appointment would represent a major disappointment for the Organic Consumers Association and its members. But there is still time to make your voice heard."
And here was my response back to that old friend:
For some foodies, anyone short of Michael Pollan won't do.
I like organic products and I like knowing where my food is from. And we can be that particular because of the wealth of our country and the fact that we have so much food. That really is one of our strengths. We are not energy independent in the U.S., but we don't depend on anyone for food.
I was at a conference today hosted by the World Wildlife Fund. The president of the WWF pointed out that if everyone in the world ate as we do in the U.S., we would need the agricultural production of 11 earths. That doesn't factor in population growth between now and 2050 or how we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions while feeding the world and also providing transportation to the world as well.
We have to have biotechnology to increase production because what is "sustainable agriculture" right now isn't sustainable. We can't feed the middle class in China and India, as well as feed the less fortunate in Indonesia and Africa.
I don't want to call that my stump speech, but to set that up for Vilsack, he's very good policy wonk. Vilsack also is pragmatic and he focuses heavily on what can be done on an issue. I've always liked the guy because he looks for finding a result people can live with.
Organic groups just got more money in the farm bill for research and aid to farmers and there is a niche for them. But the ag secretary's job isn't to drive organic production.
The ag secretary's biggest job is to focus on nutrition programs. USDA oversees food stamps and the school lunch program. USDA's job is to ensure people have an abundant, cheap supply of food. Everything else is second to that.
If you have an opinion on what you think agriculture should be then it's important to support that. If you back the views of organic agriculture and want to feed your family through that belief, it's good to do that. Probably part of our problem in this country is too many people don't pay any attention to agriculture, how food is produced, where it comes from or how it got to their plate. That is messed up, but it's only because we largely have what we do that those people can be so careless in their views.