Oct. 15, 2009
Cal Poly Public Affairs
Omnivore Author Pollan and Ag Leaders
Pack the PAC to Talk about the Planet
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Harman Hall's 1,300 seats were packed and the crowd of listeners spilled out into the Christopher Cohan Center lobby and surrounding Performing Arts Center Plaza at Cal Poly Thursday, Oct. 15 for a panel discussion on agriculture.
That the panel featured "Omnivore's Dilemma" author and UC Berkeley Journalism Professor Michael Pollan plus world renowned agricultural leaders, including Gary Smith, Monfort Endowed Chair in meat science at Colorado State University, and Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm Organic, could have had something to do with it. Or maybe it was the mention in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.
The turnout for the panel discussion was so big, Cal Poly wound up piping sound from its concert-honed Harman Hall into the lobby and plaza outside, where listeners stood to hear more.
What they heard was a thought-provoking discussion on the future of the planet, and how to feed all the people who live on it.
Pollan noted at one point that before World War II, for every calorie put into farming, society got back two. Today it takes 10 calories of fossil fuel to create one calorie of fast food; it takes 26 ounces of oil to create one fast-food burger sandwich.
Professor Smith noted that one study by the EPA showed that in the United States, most fossil fuels are consumed by electricity generation, with agriculture using only 8 percent of the nation's consumption. He said instead of a 'Meatless Monday' campaign to save the planet, a better strategy might be a 'no-electricity Tuesday.'
Goodman, co-owner of the largest grower and shipper of organic produce in the world, said more research is needed to develop new seeds, such as mildew-resistant spinach. Too much of the research funding in agriculture goes to developing pesticides, when more research dollars should be going to sustainable practices, she said.
Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium (SARC) hosted the event, which was free and open to the public. It was part of a Sustainability Showcase in the Performing Arts Center lobby and a Sustainability Fair organized by Cal Poly students on the Performing Arts Center Plaza Thursday morning.
David Wehner, dean of the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, said hosting a panel of experts with diverse opinions about food production was the right thing for the university to do. “We feel it’s important to host a balanced panel discussion that offers the audience insight into the issues California food production professionals face on a daily basis.”
The event came the morning after Pollan was the featured speaker at a sold-out $150-a-plate dinner at a local winery, held to benefit the university's Sustainable Agriculture Resources Consortium.
Pollan is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and the recipient of numerous journalistic awards, including the James Beard Award for best magazine series in 2003 and the Reuters-I.U.C.N. 2000 Global Award for Environmental Journalism. Pollan served for many years as executive editor of Harper’s Magazine and is now the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at UC Berkeley. Pollan lectures widely on food, agriculture and gardening.
Smith has an international reputation as a leader and thinker on issues in animal agriculture. He was appointed Monfort Endowed Chair in Meat Science in 1990 and is a University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University. His many accomplishments include awards for distinguished teaching and research by the American Society of Animal Science, and he has been recognized as one of “25 who made a difference” by Beef Magazine. He has been given the Alumni Award of Excellence from CSU Fresno and is a Fellow-in-Teaching for the American Society of Animal Science.
Goodman, along with husband Drew, co-founded Earthbound Farm. The company started in 1984 in Goodman's 2.5-acre backyard garden in the Carmel Valley. The business has grown to become the largest grower and shipper of organic produce in the world. She continues to help guide the company, especially in its mission to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change. Goodman recently completed her first cookbook, "Food to Live By: The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook" (Workman, 2006), with over 260 recipes, colorful photos and useful information about organic foods, along with the story of the unexpected birth of Earthbound Farm.
Media Coverage:
Read the pre-event coverage of Pollan's appearance in the Los Angeles Times
See the KSBY TV News coverage of the Pollan Panel
Read the San Luis Obispo Tribune story on the Pollan Panel
Cal Poly Web Sites
Visit the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Web Site
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