Down on the Missouri Farm -- under the watchful eyes of Monsanto

Saw Food Inc at Leawood theatre this evening -- plenty of open seats. The film wove several threads of the food business -- mass production, diminishing farmer control of production, heavy emphasis on meat production and corn, impact on health of Americans -- to tell an important story that big business does not have the interest of consumers or the environment in mind.

This is a must see for those just learning about trends in consumption and food growing. I especially liked hearing a woman "TSK" loudly eight rows back reacting to comments from a woman chicken grower in the film discuss conditions in a chicken tunnel.

The film focused on Monsanto's wrath tracking a seed cleaner who assisted farmers recover seeds for the next season's planting. The segment in the film reminded me of a solid article on the same topic that featured small farm businesses in Pilot Grove, Missouri, where my mom's side of the family hails from. See "Monsanto's Harvest of Fear" in Vanity Fair (May 2008) http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805