Donald Trump Is Terrible News For Our Food System

In a more recent development, Trump’s selection of agribusiness lobbyist Michael Torrey, who is reportedly heading the administration’s transition of the Department of Agriculture, has also raised eyebrows.

According to Open Secrets, Torrey’s firm’s biggest recent clients have included the soda-touting American Beverage Association, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau, the Snack Food Association and pizza giant Little Caesar’s — all groups whose interests would appear to run counter to those of the “good food” movement.

In addition, a “talking points” document reportedly created for Trump’s ag advisory committee obtained this week by Politico vowed to “defend American agriculture against its critics, particularly those who have never grown or produced anything beyond a backyard tomato plant” and return to conventional, as opposed to organic, farming methods.

Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank cofounder and president, admitted that the election of the fast food-loving Trump is “a different fight than many of us [in the food movement] anticipated.” But she is not dwelling on it.

“The country elected [Trump] and we have to work with him. A lot of us are not happy about it, but now we need to move forward,” Nierenberg said.

She did point to signs of hope in the appointment of two members of Trump’s ag advisory committee: former California secretary of food and agriculture A.G. Kawamura, who Nierenberg called a “big proponent” of urban farming, and U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), current chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and a “really good guy” she is optimistic will be open to hearing from food advocates.

Nierenberg is hopeful that individuals like them will be open to concerns about sustainability and ethics in our food system over the next four years.

“We have to find people on that side of the debate who will really listen to us and are open to different viewpoints and possibilities,” Nierenberg added. “But we have to make those inroads. We just don’t have a choice now.”

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Joseph Erbentraut covers promising innovations and challenges in the areas of food and water. In addition, Erbentraut explores the evolving ways Americans are identifying and defining themselves. Follow Erbentraut on Twitter at @robojojo. Tips? Email [email protected].