Throughout most of human history, people existed in very close contact with the environment.  People grew their own crops, raised their own livestock, stored food for many months, and processed those raw products into edible foods.  If they were not farmers, their food was transported very short distances from where it was produced.  The population shift from rural to urban, and growing technology used in producing, processing and distributing our food have contributed to a lack of understanding and increasing misconceptions about agriculture.  Organizations and industries take advantage of this knowledge gap to foster social change and influence consumer choices with appeals to the emotions of individuals, rather an their intellect.  Fears are blown out of proportion to actual risk.  We make unwise assumptions about our ability to control nature using simplistic solutions.  In short, we have many misconceptions about the food system, human health, global food issues and the environment.  The key is to educate ourselves and those around us about agriculture. 

 

AAW Responds to Food, Inc--Food, Inc. is a documentary that aims to change the way America eats and the way American food is produced, but many in the ag world say that the movie didn’t get it right.  American Agri-Women is eager to clear up misconceptions from the movie and continue the dialogue about our food.  American Agri-Women addresses many of the statements made in the film in the 45 page Agriculture Responses to Food, Inc.

 

2009 Ag Week Commercial

Below are Public Service Announcements recorded by Illinois Agri-Women Members.  Click on the title to listen.  They are in MP3 format and can be downloaded to most audio programs.

Accurate information

Illinois agri-women is a not-for-profit membership organization that would like to share some Food for Thought about our food choices.  U.s. consumers can choose from among more foods than ever before.  There is also more information and misinformation about those foods than ever before.  take the phrase, "all-natural" for example.  it conjures images of blue skies and vibrant health.  upon more thought, it also brings to mind naturally occurring toxins, microbes and carcinogens like nicotine, arsenic, radon, strychnine and other sources.  sir winston churchill once said, "a lie can travel halfway across the planet in the time the truth is still putting on its trousers." while information about food may not be lies, it might still deserve more research before taking it to the checkout line.

Nutrition

Illinois agri-women is a not-for-profit membership organization that would like to share some Food for Thought about choosing nutritious foods.  one popular notion is that fresh is best.  a number of peer-reviewed scientific trials show that the level of nutrition and phytonutrition varies by the type of vegetable and preparation or storage process.  for example, if you're looking for beta carotene, frozen then boiled spinach has more than fresh or canned spinach.  while broccoli is best fresh and carrots are best boiled - again that's for beta carotene.  but it varies by nutrient and vegetable.  The science leads us to mix it up and enjoy a variety of fresh, cooked, frozen and canned vegetables.

Population

Illinois agri-women is a not-for-profit membership organization that would like to share some Food for Thought about our world's growing population.  The United Nations Population Reference Bureau and others estimate that global population will increase from 6.5 billion to 11 billion by the year 2050.  Even though population is not growing out of control, population will still increase dramatically before it levels off.  We will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as has been produced in all of human history.  Members of Illinois Agri-Women grow, process, distribute and regulate our food supply.  We rely on technology, generations of experience, and an informed public to be able to do our jobs even better in the future.

Farm structure and government subsidies

Illinois agri-women is a not-for-profit membership organization that would like to share some Food for Thought about our nation's farmers.  The United States department of agriculture records 2.13 million farms in our country. less than one percent of all these are non-family owned corporate farms that produce about six percent of our food and fiber.  family owned and operated farms comprise 90 percent of the farms in the united states.  the entire u.s. department of agriculture budget is less than one half of one percent of our country's annual budget.  the majority - 60 percent - of those funds are for food stamps and other food and nutrition programs.

Check The Facts

 

Below are the references from Addressing Misconceptions About Agriculture to help you sort out fact from fiction.  PDF Format.

 

References Page 1

References Page 2

References Page 3

References Page 4

References Page 5

 

 

 

 

The CropLife Ambassador Network (CAN) is also a wonderful resource for agricultural facts.  Their mission is to provide scientifically based, accurate information to the public regarding the safety and value of American agricultural food production.

 

CAN has volunteers working in the agricultural industry available to speak about the methods of modern American farming.  CAN provides this FREE speakers program to schools and civic groups across the Midwest. 

 

For more information, click on the CropLife Ambassador Network logo above.

 

Download ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations right from the CAN website.  All of the basic facts and figures on important agricultural topics have been put together in a format that's easy to acquire and easy to use. The CropLife Ambassador Network has done the work for you.  Check out the presentations HERE.

 

Addressing Misconceptions about Agriculture Kit:

American Farm Bureau Federation has a new tool to supplement the book "Addressing Misconceptions about Agriculture." This new kit tackles five basic questions that are most often misunderstood by children and the adults they live with. "Who makes chocolate milk?", "Find the bull.", "Who is the farmer or rancher?", "Which of these does a farmer own and use?" (all high tech products) and "Which of these statements is true?" (In pictures, it depicts a hen plus a rooster equals a chick and a hen plus a rooster equals an egg.)

 This DO-IT-YOURSELF kit includes a teacher's guide with photos and signage on a CD-ROM. Photos and signs will need to be printed out in color and laminated for use prior to assembly with Velcro on a suitable board or wall. Price is $10.00 + shipping and handling fees. Item # AE-EMTG08-001-001

 A READY TO USE version is also available. This includes photos already laminated with a teacher's guide that provides set-up and teaching instructions. Price is $55.00 + shipping and handling fees.

Item # AE-RTUEM08-001-001

Order online at www.ageducate.org and check out additional resources to order!

Or order by mail at:

Attn: Materials Orders Department

American Farm Bureau

Foundation for Agriculture

600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 1000W, Washington, DC 20024

 

Send website content HERE