I'm writing for a blog on the Symphony of the Soil (the film I helped produce) website. Here's one of my latest posts...
For the last ten days all eyes have been on the US corn belt, which has been experiencing a massive drought. Now, don't get me wrong, drought is a big deal, it absolutely effects agricultural livelihoods and waterways, not to mention crops and animals that depend on water. This being said, the commentary that's been raging on about drought bringing higher food prices like today's piece in The Guardian, misses the point.
Will some types of food prices be affected? Yes. This drought will push up the price of chicken, pork, and beef- animals who, when industrially grown, are primarily fed on corn, the principle victim of the drought. The drought will also push up the price of corn oil and corn syrup, which, when chemically re-configured, are found in most processed food.
This is where commentators are failing to take the next step in their analysis. Which types of food prices are going to be affected by this drought? Animal products and processed foods.
The newspapers act as if Americans won't be able to feed themselves without hamburger, sodas (rich in corn-syrup), and a bag of Cheetos. In times of crisis, the talk of the obesity scare and worries about diabetes go straight out the window.
Crisis like these are a one of the few times that we as a society have the chance to re-evaluate our nations' agricultural priorities. What if The Guardian stopped shouting about the growing food crisis and started promoting alternatives? How about heading down to your local farmers' market- which, for the most part won't have been affected by the drought, and buying some carrots- which are probably better for animal health, your health, and the planet in the long run anyway.
-by Jessy Beckett
