A Look at the Outside Forces Forging the Future of Farming and Food
The Ag Community Has a Decision to Make
There is an epic battle going on over who will call the shots for the agriculture and food system of the future. On one side are “insiders” who understand the industry and are rightly proud of it, many of whom have dedicated their lives and livelihoods to it. On the other side are “outsiders” who champion the in-vogue notion that the industry is broken – a notion that the author refers to as “Ag Humpty Dumptyism.” It’s a farmer versus foodie conundrum that has the potential to impact food security for generations to come.
“The ag system’s critics confound many of us, given the impressive quality, variety, and safety of affordable, sustainably produced food made available to American consumers each and every day. In this book, Ray meticulously chronicles the increasing sway these outsider critics wield, and the threats they pose to the future of food security. If you care about the future of farming and food, you will want to spend some time reading and reflecting on what Ray has written here.”
SONNY PURDUE
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 2017–2021
Governor of Georgia, 2003–2011
Gain insight into a conundrum that has the potential to impact food security for generations to come.
Even if we credit the farmers and the foodies with good intentions, their competing assessments of the current state of the industry cannot both be correct. Perhaps most critically, their competing visions for the future of farming and food will ultimately take us to very different destinations. Every ag system thought leader should care about who wins this battle, but that won’t happen without reflecting on the trends tracked here and the implementation of some of the author’s ideas for change.