Food, Inc.
After watching Food, Inc. you should have learned a bundle of information about
the way our food is produced and processed. Use one of the topics below to create
an advertisement to inform others about this information. The BOLD type is the
topic that the advertisement should describe. The regular type is a suggestion of
what information to use. We will spend ONE day in the computer lab for you to
gather information and ONE day in class for you to put together your
advertisement. You may find it helpful to use your video notes,
www.takepart.com/foodinc, or other credible websites (and NO wikipedia is
NOT credible).
1. “Food production has changed more in the last 10 years than in the
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preceding 10,000. Name ways that food production has changed since the
1970s. Explain the effects each of these changes has had.
“American farm policy (government-dictated) has skewed the food
system toward bad calories because of subsidies.” Discuss changes in farm
policy beginning in the early ‘70s with the influence of Secretary of
Agriculture Earl Butts.
U.S. farmers are growing a lot of corn without asking why.
“The mystique of cheap food does not consider environmental,
industrial, or societal costs.”
A frustrated farmer cries in dismay, “How can a farmer defend himself
against a big, multinational conglomerate? Such companies are
controlling the product from seed to supermarket.” What is the future of
agriculture in the United States? Give reasons for your opinion. How will
this affect consumers?
Explain the statement made that “Close ties between the food processing
industry and the Federal Government have centralized power.” As a
citizen and a consumer, how do you feel about this relationship? How could
it affect you? Give reasons why you think so.
“The small number of crops, varieties, and producers is a recipe for
disaster.” Explain.
“Change will take place one bite at a time. The average person, you and
I, expresses power by choice.” Make suggestions for improving your diet.
Explain how each of these will impact food production as well as you
personally.
Jill Hunt, Benton Central Jr. Sr. High School, Adapted from Cheryl Gumaelius
May 2010