Apr 8 2011

How to get involved: the Farm Bill

When giving talks here and there, I am invariably asked how listeners can get involved in social and political action on food issues.

From the standpoint of personal responsibility, it’s easy: Vote with your fork!  Buy and eat according to your principles to the extent that you can.

But participating in democratic processes is also part of personal responsibility, and here is where things get more complicated.  Over the next week or so, I am going to post suggestions about how to get involved in a variety of food issues, starting with work on the 2012 Farm Bill, the legislation that governs everything having to do with agricultural policy in the United States—subsidies, water rights, organics, food assistance programs, and anything else you can think of.

I only am familiar with a few organizations gearing up to work on this bill:

If you know of others, please tell me about them in a comment.

Also: please mention groups advocating for better school food, limits on food marketing to children, and other food policy issues—groups that beginners might want to join.

Thanks!

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  • Sarah Kniskern Aughenbaugh
  • April 8, 2011
  • 4:10 pm

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and Simple, Good, and Tasty have created a Facebook group, “Understanding the Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide to a Better Food System,” to provide a venue for sharing information and opinions about the forthcoming Farm Bill.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Understanding-the-Farm-Bill-A-Citizens-Guide-to-a-Better-Food-System/145478625475216

The National Farm to School Network (http://www.farmtoschool.org/) and One Tray (http://onetray.org/) and School Food FOCUS (http://www.schoolfoodfocus.org/) all work on school food issues and, in some cases, have partnerships with the groups listed in your post.

  • Suzanne
  • April 8, 2011
  • 4:59 pm

Thank you for posting Sarah, this is a very helpful site on Facebook that I have referred people to for introductory and current information on the issues.

  • Helen Schnoes
  • April 8, 2011
  • 5:04 pm

Food Democracy Now!

I do not know if this group has begun advocacy in regard to the 2012 Farm Bill yet, but they’re always active concerning the latest food legislation and I’m sure they will be for the Farm Bill, too. Currently they’re focused on anti-GMO/anti-Monsanto campaigns.

http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/

  • Tim Jensen
  • April 8, 2011
  • 10:34 pm

Consider checking out Ken Cook’s recent TED talk, “Turning the Farm Bill into the Food Bill”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6T37m4r3yo&feature=player_embedded

I will forward this to all of my clients and Facebook page users. Everyone needs to get involved because this issue affects anyone that is eating and that is everyone! Thank you Marion Nestle. I value your expertise more than you know.

  • Darin
  • April 10, 2011
  • 1:41 pm

Thank you for posting this. It was very thoughtful of you and is much appreciated.

  • Anna
  • April 11, 2011
  • 10:18 am

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) works to reform agricultural subsidies that support the production of unhealthful foods.

We advocate for policies that shift eating patterns away from meat and dairy products, which are high in fat and cholesterol, and towards a plant-based diet in order to prevent and reverse obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.Our legislative efforts are headed by PCRM’s Director of Public and Government Affairs, Elizabeth Kucinich.

  • Sara
  • April 12, 2011
  • 11:13 pm

For college students: The Real Food Challenge is a network of students working to bring more “real food” to college campuses across the nation. They advocate for food that is good for producers, consumers, communities, and the environment. They also encourage students to learn more about food politics and food system issues to build broader support for food democracy.

http://www.realfoodchallenge.org

  • Neil
  • August 19, 2011
  • 4:43 am

You could also take the international trade justice angle and advocate on the grounds of the negative effects of corporate Farm Bill subsidies on peasant farmers in the Global South. In the case of cotton, look at these:

http://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/trade/real_lives/burkina_faso

http://rightswork.org/2011/08/spinning-the-threads-of-poverty-cotton-subsidies-and-the-political-economy-of-trafficking-in-southern-benin/

Right here in NYC, organizations are gearing up for the 2012 Farm Bill. At this point, we’re calling ourselves the “NYC Food and Farm Bill Working Group”. We’re meeting regularly and holding workshop sessions at The New School. The next workshop series will be held Oct. 20, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:30 (6 East 16th St, Room 1009, 10th floor) for anyone interested.

The next Farm Bill Meeting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Just Food (2:30 – 4:30pm)

http://foodbillnyc.wikispaces.com/

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