Wrongheaded Assault on Slow Food

[Anneke]

It seems to me you have gone to great lengths to try to offend as many people as possible to reach the conclusion that you will "ignore the entire post".

I do urge all the thread's participants to maintain the polite stance that has so far prevailed, and to please keep Hitler out of it. (and yes, kuddos regarding the hyperinflation thing - NOTHING to do with slow food)

[paulgreen3]

The increasing use of corn for biodiesel and the effect that is having on food prices is but one of the examples of problems facing us as food professionals. The cost of flour is at all time highs. Grain is used as feed for cattle, etc. leading to increased costs there.

Local farmers are facing serious problems in food production as well. The squeeze on the independent farmer by huge corporate farms is considerable when one realizes they use powerful lobbyists and have the budgets to afford political action committees.

There are a good many issues facing us. The population of the world has grown to such a extent that feeding ourselves affordably and in a nutritionally beneficial manner is a serious problem. Many people in the U.S. alone simply cannot afford fresh fish and must revert to less expensive, hence, less healthy foods to feed their families.

Politics and corporate profit-taking on a scale never seen before are also factors influencing our food outlook.

There is no single solution but we MUST look in all directions to find answers.

It is my belief that the axiom " if you're not part of the solution - you're part of the problem " applies. Be involved, even if only in a small way.

[boar_d_laze]

Originally Posted by paulgreen3

The increasing use of corn for biodiesel and the effect that is having on food prices is but one of the examples of problems facing us as food professionals.

"Biodiesel." Interesting. You're sort of right, but missed it by that much. You mean, "biofuel." Which, despite the wonderful Bushism of switchgrass, really means ethanol.

As a part of U.S. energy policy, corn is being used to manufacture ethanol. Because of the types of corn used, the locations of U.S. corn production, the amount of fertilizer and type of agriculture (intensive) required, the processes used to convert corn to ethanol, and the nature of ethanol itself ... Domestic ethanol production doesn't displace much, if any, petroleum use. Whether or not it's a net loss is a matter of some dispute, but no one claims it's much of a positive.

The reasons the US is so strongly attached to ethanol production are entirely political. The big players are agri-business like ADM, and political pandering to states with disproportionate political influence like Iowa, the Big Skies, and the Mid-West swings.

As yet, there isn't much demand for biodiesel. Actually, there isn't much real demand for corn ethanol either. The demand is entirely artificial, created by those ol' deregulators in the Bush Administration.

You're right about the effect on food prices. All too right.

The cost of flour is at all time highs. Grain is used as feed for cattle, etc. leading to increased costs there.

Grain costs are up for a few reasons. Global demand as increased tremendously. Climate change is making grain (especially rice) production less efficient. Arable land is taken out of agriculture and used for other purposes. Here, in the U.S., the biggest hit though is that land that was growing food grains -- especially wheat -- has been shifted to corn for ethanol.

Beef is not an efficient form of protein. As global demand for food increases, it becomes an increasingly difficult economic choice to spend so much grain on growing hamburger. However, competition from cattle is not driving wheat prices in the U.S.

Local farmers are facing serious problems in food production as well. The squeeze on the independent farmer by huge corporate farms is considerable when one realizes they use powerful lobbyists and have the budgets to afford political action committees.

As long as they're growing the right crops, corporate farmers are as efficient as "local" farmers in terms of getting low priced crops to the market. The squeeze on the "independent farmer" is only indirectly related to food costs, in fact, independents make the same money by switching to corn and selling contracts to ethanol manufacturers as corporates. Which is why they're doing it. Don't cry too much for Mr. Greenjeans. He's doing fine, thank you. Which is why we're hosed.

The real "squeeze" on independent farms over the last decade was the cost of land which made it more profitable to sell to real estate developers than to continue farming. FWIW, that's been the true story behind the drive to limit inheritance taxes, too. Grampa dies and the kids can't afford to keep farming -- not because of taxes but because the land that produces a net 35K is worth 10M, and they want to sell and not get taxed for it. "Death Tax" indeed!.

As you say, corporate farmers have enough clout to change government policies -- which do have an effect. But, you can't really blame a corporation for trying. The problem is "the politicians." As "Big Daddy" Jess Unruh, a famous California pol used to say, "If you can't drink their liquor, eat their food, **** their [hookers], take their money, and still vote against them -- you don't belong in this game. I guess most of them don't.

Agricultural policy and the intersection of ag and energy policies haven't been handled well in this country for a long time. However, things became got a lot worse in a hurry when the Bush administration came in. It and its toadies in congress bear most of the responsibility for the horrendous screw-up that is ethanol. If you don't like it, don't vote Republican. Not that the Democrats are necessarily going to fix it, they're just in less of a hurry to make it worse.

At the present time the policies that make the problem aren't getting a lot of attention. No one wants to anger the corn states right before an election. We'll see who grows a big enough pair afterwards. With divided government it's too hard to change policies already in existence. But no matter who controls the White House and the Capitol, I'm not getting my hopes up.

However, I digress. I mentioned arable land moving into developed real estate. That's a supply problem. But the two biggest factors are the effect of shifting land from food to fuel production and the high cost of petroleum itself -- which as fuel, fertilizer and other crop treatments is a big part of getting grain to the consumer. This is all the more painful when you consider that the crown jewel of Bush energy policy is increasing production of "biofuel" in the form of ethanol -- which, as shown, makes it worse. Combine this with the energy effect of the Iraq war -- which has been (a) to keep a huge amount of oil out of the market ; and (b) to postpone the promise/threat of a huge amount of oil coming on to the market. Thus, OPEC, the non-aligned producers and big oil (Exxon, Shell, etc.) have been able to operate in a non-competitive environment and keep prices up on the "spot," and at the pump.

There are a good many issues facing us. The population of the world has grown to such a extent that feeding ourselves affordably and in a nutritionally beneficial manner is a serious problem. Many people in the U.S. alone simply cannot afford fresh fish and must revert to less expensive, hence, less healthy foods to feed their families.

True dat.

Politics and corporate profit-taking on a scale never seen before are also factors influencing our food outlook. There is no single solution but we MUST look in all directions to find answers. It is my belief that the axiom " if you're not part of the solution - you're part of the problem " applies. Be involved, even if only in a small way.

The solution/problem thing was coined by Eldridge Cleaver, he of the black leather jacket who, as part of his leap from the closet, moved on to cod pieces (?!) Oh yes he did!. Didn't expect to see many Brother Eldridge fans 'round here. You know I lived through that, wore the buttons, and even barbecued with Brother Bobby Seale. It's my observation that humans, and Americans particularly, have a talent for being part of both at the same time.

At any rate, think before you vote.

BDL

[paulgreen3]

Small farmers face other problems that, while a bit obscure, are no less stifling. In my blog - Fried Coffee - I have a link to a very interesting article titled "My Forbidden Fruits". Look it up. I would add a link but I haven't enough posts I guess.



I spent a bit of time down in "peace park" in "Hashbury" as it was called back then. The Grateful Dead were only doing FREE concerts then as they wished not to exploit the common person. He He He