[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] okay I want you all to think of a time
okay I want you all to think of a time
okay I want you all to think of a time when you did something really rash and
when you did something really rash and
when you did something really rash and impulsive when you did something
impulsive when you did something
impulsive when you did something entirely on a whim without any
entirely on a whim without any
entirely on a whim without any forethought or a rational contemplation
forethought or a rational contemplation
forethought or a rational contemplation all right you’re thinking about it
all right you’re thinking about it
all right you’re thinking about it whatever it is you came up with I bet
whatever it is you came up with I bet
whatever it is you came up with I bet mine is bigger and crazier 14 years ago
mine is bigger and crazier 14 years ago
mine is bigger and crazier 14 years ago I bought a farm now before that my wife
I bought a farm now before that my wife
I bought a farm now before that my wife Gillian and I were normal
Gillian and I were normal
Gillian and I were normal urban professionals we lived in downtown
urban professionals we lived in downtown
urban professionals we lived in downtown Toronto we had good jobs a nice house a
Toronto we had good jobs a nice house a
Toronto we had good jobs a nice house a couple of really young kids and then one
couple of really young kids and then one
couple of really young kids and then one day we just kind of lost it and we
day we just kind of lost it and we
day we just kind of lost it and we bought a farm I honestly can’t remember
bought a farm I honestly can’t remember
bought a farm I honestly can’t remember what we were thinking at the time but
what we were thinking at the time but
what we were thinking at the time but suffice it to say we had no plan no
suffice it to say we had no plan no
suffice it to say we had no plan no experience and not much of a clue when
experience and not much of a clue when
experience and not much of a clue when we moved to the farm in 2004 we started
we moved to the farm in 2004 we started
we moved to the farm in 2004 we started a garden we started growing food for our
a garden we started growing food for our
a garden we started growing food for our family and we started giving away all
family and we started giving away all
family and we started giving away all the surplus food we grew to our friends
the surplus food we grew to our friends
the surplus food we grew to our friends and neighbors and after a year or two we
and neighbors and after a year or two we
and neighbors and after a year or two we came up with the brilliant idea of
came up with the brilliant idea of
came up with the brilliant idea of actually farming the land we were living
actually farming the land we were living
actually farming the land we were living on we started selling in the farmers
on we started selling in the farmers
on we started selling in the farmers market in the nearby village of Creemore
market in the nearby village of Creemore
market in the nearby village of Creemore then we started selling to restaurants
then we started selling to restaurants
then we started selling to restaurants in Toronto and the farm grew slowly and
in Toronto and the farm grew slowly and
in Toronto and the farm grew slowly and very painfully until it became a
very painfully until it became a
very painfully until it became a full-time job for both of us now
full-time job for both of us now
full-time job for both of us now our farm has evolved over the years but
our farm has evolved over the years but
our farm has evolved over the years but from the very beginning we had a few
from the very beginning we had a few
from the very beginning we had a few defining attributes we were small we
defining attributes we were small we
defining attributes we were small we were organic we grew a huge diversity of
were organic we grew a huge diversity of
were organic we grew a huge diversity of vegetables and we sold everything we
vegetables and we sold everything we
vegetables and we sold everything we produced locally rather than shipping it
produced locally rather than shipping it
produced locally rather than shipping it far and wide this seemed like a logical
far and wide this seemed like a logical
far and wide this seemed like a logical plan to us when we started but the more
plan to us when we started but the more
plan to us when we started but the more we got to know our farm neighbors the
we got to know our farm neighbors the
we got to know our farm neighbors the more we realized that our farm was a
more we realized that our farm was a
more we realized that our farm was a freakish aberration on the local
freakish aberration on the local
freakish aberration on the local landscape all of our neighbors were
landscape all of our neighbors were
landscape all of our neighbors were growing commodity crops using huge
growing commodity crops using huge
growing commodity crops using huge machinery and lots of chemicals and they
machinery and lots of chemicals and they
machinery and lots of chemicals and they sold their output on the international
sold their output on the international
sold their output on the international market our neighbor bill who lived down
market our neighbor bill who lived down
market our neighbor bill who lived down the road told us that he would wake up
