Food Security

FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY...

THE CRACKS IN OUR ABUNDANT PERHAPS AFFORDABLE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN?

[♪♪♪] HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

THIS WEEK, WE TAKE AN INDEPTH LOOK AT FOOD SECURITY.

FOOD SECURITY IS A TERM WITH MANY POSSIBLE DEFINITIONS.

WE DEFINE IT AS: AVAILABILITY, SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, ADEQUACY AND AFFORDABLE COST OF FOOD.

ISSUES WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HERE IN THE U.S., RIGHT?

WELL, NOT EXACTLY.

WE LOOK AT HOW A GROWING DIVERSE POPULATION CHANGING TASTES AND OUR FARMING METHODS ARE STRAINING OUR FOOD SYSTEM AND PUTTING US AT RISK FOR FOOD INSECURITY.

AMERICANS LOVE TO EAT.

AT HOME, IN RESTAURANTS, EVEN ON THE STREETS.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AMERICANS SPEND BETWEEN FINE-11% OF HER INCOME ON FOOD AND MOST DO NOT WORRY THAT THEY WILL GO WITHOUT SOMETHING TO EAT.

>> EVERYTHING IS JUST SO MADE AVAILABLE.

IF I AM HUNGRY, I JUST CAN GO TO THE 24 HOUR GROCERY STORE.

>> ALTHOUGH MOST AMERICANS TAKE THEIR FOOD FOR GRANTED THE FOOD SYSTEM IN THE U.S. IS COMPLICATED.

THE U.S. HAS THE MOST HIGH-TECH, REGULATED AND RELIABLE NET EXWOULD OF FOOD PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD.

BUT DESPITE OUR ABUNDANT SUPPLY WE ARE NOT THE LARGEST FOOD PRODUCER IN THE WORLD.

CHINA AND INDIA PRODUCE MORE FOOD.

MAINLY BECAUSE THEY GROW RICE WHILE THE U.S.

PRODUCES MORE PROTEINS, SUCH AS BEEF, PORK AND POULTRY.

THE U.S. HAS ALSO BEEN A NET EXPORTER OF FOOD SINCE 1960.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE U.S. IS FOOD SELF SUFFICIENT.

IN FACT WE ARE BECOMING LESS ABLE TO SUPPLY OUR OWN FOOD AND BECOMING MORE RELIANT ON IMPORTS.

THE REASONS: A GROWING ETHNICITY DIVERSE POPULATION DEMANDING MORE VARIETIES OF FOOD OF ALL KINDS.

AMERICANS WANT BETTER QUALITY.

MORE CONVENIENCE, AND AN INCREASINGLY WIDER SELECTION OF SEASONAL FOOD PRODUCTS YEAR-ROUND.

>> WE HAVE THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION THAT THIS IS MUCH MORE DIVERSE SOCIETY.

AND THAT WE HAVE THE IMPACT OF POPULATION GROWTH FOR EXAMPLE OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS THE POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED.

SO THAT CREATES MORE POPULATION DENSITY.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE TOGETHER.

>> SO A DROUGHT OR A CUE IN A SUPPLIER COUNTRY WOULD INTERRUPT SUPPLY OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OR LEAVE US WITHOUT ACCESS TO IT FOR A LONGTIME.

CONSIDER THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT.

EAST COAST GROCERY STORES POSTED NOTICES THAT PRODUCT PRICES IN PISTACHIOS ARE HEADING SKYWARD BECAUSE THEY COME FROM CALIFORNIA.

EXPERTS ADD THE COMPLETE EFFECTS OF THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT ON FOOD AVAILABILITY ARE NOT YET KNOWN BUT CALIFORNIA IS USING POSSIBLY EXHAUSTING ITS GROUND WATER RESOURCES.

>> WE USE THAT GROUND WATER NOT AS OUR SAVING ACCOUNT BUT OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT BEFORE THE DROUGHT.

AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOW WE HAVE WAY LESS GROUND WATER THAN WE SHOULD.

AND THAT IS THE FINAL RESORT.

HOW MUCH WATER WE HAVE IN THE GROUND IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

>> WITHOUT THE WATER IT CAN BECOME UNUSABLE.

IT'S CREATING CRACKS IN U.S. FOOD SECURITY.

>> AS LONG AS CONSUMERS DEMAPPED THE DIVERSITY OF FOODS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPORT.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CLIMATE TO GROW EVERYTHING HERE AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE LOWEST COST PRODUCER ALSO.

