Farmers Versus Foodies

Book Synopsis: 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.

Outsider influence in the food and farming system is growing, and Farmers versus Foodies offers a sincere inquiry into why that is the case. The author examines:

1. How foodies are impacting public policy through their purchasing influence and through growing legislative prowess.
2. How advocates are leveraging the legal system to effectuate their desired outcomes, with farming interests typically on the other side.
3. How optimistic, socially conscious investors are, even if misguided, driving tremendous change in the industry.
4. How American producers – who are increasingly “farming without borders” – are not just susceptible to the American foodie, but to foodies around the world.
5. And finally, how today’s cultural trends offer an environment in which many bad ideas about farming and agribusiness can flourish.

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.