the road told us that he would wake up
the road told us that he would wake up every morning and check the soybean
every morning and check the soybean
every morning and check the soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile
futures on the Chicago Mercantile
futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange so he could forward sell his
Exchange so he could forward sell his
Exchange so he could forward sell his crop two years before he actually grew
crop two years before he actually grew
crop two years before he actually grew it if the price was right as urban
it if the price was right as urban
it if the price was right as urban transplants and beginner farmers these
transplants and beginner farmers these
transplants and beginner farmers these types of conversations made us feel very
types of conversations made us feel very
types of conversations made us feel very small and very unsafe
small and very unsafe
small and very unsafe educated our farm neighbors were also
educated our farm neighbors were also
educated our farm neighbors were also curious about what we were doing that’s
curious about what we were doing that’s
curious about what we were doing that’s actually that’s not true
actually that’s not true
actually that’s not true our farm neighbors thought we are crazy
our farm neighbors thought we are crazy
our farm neighbors thought we are crazy and listened they listened with morbid
and listened they listened with morbid
and listened they listened with morbid fascination as we tried to explain the
fascination as we tried to explain the
fascination as we tried to explain the delusional type of Agriculture we are
delusional type of Agriculture we are
delusional type of Agriculture we are practicing I would very earnestly
practicing I would very earnestly
practicing I would very earnestly describe what I thought were the
describe what I thought were the
describe what I thought were the benefits of small-scale organic farming
benefits of small-scale organic farming
benefits of small-scale organic farming but time and again I would get shut down
but time and again I would get shut down
but time and again I would get shut down by one simple argument the farmers we
by one simple argument the farmers we
by one simple argument the farmers we talked to were always very polite but
talked to were always very polite but
talked to were always very polite but they knew they could shut us up with
they knew they could shut us up with
they knew they could shut us up with conventional Agriculture’s knockout
conventional Agriculture’s knockout
conventional Agriculture’s knockout punch what you’re doing won’t feed the
punch what you’re doing won’t feed the
punch what you’re doing won’t feed the world now in the early years this
world now in the early years this
world now in the early years this argument was really terrifying to us
argument was really terrifying to us
argument was really terrifying to us maybe they were right we thought maybe
maybe they were right we thought maybe
maybe they were right we thought maybe the type of farming we’re promoting
the type of farming we’re promoting
the type of farming we’re promoting would lead to mass starvation this which
would lead to mass starvation this which
would lead to mass starvation this which is worrying of course this notion that
is worrying of course this notion that
is worrying of course this notion that the primary goal of conventional
the primary goal of conventional
the primary goal of conventional agriculture is to feed the world was
agriculture is to feed the world was
agriculture is to feed the world was something that the farmers we talked to
something that the farmers we talked to
something that the farmers we talked to had obviously deeply internalized they
had obviously deeply internalized they
had obviously deeply internalized they would often talk about the chemicals and
would often talk about the chemicals and
would often talk about the chemicals and machinery they used as a kind of
machinery they used as a kind of
machinery they used as a kind of necessary evil
necessary evil
necessary evil we don’t love spraying all the time and
we don’t love spraying all the time and
we don’t love spraying all the time and burning so much diesel but we have to if
burning so much diesel but we have to if
burning so much diesel but we have to if we want to feed the world this message
we want to feed the world this message
we want to feed the world this message is propagated and reinforced by the big
is propagated and reinforced by the big
is propagated and reinforced by the big agricultural companies that dominate our
agricultural companies that dominate our
agricultural companies that dominate our farming system there are constant
farming system there are constant
farming system there are constant references to the growing world
references to the growing world
references to the growing world population to the ever-increasing number
population to the ever-increasing number
population to the ever-increasing number of mouths we have to feed with more and
of mouths we have to feed with more and
of mouths we have to feed with more and more people sharing our planet we simply
more people sharing our planet we simply
more people sharing our planet we simply need more food now Gillian and I are big
need more food now Gillian and I are big
need more food now Gillian and I are big walkers we would often go on long walks
