Agroecology and the Struggle for Food Sovereignty ... - Yale University

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agroecology and the struggle for food sovereignty
Q: Is there a need for public infrastructure to process agricultural goods?
A: We definitely need new processing facilities and marketplaces, which could be
encouraged with government assistance. Their success will depend on a true
commitment, because there can be great risk in such new ventures, and we don’t need
new examples of failure.
Q: I’ve heard you talk about instances where well-meaning advocacy groups
support policies that end up being detrimental to their cause. Could you describe
how you go about examining these issues? How could others do this better?
A: There are certain agricultural policies that have been advocated over the years.
There are some that seem to make sense, and appeal to people wanting to have family
farms and protect the environment, but they actually don’t. I don’t want to say it’s a
conspiracy, but there is certainly more money out there for these sorts of findings.
That kind of thinking is based on a dislike of big farmers, as if they are the enemy.
Some advocates of “greener” farm policy say, “Since big farmers are such advocates of
the free market, let’s give them the free-market price for grain. And we’re going to give
government payments to small and medium farmers, or farmers who are doing the
right, sustainable thing.”
That’s a very appealing way of looking at the problem. But in reality, the big
corporations who really are in control of foreign policy and who really stand to
benefit from cheap prices don’t care how government farm payments are distributed.
All they care about is getting their cheap commodities.
If you say, “Oh, we’re going to let the big farmers get stuck with the free-market
price,” then the free-market price is low grain prices for everyone. The big companies
can still buy their grain cheap, and you’ve split up the farm community. You’ve split
up your political forces by trying to draw some line between ...big farmers [who are]
unworthy of any help, and . . . small farmers [who] need help. Where are you going
to draw that line?
There can only be one market price that should cover the cost of production. Then
you need incentives for family farm livestock production and conservation, like the
Conservation Security Program. We should end subsidized crop insurance and provide
a disaster program with caps on payments so we don’t underwrite the risks of
farm expansion.
Q: It’s exciting to hear from an advocate of farming communities and farmer’s
rights in the United States who also has a global perspective about agricultural
issues. I’ve heard you talk about how a price floor in the United States could benefit
farmers in other countries too. Could you explain that? I’ve also heard you say that
a price floor in the United States could be undermined by lower prices of
agricultural commodities from abroad. How would this happen? Does it vary by
commodity?
A: It’s important to realize that grains and oilseeds have always been important
because they can be stored and transported easily. They aren’t perishable.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies