Agribusiness Bites
[I originally posted this on my Serene Chef blog, but decided that it should be here as well.]
No one who is passionate about food can ignore the issues arising from the way food is produced in this country. We produce huge quantities of food -- which, undeniably, allows us to help feed people beyond our own borders -- but the cost of that is abused animals in factory farms, irradiated and genetically engineered foods, hormone-ridden beef, antibiotic resistant bacteria and, certainly not least, tasteless food.
PBS is preparing a series on American agriculture called American Heartland. This would be interesting in itself, but, surprisingly, the Union of Concerned Scientists has reason to believe that the program "will portray an entirely positive portrait of U.S. agriculture . . . Despite an in-depth approach spanning 20 episodes, the series producers appear unwilling to give time to any concerns about agribusiness, from the impact of pesticides on human health, to pollution and foodborne illness caused by industrialized meat production, to the debate over genetically engineered crops". That the series is sponsored by Monsanto and the Farm Bureau lends support to their concern. UCS is asking that viewers urge PBS to ensure that American Heartland presents a fair and complete (thought I was going to say "balanced, didn't you?) picture of the state of American Agriculture.
I urge you to join UCS in urging PBS to tell the full story.