Food, Inc. 91-122, 169-177

This book continues to shock readers with essays concerning the environment. The topics covered include the production of ethanol, pesticides, and global climate change. It is discussed how stupid it is to be producing ethanol. The world is going through a food crisis, but not a fossil fuels crisis. The US is unnecessarily driving up the price of corn globally. Apparently, lobbyists for the farmers were able to convince politicians that ethanol could greatly reduce the US's reliance on foreign fuels (93). As a result, one-third of all of the corn produced in the US is going towards producing ethanol (93). The production of ethanol has been argued to release more greenhouse gases than the production of conventional gasoline. It causes air and water pollution. It is not a friend of the environment. Ethanol gasoline even if produced at its peak in the US would only cover about six percent of the US's oil needs (93). Ethanol is only filling the pockets of the agriculture industry while emptying the stomachs of the starving.

The increased use of pesticides on produce is causing more pesticides to end up inside of humans. This contamination is especially dangerous for the young as they cannot handle the pesticides as well as adults (103). Pesticides have even been found in baby foods and can lead to various cognitive deficits. I try to wash off produce before I eat it, but I know that is not enough to get all of the pesticides off. It is insane to consider that even the healthy food is considered bad for your health. Is the produce at the dining halls at Ohio University washed at all before being served?

The chapters discussing climate change deal with the large emissions caused by the food industry and how individuals can change things. The food industry causes a large amount of the climate change due to poor management of land, agricultural release of gases, poor management of waste, and long transportation routes (108). The solutions to global climate change offered are interesting. It will take the consumers acting together. We will need to monitor food characteristics like organic, local, processing, and packaging (120-122). It is even mentioned the benefits of growing your own garden for food (175). Such a wide-spread consciousness of the link between food and the environment will cause the food industry to change to the tastes of its consumers. If the same consciousness is provided to energy, the government will put in place laws to produce and use renewable energy. It just takes a large enough group of humans working together. Honestly, I have my doubts that such movements are possible. Humans and Americans in particular have issues with uniting especially when politics are involved. It will take strong leaders to unite Americans and especially humans in general.