Join NYU Libraries for an insightful discussion with some of our most esteemed panelists about how the conversation, study, and action around food has evolved over the last two decades. Together, we’ll reflect on 20 years of the Critical Topics in Food event series and examine the role that thoughtful community gatherings like these have played in shaping our collective dialogue about food. The Critical Topics in Food event series is a partnership between NYU Special Collections, NYU Steinhardt Department of Nutrition & Food Studies, and Clark Wolf.
by Marion Nestle
Oct
26
2023
Who knew? III. Corn-plus-soybean share of US crop acreage
Here’s my third Who Knew post of the week, this one an at-a-glance explanation of what’s wrong with the US food system, courtesy of FarmDocDaily.
In 1980 or so, corn and soybeans comprised about 20% each of total crop acreage. Now it’s 30% each.
To bring this point home:
Recall that more than 40% of US corn is used to feed animals and another more than 40% is used to make ethanol.
Monoculture, anyone? Lack of biodiversity? Greenhouse gas emissions? A focus on feed and fuel, not food?
Time to rethink the food system!