SO IMPORTS IN A GLOBAL FOOD MARKET ARE THE FUTURE.

>> THE POPULATION GROWTH INCREASES THE TOTAL DEMAND FOR FOOD MORE PEOPLE TO FEED.

SO ONE IMPACT IS THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE FOOD PRICES BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY INCREASED THE PRODUCTIVE LAND ENOUGH FOR THAT.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO IMPORT OR OTHERWISE CERTAIN THINGS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE.

>> THE GROWTH AND DIVERSITY IN POPULATION HAS BEEN INCREASING OUR IMPORTS OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE, U.S. FOOD IMPORTS GREW FROM 41 BILLION IN 1999 TO ALMOST 110 BILLION IN 2013.

MUCH OF THE GROWTH HAS BEEN IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED FOODS AND SEAFOOD.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOMEPLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE FRESH AND LOCAL SEAFOOD, AN ESTIMATED 90% OF THE SEAFOOD AMERICANS EAT IS IMPORTED.

ABOUT HALF OF THAT COMES FROM AQUA CULTURE OR FARM-RAISED FISH.

IN 2013, CHINA EXPORTED 2.5 BILLION WORTH OF TILAPIA, COD, SHRIMP AND SALMON TO THE U.S THAILAND, CHINA AND VIETNAM SUPPLY MOST OF THE SHRIMP WE EAT AND TILAPIA, A NAME FOR MANY TYPES OF FISH AND ONE THAT IS FARM RAISED COMES FROM CHINA, INDONESIA, ECUADOR AND HONDURAS.

ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, ASIDE FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, U.S. CONSUMERS OFTEN HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW IMPORTED FISH WAS CAUGHT OR PRODUCED.

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD WE IMPORT.

WE KNOW THE DOLLAR VALUE OF WHAT COMES ACROSS THE BORDER AS IT'S CLAIMED.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FOREIGN CONTENT IS OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE EAT EVERYDAY.

>> REGULATING IMPORTS INTO THE COUNTRY IS THE JOB OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

SINCE THE AGENCY ONLY PHYSICALLY INSPECTS 2-1% OF IMPORTS IT RELIES ON DATA SUBMITTED FROM IMPORTERS AND ON PAST PERFORMANCE OF VIOLATORS.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE MORE THAN 17,000 IMPORTED FOOD SHIPMENTS REJECTED BY THE FDA.

SOME OF THE REASONS ACCORDING TO FDA LABELING, THE FOOD WAS PUTRID.

IT WAS MISSING INFORMATION OR CONTAINED SALMONELLA.

BUT CRITICS OF THE AGENCY SAY THE REFUSAL RATES STAYED THE SAME AND IMPORTS HAVE GROWN AND THE FDA IS NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE GROWING IMPORTS.

>> THE EXPECTATION IS EVERYTHING IS SAFE.

AND FDA IS DOING EVERYTHING APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY.

BUT THE 180 RULE WILL SAY WRONG.

THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND IT'S BY DYSFUNCTION AND NOT HAVING THE APPROPRIATE SETUP OR SYSTEMS IN PLACE CULTURALLY OR PHYSICALLY.

>> NIELSON SAYS THE AGENCY HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT IMPORTS BUT NOT THE RIGHT KIND OF INFORMATION.

>> KEEP IN MIND THE EXISTING SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE BOTH WITH CUSTOMS AND FDA IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE INFORMATION THAT CONSUMER GETS WHEN THEY PURCHASE SOMETHING AT THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU GET A RECEIPT AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE PRODUCT.

AND YOU GOT A RECEIPT.

THAT IDENTIFIES IT.

AND WHAT THE COST IS.

THAT IS BASICALLY INVOICE INFORMATION.

AND THAT IS ALSO WHAT IS AVAILABLE LARGELY TO THE AGENCY AT THE BORDER.

>> EXPERTS SAY NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING ABOUT WHERE OR HOW IMPORTED FOOD IS PRODUCED LEAVES VULNERABILITIES IN THE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEM.

>> WHAT IS RISKY IS NOT KNOWING THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT IS SOURCING THE FOOD.

I AM MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A GOOD COMPANY IN A BAD COUNTRY THAN A MEDIOCRE COMPANY IN A GOOD COUNTRY.

>> NOT KNOWING HOW FOOD IS PRODUCED CAN AND HAS LED TO ILLNESS AND DEATH.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTS THAT ONE IN SIX AMERICANS OR 48 MILLION PEOPLE GET SICK FROM FOOD-BORNE DISEASES EACH YEAR.