walkers we would often go on long walks
walkers we would often go on long walks from the farm and we would talk about
from the farm and we would talk about
from the farm and we would talk about this big idea and we’d also observe the
this big idea and we’d also observe the
this big idea and we’d also observe the large scale industrial farming system
large scale industrial farming system
large scale industrial farming system that dominates the landscape all around
that dominates the landscape all around
that dominates the landscape all around us as years went by our walks got longer
us as years went by our walks got longer
us as years went by our walks got longer and longer but no matter how far we
and longer but no matter how far we
and longer but no matter how far we ventured the landscape looked the same
ventured the landscape looked the same
ventured the landscape looked the same in every direction what we saw were huge
in every direction what we saw were huge
in every direction what we saw were huge fields growing just five crops corn soy
fields growing just five crops corn soy
fields growing just five crops corn soy wheat canola and hey let me show you
wheat canola and hey let me show you
wheat canola and hey let me show you what I mean this is what our farm looks
what I mean this is what our farm looks
what I mean this is what our farm looks like today this is taken in the spring
like today this is taken in the spring
like today this is taken in the spring when our crops are just starting to grow
when our crops are just starting to grow
when our crops are just starting to grow all of our gardens together total about
all of our gardens together total about
all of our gardens together total about 20 acres if we zoom out a bit we see our
20 acres if we zoom out a bit we see our
20 acres if we zoom out a bit we see our immediate neighbors each one of their
immediate neighbors each one of their
immediate neighbors each one of their feet
feet
feet is bigger than our whole garden area the
is bigger than our whole garden area the
is bigger than our whole garden area the field across the street from us grows
field across the street from us grows
field across the street from us grows corn one year and soy the next year
corn one year and soy the next year
corn one year and soy the next year after year if we zoom out more we see
after year if we zoom out more we see
after year if we zoom out more we see some fields that are 10 times as big as
some fields that are 10 times as big as
some fields that are 10 times as big as our whole operation 200 acres are more
our whole operation 200 acres are more
our whole operation 200 acres are more of just one crop but even at this scale
of just one crop but even at this scale
of just one crop but even at this scale it’s still just corn soy wheat canola
it’s still just corn soy wheat canola
it’s still just corn soy wheat canola and hay we could keep zooming out but
and hay we could keep zooming out but
and hay we could keep zooming out but the story would be the same all over
the story would be the same all over
the story would be the same all over North America vast stretches of the
North America vast stretches of the
North America vast stretches of the continent being dominated by just a few
continent being dominated by just a few
continent being dominated by just a few crops now we started to wander on these
crops now we started to wander on these
crops now we started to wander on these long walks just where all this food was
long walks just where all this food was
long walks just where all this food was going if the goal of the industrial
going if the goal of the industrial
going if the goal of the industrial farming system is to feed the world what
farming system is to feed the world what
farming system is to feed the world what exactly is the world being fed it didn’t
exactly is the world being fed it didn’t
exactly is the world being fed it didn’t take a whole lot of research to figure
take a whole lot of research to figure
take a whole lot of research to figure out the answer
out the answer
out the answer virtually everything that was being
virtually everything that was being
virtually everything that was being grown in our neighborhood was being used
grown in our neighborhood was being used
grown in our neighborhood was being used to make three things meat sugar and
to make three things meat sugar and
to make three things meat sugar and processed food we couldn’t wander into
processed food we couldn’t wander into
processed food we couldn’t wander into any of the fields we passed on our walks
any of the fields we passed on our walks
any of the fields we passed on our walks and pick something and eat it none of
and pick something and eat it none of
and pick something and eat it none of the corn that was growing in those huge
the corn that was growing in those huge
the corn that was growing in those huge fields was the kind of corn that you
fields was the kind of corn that you
fields was the kind of corn that you roll in butter it was all destined to
roll in butter it was all destined to
roll in butter it was all destined to make animal feed and high fructose corn
make animal feed and high fructose corn
make animal feed and high fructose corn syrup think about this the next time
syrup think about this the next time
syrup think about this the next time you’re driving past a farmer’s field if
you’re driving past a farmer’s field if
