Panelists weigh issues brought up during Pollan visit

By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Agriculture has more dilemmas than an omnivore can handle.

Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences spent part of author Michael Pollan's recent visit addressing the future of the industry.

Dean Dan Bernardo said the event was organized to complement Pollan's appearance. The author raised critical questions about producing and distributing food around the U.S. and the world, and the college saw an opportunity to broaden the discussion, he said.

"It's our role as a college of agriculture to facilitate discussion around complex issues surrounding the food supply," he said. "There is no silver bullet to the issues raised in Pollan's book, or any that we're going to discuss."

Panelists were Dick Coon, president of the Washington Cattlemen's Association; Genesee, Idaho wheat farmer Russ Zenner; Washington State Department of Agriculture domestic marketing and economic development chief Eric Hurlburt and PCC Natural Markets public affairs director Trudy Bialic.

A range of subjects was covered, including water, subsidies, genetically modified crops, the loss of farmland and the availability of labor.

Panelists were asked what they consider to be the greatest obstacle to feeding the world.

Zenner said he is concerned about the degradation of resources, pointing to the continued loss of topsoil and prime farmland globally.

Bialic called for applying antitrust laws and decentralizing food production.

"Concentration and concentrated power tends to reward short-term gain," Bialic said. "When the oil runs out, the topsoil's gone and you've got desertification, food is going to be pretty vulnerable."

Another question was how to attract younger farmers to the industry.

Coon pointed to efforts on behalf of the Young Washington Cattlemen's Association, while wryly noting he is still often the youngest rancher at meetings.

Bialic said if farmers receive a fair price for what they do, it will take care of every other problem they have.

"You give them a fair price, pay them what it costs to produce that food and they will grow anything," she said.

Bialic also called for health care insurance for farmers, noting she'd like to see Washington state create an insurance fund for farmers and farmworkers.

Hurlburt told the audience he considers the university's students reason for optimism.

"Most of the people sitting up here aren't going to be around in 2050. It's going to be your problem," he told the students in the audience. "I trust you will do a good job ... and good luck."