3,000 DIE.

AND OUTBREAKS LINKED TO IMPORTED FOODS ROSE FROM 2005-2010.

OVER THOSE FIVE YEARS, IMPORTED FOODS CAUSED 39 OUTBREAKS AND 2348 REPORTED ILLNESSES.

THE MOST COMMON CULPRITS: FISH AND SPICES.

PARTICULARLY PEPPERS.

FISH WERE BEHIND 17 OF THE OUTBREAKS.

SPICES WERE THE SOURCE OF SIX OUTBREAKS, FIVE OF WHICH WERE TRACED TO FRESH OR DRIED PEPPERS.

ALMOST HALF OF THE FOODS CAUSING THE OUTBREAKS, 45% CAME FROM ASIA.

AND THE CDC WARNS THE STATISTICS ARE MOST LIKELY UNDERESTIMATED BECAUSE MANY OUTBREAKS ARE NEVER DISCOVERED AND BECAUSE NOT ALL ILLNESSES ARE REPORTED.

FOOD-BORNE ILLNESS COSTS THE ECONOMY MORE THAN $14.6 BILLION ANNUALLY ACCORDING TO A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

STEF MAN IS ONE OF THE ONE IN SIX STATISTICS.

HE BECAME VIOLENTLY ILL AFTER EATING PEPPERONI PIZZA.

>> I DROVE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE AND TOOK THE KEYS OUT AND GAVE THE LADY MY KEYS AND SAID I'M PARKED IN FRONT I'M SICK.

I THOUGHT I WAS DYING.

I WAS LITERALLY THAT SICK.

I HAD NEVER BEEN THAT SICK BEFORE EVER.

>> STEFAN WAS NOT ALONE.

HE WAS TOLD THERE WERE OTHERS WHO WERE SICK FROM THE PEPPERONI.

>> SHE SAID YOU ARE THE 11TH PERSON WHO HAS COME IN HERE TODAY THAT HAD A PEPPERONI PIZZA AND THEY WERE FROM ALL DIFFERENT PLACES BURT THEY WERE ALL USING THE SAME DISTRIBUTOR AND THEY HAD A BAD BATCH OF PEPPERONI.

>> AFTER GOING ON AN IV FOR FLUIDS AND GETTING HIS STOMACH PUMPED HE WAS RELEASED.

>> I NEVER BEEN THAT SICK.

NEVER HAD FOOD POISONING BEFORE.

AND NEVER WANT IT AGAIN.

>> TAINTED IMPORTS ARE ALSO SOMETIMES KILLING OUR PETS.

SINCE 2007, THE FDA HAS BEEN RECEIVING COMPLAINTS AND BEEN INVESTIGATING PET TREATS FROM CHINA.

MORE THAN 1,000 DOGS AND CATS DIED AND ANIMATE ESTIMATED 5,000 HAVE BECOME ILL FOR EATING FROM THE TREATS.

IT'S REPORTED THAT A FEW CHILDREN HAVE BECOME ILL FROM EATING THE PET TREATS.

THE FDA HAS NOT BARRED ENTRY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TREATS BUT IT WARNS OWNERS THEY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT MANUFACTURERS DO NOT NEED TO LIST THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR EACH INFREEDIENT USED IN THEIR PRODUCTS AND THUS MAY STILL CONTAIN INGREEDIENTS SOURCED FROM CHINA OR OTHER COUNTRIES THAT EXPORT TO THE U.S AS THE POPULATION GROWS AND THE U.S.

DEPENDS ON MORE IMPORTS, THE RISK FOR ILLNESS AND FOR FOOD INSECURITY GOES UP.

SO AMBER, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST RISK TO OUR FOOD SECURITY?

>> I THINK BECAUSE OF OUR GROWING POPULATION AND THE DEMANDS IT PUTS ON OUR FOOD SUPPLY SYSTEM, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THAT SUPPLY CHAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IMPORT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO TRACK WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND HOW IT'S PROCESSED IT POSES SERIOUS RISKS.

>> I THINK WATER.

THE SUPPLY OF WATER.

THE LACK OF IT.

SELLING OUR WATER.

THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE SECURITY RISK TO OUR FOOD SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> HOW DO YOU FIX THAT?

>> IT IS A BIG THING BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.

WE HAVE TO QUIT ALLOWING THERE TO BE GOLF COURSES IN ARIZONA.