you’re driving past a farmer’s field if you were to stop the car and walk into
you were to stop the car and walk into
you were to stop the car and walk into that field would there be anything there
that field would there be anything there
that field would there be anything there that you could actually eat no matter
that you could actually eat no matter
that you could actually eat no matter where you are in North America the
where you are in North America the
where you are in North America the answer will almost always be no
answer will almost always be no
answer will almost always be no virtually everything that’s grown on a
virtually everything that’s grown on a
virtually everything that’s grown on a typical North American farm must be fed
typical North American farm must be fed
typical North American farm must be fed to animals or processed before it can be
to animals or processed before it can be
to animals or processed before it can be eaten
eaten
eaten that’s when Gillian and I started really
that’s when Gillian and I started really
that’s when Gillian and I started really questioned this assertion we kept
questioned this assertion we kept
questioned this assertion we kept hearing that industrial farming is
hearing that industrial farming is
hearing that industrial farming is necessary to feed the world it’s easy to
necessary to feed the world it’s easy to
necessary to feed the world it’s easy to agree when a farmer or a big
agree when a farmer or a big
agree when a farmer or a big agricultural company says the world
agricultural company says the world
agricultural company says the world needs more food but what if they said
needs more food but what if they said
needs more food but what if they said the world needs more meat sugar and
the world needs more meat sugar and
the world needs more meat sugar and processed food that doesn’t sound quite
processed food that doesn’t sound quite
processed food that doesn’t sound quite as compelling does anybody really think
as compelling does anybody really think
as compelling does anybody really think that the world needs more meat sugar and
that the world needs more meat sugar and
that the world needs more meat sugar and processed food what if we began to think
processed food what if we began to think
processed food what if we began to think all of the problems associated with our
all of the problems associated with our
all of the problems associated with our current food system the environmental
current food system the environmental
current food system the environmental the economic to health problems what if
the economic to health problems what if
the economic to health problems what if they weren’t a necessary evil that we
they weren’t a necessary evil that we
they weren’t a necessary evil that we have to accept in order to produce
have to accept in order to produce
have to accept in order to produce enough food but we’re instead a
enough food but we’re instead a
enough food but we’re instead a consequence of producing too much food
consequence of producing too much food
consequence of producing too much food and too much of the wrong kind of food
and too much of the wrong kind of food
and too much of the wrong kind of food that’s when things started to make sense
that’s when things started to make sense
that’s when things started to make sense it turns out there’s a huge global
it turns out there’s a huge global
it turns out there’s a huge global surplus of food recommendations for
surplus of food recommendations for
surplus of food recommendations for daily calorie intake vary according to
daily calorie intake vary according to
daily calorie intake vary according to your age your gender how active you are
your age your gender how active you are
your age your gender how active you are where you live if we take the US
where you live if we take the US
where you live if we take the US Department of Agriculture numbers
Department of Agriculture numbers
Department of Agriculture numbers moderately active adult men should eat
moderately active adult men should eat
moderately active adult men should eat about 2600 calories per day and 2,000
about 2600 calories per day and 2,000
about 2600 calories per day and 2,000 for women if we average out the
for women if we average out the
for women if we average out the recommendations for kids and older
recommendations for kids and older
recommendations for kids and older people on a global level we get a rough
people on a global level we get a rough
people on a global level we get a rough figure of 2,100 calories per person per
figure of 2,100 calories per person per
figure of 2,100 calories per person per day that’s the optimum but according to
day that’s the optimum but according to
day that’s the optimum but according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2013 there were
the United Nations in 2013 there were
the United Nations in 2013 there were almost 2,900 calories available for
almost 2,900 calories available for
almost 2,900 calories available for every woman man and child on the planet
every woman man and child on the planet
every woman man and child on the planet that’s a 37% surplus of calories and
that’s a 37% surplus of calories and
that’s a 37% surplus of calories and these figures are for food available at
these figures are for food available at
these figures are for food available at the household level that’s bought paid
