Corporations control our food ...
-In the U.S., four companies pack 83.5% of beef and 66% of pork, and crush 80% of soybeans.
-Two companies sell 58% of all U.S. seed corn.
-Corporations produce 98% of poultry in the U.S.
Which promotes industrial agriculture.
-In 2006, farms larger than 2,000 acres made up 7% of all farms receiving government aid, but they got 26% of the money.
-In 1935, the average farm was 135 acres. In 2002, average was 441 acres, median was 2,190.
-2% of farms produce 50% of all agricultural products in the country.
CORPORATIONS ALSO CONTROL OUR FARMING METHODS...
-U.S. farmers use 2 billion kg of pesticides per year. (Worldwide use is 10 billion kg.)
-Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant crops have led to a 122-million pound increase in pesticide use.
-In 2000, 25% of corn and 54% of soybeans grown in the U.S. were genetically modified. In 2008, the numbers were 80% and 92%.
and control WHAT FOODS WE EAT...
-Iceberg lettuce, frozen and fried potatoes, potato chips, and canned tomatoes make up almost half of U.S. vegetable consumption.
-In 1967, U.S. per capita consumption of high fructose corn syrup was 0.03 pounds per year. In 2006, it was 58.2. Total consumption of all sweeteners went up 23% in the same period.
-75% of the world’s food is generated from just 12 varieties of plants and five animal species.
Making us sick and creating food insecurity ...
-In 2007, before the current recession, 36.2 million people in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households, including 12.4 million children.
-Global food prices increased almost 50% in 2008.
-Americans generate roughly 30 million tons of food waste each year.
-66% of adult Americans are overweight or obese.
And environmental disasters.
-The "dead zone" at the mouth of the Mississippi River is now 8,000 square miles—about the size of New Jersey.
-38% of agricultural lands worldwide are designated "degraded."
-Livestock production creates 18% of greenhouse gases globally.
-In the U.S., four companies pack 83.5% of beef and 66% of pork, and crush 80% of soybeans.
-Two companies sell 58% of all U.S. seed corn.
-Corporations produce 98% of poultry in the U.S.
Which promotes industrial agriculture.
-In 2006, farms larger than 2,000 acres made up 7% of all farms receiving government aid, but they got 26% of the money.
-In 1935, the average farm was 135 acres. In 2002, average was 441 acres, median was 2,190.
-2% of farms produce 50% of all agricultural products in the country.
CORPORATIONS ALSO CONTROL OUR FARMING METHODS...
-U.S. farmers use 2 billion kg of pesticides per year. (Worldwide use is 10 billion kg.)
-Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant crops have led to a 122-million pound increase in pesticide use.
-In 2000, 25% of corn and 54% of soybeans grown in the U.S. were genetically modified. In 2008, the numbers were 80% and 92%.
and control WHAT FOODS WE EAT...
-Iceberg lettuce, frozen and fried potatoes, potato chips, and canned tomatoes make up almost half of U.S. vegetable consumption.
-In 1967, U.S. per capita consumption of high fructose corn syrup was 0.03 pounds per year. In 2006, it was 58.2. Total consumption of all sweeteners went up 23% in the same period.
-75% of the world’s food is generated from just 12 varieties of plants and five animal species.
Making us sick and creating food insecurity ...
-In 2007, before the current recession, 36.2 million people in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households, including 12.4 million children.
-Global food prices increased almost 50% in 2008.
-Americans generate roughly 30 million tons of food waste each year.
-66% of adult Americans are overweight or obese.
And environmental disasters.
-The "dead zone" at the mouth of the Mississippi River is now 8,000 square miles—about the size of New Jersey.
-38% of agricultural lands worldwide are designated "degraded."
-Livestock production creates 18% of greenhouse gases globally.