AND USING WATER SUPPLY TO MAKE THAT GREEN.

I MEAN THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO GET REAL ABOUT.

WE CANNOT HAVE UNLIMITED WATER AND PAY $50 A MONTH FOR YOUR WATER.

>> AND THE DEMAPPED FOR A MORE DIVERSE FOOD SUPPLY IS A PRESSURE WITH IMMIGRATION WE SEE THAT NEED RISE.

AND AMERICANS ARE REALLY USED TO AFFORDABLE FOOD AND AS WE ARE GOING TO SEE CHANGES IN OUR POPULATION WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHY CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN IN A DROUGHT FOR THE PAST YEAR.

AND WHY THERE ARE -- >> FOUR YEARS.

>> FOUR YEARS.

AND WHY WE ARE HAVING A DROUGHT AND HOW THAT IS AFFECTING THE REST OF US.

UNLESS WE HOLD OUR POLICYMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREATING CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO GET OUR FOOD.

>> A GROWING POPULATION IS DEMAPPEDDING A GREATER VARIETY OF FOODS AND MORE CONVENIENT FOODS AND SEASONAL FOODS ALL YEAR ROUND WHICH CREATE CRACKS IN U.S. FOOD SECURITY.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING OUR FOOD SUPPLY AS WELL.

THEY INCLUDE: VULNERABILITIES IN OUR FOOD TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS AND THE CHALLENGES OF FEEDING A GROWING POPULATION IN A FINITE WORLD.

>> 15% OR MORE OF THE FOOD WE EAT COMES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND THAT NUMBER IS RISING EVERY YEAR.

[♪♪♪] ♪AS WE DEPEND ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR FOOD, THE DISRUPTION TO OUR FOODIES CONTRIBUTION SYSTEM INCREASES.

FOR EXAMPLE, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES, THE LARGEST U.S. SEAPORT WITH 29 OTHER WEST COAST SEAPORTS WOULD SHUTDOWN BY A LABOR DISPUTE.

THE WORK STOPPAGE CREATED A LOG JAM LINES OF HUGE CONTAINER SHIPS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE PORTS WHILE TRUCKERS SAT IDENTIFY DELL.

THE PORT SLOW DOWN WAS DOMESTIC AND TEMPORARY BUT OTHER FOODIESRUPTIONS COULD BE MORE COMPLICATED.

FOREIGN REGULATORY LAWS, SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE LARGE DISRUPTIONS TO IMPORTS.

IT HAS HAPPENED.

IN 2003, AN ESTIMATED 1.7 MILLION HEAD OF CANADIAN BEEF WERE STOPPED FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY BY MAD COW DISEASE.

AND IN FEBRUARY OF 2015, CANADA WAS HIT AGAIN CONFIRMING THE FIRST CASE OF MAD COW SINCE 2011.

DURING THE YEARS THAT CANADIAN BEEF WAS BANNED, ANOTHER LARGE U.S. TRADING PARTNER STILL STATE CAPITOL FILLED THE GAP.

MEXICO.

BUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THE DISEASE HIT MEXICO'S CATTLE?

OR THERE WAS A SECURITY THREAT AT THE BORDER AND TRADE STOPPED?

BOTH CONSIDERED HIGHLY PLAUSIBLE BY EXPERTS.

WHAT IF A COUP TOOK PLACE IN THAILAND WHERE MUCH OF OUR SHRIMP HAILS.

>> THERE WOULD BE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ISSUES WITH RELIANCE ON FOOD FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

IF YOU HAVE AREAS THAT USED TO EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES AND THEN BECOME POLITICALLY UNSTABLE AND MAY END UP EXPORTING LESS IF ANYTHING AT ALL, THAT WOULD REDUCE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FOOD.

>> OUR MOST FOOD INSECURE STATE IS HAWAII.

THE ISLANDS IMPORT 90% OF THE FOOD CONSUMED THERE.

THAT MAKES IT VULNERABLE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND GLOBAL EVENTS DISRUPTING SHIPMENTS.

PREPARING FOR THE UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS, THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND OFFICE OF PLANNING CREATED A FOOD SECURITY AND SELF SUFFICIENCY TRAGEDY IN 2012.

IT DESCRIBED HOW THE STATE COULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND BECOME LESS RELIANT ON IMPORTS.

AND THIS YEAR, THE STATE IS PUTTING MONEY BEHIND CONCEPTS CREATED TO BECOME MORE FOOD SECURE AND SELF SUFFICIENT.

