Pollan: changes in food systems a "reformation, not a revolution"

Michael Pollan, author of the best-selling books, "Food Rules," "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" met with members of the press Tuesday night prior to his address at Luther College and responded to questions from regional media as far as Chicago. Pollan said his message couldn't be easily condensed and his responses attempted to convey that he was not "the Anti-Christ of modern agriculture."

Rather, Pollan likened the hopeful changes in modern agriculture as a "reformation, rather than revolution." Pollan has been a strong critic of modern agriculture, particularly in regard to corn and soy. He says he is not against these products - only agricultural uses that do not make sense – such as use for fuel or as an unnecessary part of the meat production chain. (He did add the the best pork he had eaten was in Iowa and was Iowa corn fed, further adding that Iowa pigs should be fed Iowa corn.)

When asked if there were grounds for agreement with today's farmers, Pollan hit home with some of his key messages: that the new food movement represents opportunity, that neither farmers nor consumers are served by food monopolies, that agribusiness interests hide behind the farmers, and that diversity in food production is good for producers and consumers.

Pollan refuted that there was much "yield drag" in organic farming, and said that organic farming in some situations such as low moisture agriculture produces higher yields than other methods since the organic farming promotes water retaining soil. He also said that farmers hold the key to the two biggest problems we are facing, climate change and health care. In regard to health care he said that three fourths of health care spending goes to treating preventable chronic diseases that are related to diet.

He also talked about using new standards to gauge success, and perhaps subsidies, in agriculture such as measuring the shift from fossil to solar energy and the retention of carbon in the soil. He strongly supported organic farming efforts and local food movements, while admitting that these could not be fully implemented to meet the needs of places such as major metropolitan areas. But he did refute the concept that has been sold to farmers about them "feeding the world." He argued that cheap food to foreign countries bankrupts farming efforts in those countries, and the chief beneficiaries of food exporting are the exporters and not the farmers.

Pollan urged students to organize to bring about their desired changes with their campus food vendors, and noted positively that the food industry is very responsive to consumer demand. Noting the growing awareness of food issues and the changes that consumers have pushed through with major corporations, Pollan believes that a reformation of new, healthier, and producer friendly food system is possible.