International Year of the Co-op

Can We Feed the World and Sustain the Planet?

Jonathan Foley

In the October 2011 issue of Scientific American, Jonathan Foley writes, "The world's food system faces three incredible, interwoven challenges, then. It must guarantee that all seven billion people alive today are adequately fed; it must double food production in the next 40 years; and it must achieve both goals while becoming truly environmentally sustainable. Could these simultaneous goals possibly be met?"

"An international team of experts, which I coordinated, has settled on five steps that, if pursued together, could raise by more than 100 percent the food available for human consumption globally, while significantly lessening greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity losses, water use and water pollution. Tackling the triple challenge will be one of the most important tests humanity has ever faced. It is fair to say that our response will determine the fate of our civilization."

Food writer Tracie McMillan has taken the concept of going undercover into the fields of Central California, the produce section of a Detroit-area Walmart, and the kitchen of a New York City Applebee's and produced a disturbing picture not only of bleaker realities for today's working poor but also of a national food system dysfunctional at its core: from farm to marketplace to dining table.

Brown Rice and Arsenic

National Public Radio recently broadcast a story about a study of the microscopic presence of arsenic in brown rice. No products were recalled and industry experts have since called into question the validity of the study's testing techniques. Producers of natural and organic rice products have reviewed the study and posted info on their websites: Nature's One, Lundberg Farms, New Hope, and Earth's Best Organic. 

The Outpost Co-op in Milwaukee shared these basic facts on the issue:

- Arsenic is naturally present in water and soils to some degree, based on geography.

- All rice, traditionally grown in flooded paddies, has a natural affinity to attract arsenic.

- The FDA has not determined standards for the presence of arsenic in brown rice.

- Organic rice is not immune to the presence of arsenic, though white rice may contain lower levels.

- Studies have yet to determine the effect microscopic levels from brown rice may have on the body.

A stunning speech in May 2011, which was then published in a book titled On the Future of Food, the powerful words of Prince Charles continue to inspire. Here's an excerpt from his book as it appeared on The Atlantic.

"For years Prince Charles has challenged the assumptions of industrial agriculture and criticized the behavior of large agribusiness firms. He's been one of the few world leaders brave enough to say--publicly, not just privately--that the current system is unsustainable. In return for that honesty, the Prince has been attacked on many occasions by defenders of the status quo. Why should anyone, his accusers ask, listen to what Prince Charles has to say about agriculture? That question has a simple answer: The Prince knows what he's talking about. His criticisms of how we grow, process, and distribute food are right on the mark. And his proposals are sound. The personal attacks on Prince Charles have served to divert attention from the real issue: Our agricultural practices are causing tremendous harm."

For the full article and links to the full speech and his book, see The Atlantic website.