the household level that’s bought paid
the household level that’s bought paid for ready-to-eat this doesn’t even
for ready-to-eat this doesn’t even
for ready-to-eat this doesn’t even account for the huge amount of food that
account for the huge amount of food that
account for the huge amount of food that is wasted before it gets to our homes
is wasted before it gets to our homes
is wasted before it gets to our homes now you might be thinking that these
now you might be thinking that these
now you might be thinking that these figures are skewed by massive
figures are skewed by massive
figures are skewed by massive overconsumption in rich countries but in
overconsumption in rich countries but in
overconsumption in rich countries but in Africa a continent we often associate
Africa a continent we often associate
Africa a continent we often associate with hunger and malnutrition
with hunger and malnutrition
with hunger and malnutrition there were over 2,600 calories available
there were over 2,600 calories available
there were over 2,600 calories available for every citizen well over the average
for every citizen well over the average
for every citizen well over the average daily requirements so after years of
daily requirements so after years of
daily requirements so after years of farming and observing what was happening
farming and observing what was happening
farming and observing what was happening in our own neighborhood and researching
in our own neighborhood and researching
in our own neighborhood and researching what was happening at a global level we
what was happening at a global level we
what was happening at a global level we came to a simple conclusion we’re
came to a simple conclusion we’re
came to a simple conclusion we’re producing too much food and too much of
producing too much food and too much of
producing too much food and too much of the wrong kind of food meat sugar and
the wrong kind of food meat sugar and
the wrong kind of food meat sugar and processed food so what are the
processed food so what are the
processed food so what are the consequences of that the first is simple
consequences of that the first is simple
consequences of that the first is simple our food system is making us fat and
our food system is making us fat and
our food system is making us fat and sick according to the british medical
sick according to the british medical
sick according to the british medical journal the lancet
journal the lancet
journal the lancet obesity now kills 3 times as many people
obesity now kills 3 times as many people
obesity now kills 3 times as many people as malnutrition and again this is no
as malnutrition and again this is no
as malnutrition and again this is no longer just a first world problem more
longer just a first world problem more
longer just a first world problem more than one in 10 Africans are now obese
than one in 10 Africans are now obese
than one in 10 Africans are now obese the rate for Latin Americans is almost
the rate for Latin Americans is almost
the rate for Latin Americans is almost one in four this is leading to an
one in four this is leading to an
one in four this is leading to an epidemic of diabetes heart disease
epidemic of diabetes heart disease
epidemic of diabetes heart disease cancer and other diet related illness
cancer and other diet related illness
cancer and other diet related illness that’s sweeping across the globe with
that’s sweeping across the globe with
that’s sweeping across the globe with massive economic and public health
massive economic and public health
massive economic and public health consequences overproduction of food is
consequences overproduction of food is
consequences overproduction of food is also having overwhelming environmental
also having overwhelming environmental
also having overwhelming environmental consequences
consequences
consequences there are huge dead zones in the Gulf of
there are huge dead zones in the Gulf of
there are huge dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico and the South China Sea caused
Mexico and the South China Sea caused
Mexico and the South China Sea caused primarily by agricultural runoff we’re
primarily by agricultural runoff we’re
primarily by agricultural runoff we’re the only thing that can survive our
the only thing that can survive our
the only thing that can survive our jellyfish on land agriculture is by far
jellyfish on land agriculture is by far
jellyfish on land agriculture is by far the biggest driver of habitat loss which
the biggest driver of habitat loss which
the biggest driver of habitat loss which is causing mass extinction the rapidly
is causing mass extinction the rapidly
is causing mass extinction the rapidly increasing use of systemic pesticides
increasing use of systemic pesticides
increasing use of systemic pesticides like neonicotinoids is wiping out
like neonicotinoids is wiping out
like neonicotinoids is wiping out insects and invertebrates at the bottom
insects and invertebrates at the bottom
insects and invertebrates at the bottom of the food chain leading to disruption
of the food chain leading to disruption
of the food chain leading to disruption of the scale of whole ecosystems too
of the scale of whole ecosystems too
of the scale of whole ecosystems too much food means that food is cheap which
much food means that food is cheap which
much food means that food is cheap which has all sorts of economic consequences
