In yesterday’s post we mentioned three movies that have come out over the past few months focusing on the Food System here in the US.
Thought it would be a good idea to clarify the players and the terms that are being batted around.
The three main government departments involved are:
USDA- United States Department of Agriculture- Some of key departments are:
- Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
- AMS facilitates the strategic marketing of agricultural products in domestic and international markets while ensuring fair trading practices and promoting a competitive and efficient marketplace. AMS constantly works to develop new marketing services to increase customer satisfaction. (They also oversee the National Organic Program, farmers’ markets and the country of origin labeling).
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)- APHIS provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. The agency improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and the public health. ( sometimes at the expense of the animal well being)
- Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)- CNPP works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. ( my pyramid- the latest food pyramid)
- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)- FNS increases food security and reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. ( corn and soybeans are surplus crops that can get moved along in processed foods with long life packaging)
- Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) – FSIS enhances public health and well-being by protecting the public from foodborne illness and ensuring that the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly packaged. ( E. Coli, Salmonella, etc)
- Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) -GIPSA facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products. It also promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agriculture. GIPSA ensures open and competitive markets for livestock, poultry, and meat by investigating and monitoring industry trade practices.
FDA- Food and Drug Administration-
FDA is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services …
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
The FDA is the federal agency that is responsible for overseeing the safety of the food supply except for meat, poultry, and processed egg products, which are overseen by our partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.
EPA- Environment Protection Agency
Programs include:
- Pesticide Registration
- Energy Star
- Safer Detergents Stewardship
- Fuel Economy Testing and Results
- Air Quality and Air Pollution
- Oil Pollution Prevention- spill prevention and containment
- Water Sense- water efficiency
- Safe Drinking Water
Primary Multinational Corporations-
- Monsanto
- Cargill
- Kraft
- Archer Daniels Midlands (AMD)
- Nestle
- Con Agra
- Unilever
- Sysco Corporation
Key Food Commodities- Traded Around the World
- Corn
- Beef
- Milk
- Poultry
- Soybeans
- Pork
- Wheat
- Eggs
Major Crops Subsidized - 90% of the money goes to Corn, Wheat, Soybeans and Rice!
Pesticides- a pesticide is used to kill unwanted pests. Pesticides are sprayed on crops.
Herbicides- are used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Herbicides account for 70% of all pesticides
Fertilizers the use of fertilizers is arguably one of the great innovations of the Agricultural Revolution of the 19th Century. They are chemical compounds applied to promote plant and fruit growth. Properly applied, organic fertilizers can improve the health and productivity of soil and plants, as they provide different essential nutrients to encourage plant growth. Chemical fertilizers may have long-term adverse impact on the organisms living in soil and a detrimental long term effect on soil productivity of the soil
Genetically Modified-Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering, unlike similar food organisms which have been modified from their wild ancestors through selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding) or mutation breeding. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil, but animal products have been developed.
Industrial (Conventional) Agriculture/ Agribusiness- is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods include innovation in agricultural machinery and farming methods, genetic technology, techniques for achieving economies of scale in production, the creation of new markets for consumption, the application of patent protection to genetic information, and global trade. Most of the meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, and vegetables available in supermarkets in the United States are produced using these methods of industrial agriculture.
Organic Foods- Organic foods are produced without the use of energy-intensive and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, and they are not genetically engineered or irradiated.
Processed Foods- Compared to whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, processed foods require the use of energy-intensive processes such as freezing, canning, drying, and packaging. Processed foods are usually sold in packages that contain a label listing the ingredients and are located in the center aisles of most grocery stores.
Food miles- Transporting food throughout the world emits 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas every year. The average conventional food product travels about 1,500 miles to get to your grocery store.
These are really the basic. Tomorrow we will discuss what this means to us and how it affects what we find in the supermarket and what we bring to the dinner table.