IT'S SUPPORTING THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRIES' EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY.

ALTHOUGH IMPORTS POSE MANY RISKS FOR FOOD SECURITY, EVEN FOOD GROWN ON OUR OWN SOIL CAN BECOME VULNERABLE TO SHORTAGES.

>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS WITH WATER IN ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO AND REALIZE WE DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT WATER TO MEET OUR DEMANDS.

>> WE CAN FEED 320 MILLION PEOPLE.

CAN WE FEED 520 MILLION PEOPLE?

BY THE TIME MY GRANDKIDS ARE MY AGE?

AND IF WE CAN DO THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, IS IT GOOD POLICY IN TERMS OF THE GLOBE?

>> WHETHER FOOD IS IMPORTED OR DOMESTICALLY GROWN, GETTING IT FROM THE POINT OF ORIGIN TO THE POINT OF CONSUMPTION REQUIRES MULTIPLE STEPS.

FROM KEEPING IT TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED TO HANDLING IT SAFELY, REQUIRE A VARIETY OF TRANSPORT METHODS.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY WE HAVE AN ENTRICATE NETWORK HOW WE SOURCE FOOD AND HOW IT MOVES ABOUT.

THAT COMPLICATED NETWORK HAS VARIOUS POINTS OF VULNERABILITY.

AND THOSE POINTS IMPACT THE SECURITY OF THE FOOD, THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD, AND ITS RISK FOR CONTAMINATION.

>> THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THE FOOD SUPPLY IS SO VULNERABLE, THAT IT'S TRANSPORT WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE NATION'S 16 MOST CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001, BY THE OFFICE OF HOME LAPPED SECURITY.

-- HOMELAND SECURITY.

THIS MEANS A DISRUPTION IS VIEWED AS HAVING DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> TIMES CHANGED AND WITH 325 MILLION AMERICANS IT'S TIME FOR US TO STABILIZE OUR POPULATION.

TO DO THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDUCE IMMIGRATION SUBSTANTIALLY.

>> IT'S THE JOB OF THE USDA AND THE FDA TO KEEP OUR FOOD SAFE IN TRAPS IT BUT CRITICS SAY THE SYSTEM IS PLAUD AND RARELY IS A SHIPMENT IS STOPPED ONCE IT LEAVES THE PORT OF ENTRY.

>> WE HAVE HAD FOOD-BORNE ILLNESS OUTBREAKS IN ASSOCIATE WITH TRANSPORTED FOOD, CROSS CONTAMINATION.

ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS ASSOCIATED WITH INFECTED ANIMALS.

AND JUST DISRUPT OUR PRODUCTION CAPACITY.

TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARY.

IT'S ALSO A RISK.

>> THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

WHEN THE UNITED STATES HAD A POPULATION OF 170 MILLION IN THE EARLY 1950s VERSUS 320 MILLION TODAY, MANY MORE PEOPLE RELIED ON THE MORE RELIABLE SUPPLY OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD.

TO PROTECT THEMSELVES TODAY, FROM EATING SPOILED OR DISEASED FOOD RUINED DURING TRANSPORT MANY AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE TRYING TO RETURN TO THAT SYSTEM.

THEY HAVE JOINED THE LOCAL BAND WAGON.

THEY ONLY EAT FOOD THAT IS LOCALLY PRODUCED.

HOWEVER, WITH EACH AMERICAN CONSUMING 2200 POUNDS OF FOOD PER YEAR AND THE POPULATION CONTINUING TO GROW, THE U.S.'S OWN FOOD PRODUCTION CAPACITY IS QUESTIONABLE.

>> AND INCREASING THE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION WOULD AFFECT THE NET IMPORTS OF FOODS.

BUT WHEN THE POPULATION GOES UP AND WE DON'T HAVE MORE LAND AND REACHED THE PEEK OF PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LAND IT MEANS WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPORTING LESS FOOD OR IMPORTING MORE FOOD.

>> IF THE U.S. EXPORTS LESS TO FEED MORE PEOPLE GLOBALLY, SOME SAY OUR METHODS OF FACTORY FOOD FARMING LARGE INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS THAT RAISE LARGE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS ARE LIMITING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR TECHNIQUES.

>> FACTORY FARMED ANIMALS DEPEPPED ON GRAINS AND SOIL.

>> ONE OF THE VOICES IS PHILLIP, THE EXECUTIVE OF COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING.