has all sorts of economic consequences
has all sorts of economic consequences the average Canadian farm loses money
the average Canadian farm loses money
the average Canadian farm loses money year after year razor-thin or negative
year after year razor-thin or negative
year after year razor-thin or negative margins of pushed farmers to get bigger
margins of pushed farmers to get bigger
margins of pushed farmers to get bigger and bigger to use bigger machinery more
and bigger to use bigger machinery more
and bigger to use bigger machinery more chemicals and less labor to try to get
chemicals and less labor to try to get
chemicals and less labor to try to get by rule North America has been
by rule North America has been
by rule North America has been depopulated as farm sizes increased and
depopulated as farm sizes increased and
depopulated as farm sizes increased and farm jobs have disappeared cheap food at
farm jobs have disappeared cheap food at
farm jobs have disappeared cheap food at the household level means more food
the household level means more food
the household level means more food waste some research have estimated that
waste some research have estimated that
waste some research have estimated that up to half the food we grow never gets
up to half the food we grow never gets
up to half the food we grow never gets eaten when food is so cheap we simply
eaten when food is so cheap we simply
eaten when food is so cheap we simply don’t value it but the impact of
don’t value it but the impact of
don’t value it but the impact of overproduction that I’m most concerned
overproduction that I’m most concerned
overproduction that I’m most concerned about is the impact on our climate the
about is the impact on our climate the
about is the impact on our climate the role of our food system in climate
role of our food system in climate
role of our food system in climate change is hard to overstate by most
change is hard to overstate by most
change is hard to overstate by most estimates animal agriculture alone
estimates animal agriculture alone
estimates animal agriculture alone produces more greenhouse gases than
produces more greenhouse gases than
produces more greenhouse gases than transportation think about that raising
transportation think about that raising
transportation think about that raising animals for meat puts more co2 methane
animals for meat puts more co2 methane
animals for meat puts more co2 methane and other heat-trapping gases into the
and other heat-trapping gases into the
and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere than all the planes trains
atmosphere than all the planes trains
atmosphere than all the planes trains and automobiles on the planet now I want
and automobiles on the planet now I want
and automobiles on the planet now I want to stress that hunger and malnutrition
to stress that hunger and malnutrition
to stress that hunger and malnutrition are still big problems but as we’ve seen
are still big problems but as we’ve seen
are still big problems but as we’ve seen we have a global surplus of food hunger
we have a global surplus of food hunger
we have a global surplus of food hunger and malnutrition are political problems
and malnutrition are political problems
and malnutrition are political problems caused by poverty inequality and armed
caused by poverty inequality and armed
caused by poverty inequality and armed conflict we won’t do anything to solve
conflict we won’t do anything to solve
conflict we won’t do anything to solve our hunger problem by increasing the
our hunger problem by increasing the
our hunger problem by increasing the food supply on the contrary the
food supply on the contrary the
food supply on the contrary the combination of poverty and abundant
combination of poverty and abundant
combination of poverty and abundant cheap calories has given rise to a new
cheap calories has given rise to a new
cheap calories has given rise to a new and rapidly growing problem people who
and rapidly growing problem people who
and rapidly growing problem people who are both obese and malnourished at the
are both obese and malnourished at the
are both obese and malnourished at the same time when we understand that we
same time when we understand that we
same time when we understand that we have too much food all of the problems
have too much food all of the problems
have too much food all of the problems of our food system makes sense and the
of our food system makes sense and the
of our food system makes sense and the central role of food in so many of the
central role of food in so many of the
central role of food in so many of the big pressing issues we face becomes
big pressing issues we face becomes
big pressing issues we face becomes clear now
clear now
clear now this is a long list of problems it would
this is a long list of problems it would
this is a long list of problems it would be really easy to look at this list and
be really easy to look at this list and
be really easy to look at this list and become hopelessly depressed but we can
become hopelessly depressed but we can
become hopelessly depressed but we can also see this list as an opportunity if
also see this list as an opportunity if
also see this list as an opportunity if food is so central to so many problems
food is so central to so many problems
food is so central to so many problems then changing the food system can help
