I've been reading up on Earl L. Butz. He was the man -largely- responsible for the creation of our modern corporate food system. 1976- he steadfastly championed farmers' use of pesticides and herbicides despite the burgeoning wave of sharp scientific criticism holding these precise artificial sprays as culprits of newfound environmental and human health devastation. Yet Buts met criticism with smart, timely rebuttals stating that a switch to organic farming would condemn 50 million people to starvation. Otherwise put, organic farming is de facto unable to meet the global (and certainly national) demand for food. This is a difficult claim to disprove, moreover, it is unimaginable to rebuke when 50 million lives seemingly hang in the balance - touché Mr. Butz.
2011 -however, courtesy of Mr. Mark Bittman, he asserts that this information may be sorely dated. He -along with the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization- believe that nearly organic growing, or "sustainable growing" can feed the world's population. This is big, big news that has the potential to transform food production as we know it.
His article is HERE
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