HE ARGUES IN HIS BOOK, FARM GED DON THAT INDUSTRIAL MODEL FOOD PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION IS INEFFICIENT AND RISKS LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THE PLANET AND LONG-TERM FOOD INSECURITY.

>> FARM GED DON EXPOSES THE TRUE COST OF CHEAP MEAT FOR OUR HEALTH, THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE PLANET.

IT TAKES US BEYOND COME PASSION'S HEARTLAND REALM.

THE FACTORY FARMING IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AND SHOWS WHAT IT DOES TO BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND BEES.

AND SHOWS WHAT IT DOES IN PRODUCING FAT FOOD AND IT SQUANDERS HUMAN HUGE AMOUNTS OF THE PLAN RESOURCES.

>> RESEARCHERS AGREE.

THE CLIMATE STUDIED THE FOOD PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

AND THE STUDY INDICATES THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN ARE UNABLE TO MEET THE FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR POPULATIONS.

THE REPORT POINTS OUT AS THE POPULATION GROWS, INTERDEPENDENCY, GROWS TOO.

HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION COULD DEPEND ON IMPORTED FOODS BY THE YEAR 2050.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT OUR INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DECLINING STEADILY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

IT IS A BIG PROBLEM BUT WE ARE NOT INVESTING ENOUGH TO SOLVE IT.

AND NO OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRY IS.

SO THE FARMERS ARE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MEETING DEMANDS FOR THE SAFE AND HEALTHFUL PRODUCTION OF FOOD.

MAKING IT ECONOMIC FOR THE CONSUMERS SO THEY CAN AFFORD THE FOOD AND COMPETING WITH PRODUCER AROUND THE WORLD WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME ECONOMIC RESTRAINTS ON THEM FROM THEIR COST OF PRODUCTION.

FARMERS ARE IN A TOUGH BIND.

>> SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON THIS MONTH A NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT CAME OUT AND SAID IT ASSESSED THE FOOD SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN 140 NATIONS WITH POPULATIONS GREATER THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE AND DEMONSTRATES THAT FOOD SECURITY IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH AS HUMANITY PLACES INCREASING PRESSURE ON USE OF LIMITED LAND AND WATER RESOURCES.

ARE WE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AS A COUNTRY TO TRY TO MAKE OUR FOOD SUPPLY CONTINUE TO MAKE IT ABUNDANT AND AFFORDABLE?

>> I MEAN AS YOUR SEGMENT SAID WE ARE NOT DOING THE RESEARCH.

AND TO FARMING AND AGRICULTURE THAT WE DID AND MAKE THE COUNTRY THE LEADING PRODUCER.

IT IS AMAZING THAT 15% OF OUR FOOD HAS OR IS IMPORTED.

THAT MAKES US ALMOST UNIQUE IN THE WORLD.

>> BUT 90% OF OUR FISH, I DON'T EAT MEAT BUT I EAT FISH THAT IS A SCARY FIGURE.

>> YES.

A COMBINATION OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION.

TRANSPORTATION COSTS SO MUCH NOW THAT WE ARE DOING MORE MANUFACTURING IN THE COUNTRY.

THE COMBINATION OF THE COST OF MANUFACTURING AND CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH IS DEVASTATING FOLLOWING THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD IS CALLING UPON OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND CALLING FOR CHANGES IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO FOOD SECURITY FOR OURSELVES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> ONE ASPECT I'M INTERESTED IN IS THE PORT SECURITY SIDE OF IT.

WHICH YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT.

AND AS THE LAST REPORT, SENATOR COBURN RELEASED A REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE FIVE MISSIONS AND ONE IS PORT SECURITY AND FOUND WE ARE STRUGGLING IN THAT AREA.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO REVE VALIATE.

>> ACCESS TO SAFE AND HEALTHY FOODS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HUMAN RIGHT.

WE NEED THIS TO LIVE AND WE NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AT ALL.

WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING POLICY WISE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS AVAILABLE.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> IT'S TERRIFYING WHEN YOU HAVE CORPORATIONS, MONSANTO, DRIVEN BY A PROFIT MOTIVE AND NOT FEEDING PEOPLE IN THE MOST HEALTHY WAY.

IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED A POPULAR RESPONSE THIS IS AN ORGANIZING PROBLEM.

WE NEED GRASSROOTS CONVERSATION AND PRESSURE TO BUILD CHANGE.

>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION OF TO THE CONTRARY.

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[♪♪♪] 7 FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.