then changing the food system can help
then changing the food system can help us address all of these problems all at
us address all of these problems all at
us address all of these problems all at the same time so what can we do to start
the same time so what can we do to start
the same time so what can we do to start we need to fundamentally change our
we need to fundamentally change our
we need to fundamentally change our mindset as human beings were hardwired
mindset as human beings were hardwired
mindset as human beings were hardwired to think that we always need more food
to think that we always need more food
to think that we always need more food but that’s no longer the case we don’t
but that’s no longer the case we don’t
but that’s no longer the case we don’t need more food we don’t need more food
need more food we don’t need more food
need more food we don’t need more food in an individual level or at a global
in an individual level or at a global
in an individual level or at a global level we need less food but more
level we need less food but more
level we need less food but more importantly we need different food we
importantly we need different food we
importantly we need different food we need better food as an individual
need better food as an individual
need better food as an individual consumer you can have an impact on the
consumer you can have an impact on the
consumer you can have an impact on the entire food system simply by what you
entire food system simply by what you
entire food system simply by what you choose to buy and eat the first step is
choose to buy and eat the first step is
choose to buy and eat the first step is simple eat less meat if we all ate less
simple eat less meat if we all ate less
simple eat less meat if we all ate less meat we would improve human health we’d
meat we would improve human health we’d
meat we would improve human health we’d slow down climate change but we had also
slow down climate change but we had also
slow down climate change but we had also free up millions of acres of farmland
free up millions of acres of farmland
free up millions of acres of farmland that are currently growing animal feed
that are currently growing animal feed
that are currently growing animal feed to grow healthier foods which is the
to grow healthier foods which is the
to grow healthier foods which is the best way to feed a growing population if
best way to feed a growing population if
best way to feed a growing population if you do eat meat
you do eat meat
you do eat meat choose grass-fed and organic okay what
choose grass-fed and organic okay what
choose grass-fed and organic okay what else we need to eat more fruits and
else we need to eat more fruits and
else we need to eat more fruits and vegetables and again choose local and
vegetables and again choose local and
vegetables and again choose local and organic we need to eat less sugar now I
organic we need to eat less sugar now I
organic we need to eat less sugar now I know you’re sitting there and thinking
know you’re sitting there and thinking
know you’re sitting there and thinking I’m starting to sound like your mother I
I’m starting to sound like your mother I
I’m starting to sound like your mother I apologize but the great thing about this
apologize but the great thing about this
apologize but the great thing about this prescription is that whatever is good
prescription is that whatever is good
prescription is that whatever is good for you is also good for the planet now
for you is also good for the planet now
for you is also good for the planet now I’m going to say something else that my
I’m going to say something else that my
I’m going to say something else that my mother at least would never say don’t be
mother at least would never say don’t be
mother at least would never say don’t be afraid to pay more for food when we buy
afraid to pay more for food when we buy
afraid to pay more for food when we buy cheap food the true cost of that food is
cheap food the true cost of that food is
cheap food the true cost of that food is borne by farmers by farm workers by the
borne by farmers by farm workers by the
borne by farmers by farm workers by the environment and by our own bodies North
environment and by our own bodies North
environment and by our own bodies North Americans spend less of their income on
Americans spend less of their income on
Americans spend less of their income on food than any other Society in history
food than any other Society in history
food than any other Society in history good food is more expensive we can and
good food is more expensive we can and
good food is more expensive we can and should pay more individual actions like
should pay more individual actions like
should pay more individual actions like these are important but they’re not
these are important but they’re not
these are important but they’re not enough we also need to work collectively
enough we also need to work collectively
enough we also need to work collectively to change food policy at the local and
to change food policy at the local and
to change food policy at the local and national levels sugar is harmful and
national levels sugar is harmful and
national levels sugar is harmful and addictive it should be taxed
addictive it should be taxed
addictive it should be taxed we need an aggressive public health
we need an aggressive public health
we need an aggressive public health campaign to encourage people to eat less
campaign to encourage people to eat less
campaign to encourage people to eat less meat we need to end the subsidies that
meat we need to end the subsidies that
meat we need to end the subsidies that encourage overproduction of commodity
encourage overproduction of commodity
encourage overproduction of commodity crops especially and I haven’t talked
crops especially and I haven’t talked
crops especially and I haven’t talked about this yet but it’s very important
about this yet but it’s very important
about this yet but it’s very important we need to end some
we need to end some
we need to end some cities and mandates for corn ethanol
cities and mandates for corn ethanol
cities and mandates for corn ethanol which is very costly consumes millions
which is very costly consumes millions
which is very costly consumes millions of acres of farmland and has zero
of acres of farmland and has zero
of acres of farmland and has zero environmental benefit we need to support
environmental benefit we need to support
environmental benefit we need to support farmers as they transition to more
farmers as they transition to more
farmers as they transition to more sustainable methods and convert to
sustainable methods and convert to
sustainable methods and convert to organic production switching to more
organic production switching to more
organic production switching to more sustainable farming methods is not easy
sustainable farming methods is not easy
sustainable farming methods is not easy or cheap and it won’t happen without
or cheap and it won’t happen without
or cheap and it won’t happen without public support now according to the Food
public support now according to the Food
public support now according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
and Agriculture Organization of the UN
and Agriculture Organization of the UN small-scale farmers in the developing
small-scale farmers in the developing
small-scale farmers in the developing world most of them women already produce
world most of them women already produce
world most of them women already produce the majority of the world’s food the
the majority of the world’s food the
the majority of the world’s food the truth is that industrial agriculture
truth is that industrial agriculture
truth is that industrial agriculture doesn’t feed the world small family
doesn’t feed the world small family
doesn’t feed the world small family farms do we need to support these small
farms do we need to support these small
farms do we need to support these small farmers so that they can meet the
farmers so that they can meet the
farmers so that they can meet the continuing challenge of growing good
continuing challenge of growing good
continuing challenge of growing good food for all now Gillian and I have come
food for all now Gillian and I have come
food for all now Gillian and I have come a long way since we packed up and moved
a long way since we packed up and moved
a long way since we packed up and moved out of the city more than a dozen years
out of the city more than a dozen years
out of the city more than a dozen years ago our farm is still small and organic
ago our farm is still small and organic
ago our farm is still small and organic but it’s also profitable we’ve paid down
but it’s also profitable we’ve paid down
but it’s also profitable we’ve paid down all our debt our farm is our family’s
all our debt our farm is our family’s
all our debt our farm is our family’s sole source of income and we also
sole source of income and we also
sole source of income and we also provide jobs for nine full-time seasonal
provide jobs for nine full-time seasonal
provide jobs for nine full-time seasonal employees this year we’ll produce well
employees this year we’ll produce well
employees this year we’ll produce well over half a million servings of fresh
over half a million servings of fresh
over half a million servings of fresh organic vegetables on our little 20 acre
organic vegetables on our little 20 acre
organic vegetables on our little 20 acre farm our farm is still an aberration but
farm our farm is still an aberration but
farm our farm is still an aberration but in a good way we think we found a viable
in a good way we think we found a viable
in a good way we think we found a viable alternative to industrial agriculture
alternative to industrial agriculture
alternative to industrial agriculture and our farm is far from unique all
and our farm is far from unique all
and our farm is far from unique all across the food system we’re starting to
across the food system we’re starting to
across the food system we’re starting to see positive change if you’re a chef a
see positive change if you’re a chef a
see positive change if you’re a chef a food entrepreneur a foodie an aspiring
food entrepreneur a foodie an aspiring
food entrepreneur a foodie an aspiring farmer or just a plain old eater you
farmer or just a plain old eater you
farmer or just a plain old eater you have a role to play in changing the food
have a role to play in changing the food
have a role to play in changing the food system you have a role to play in making
system you have a role to play in making
system you have a role to play in making the change we need start now thank you
the change we need start now thank you
the change we need start now thank you [Applause]
”
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