Cornucopia: Understanding Health through Understanding Agriculture

by D. Patrick Johnson

Overview

Cornucopia explores the health and economic implications of U.S. farm policy. Using a corn farm in rural South Dakota as his starting point, Johnson reviews the history of agricultural policies in America to understand how large-scale, industrial agriculture came to play such a large role in U.S. and world food production. He also discusses the role of agricultural policies in the on-going "food for fuel" debate, as well as the linkages between agricultural outputs and health outcomes. As the U.S. battles with a burgeoning epidemic of dietary disease - including some of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in the developed world - it is especially important to understand where our food comes from and its relation to health, nutrition, and economic mobility. Ensuring America's health and well-being requires us to first return to the farm.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761855965
Publisher:	Hamilton Books
Publication date:	07/21/2011
Pages:	84
Product dimensions:	6.19(w) x 9.24(h) x 0.26(d)

About the Author

D. Patrick Johnson grew up in the Great Plains of South Dakota surrounded by corn fields. He currently works in Washington, D.C. as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton's Diplomacy and International Development practice. Johnson's professional focus in the agricultural sector includes program strategy, design, and management. He remains involved with advocacy and educational work to connect agricultural policy with health and nutrition. Johnson is a regularly featured speaker at universities, think tanks, government forums, and international conferences. His work has taken him to over 35 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface
Part 2 List of Figures
Chapter 3 One - You Are What You Eat
Chapter 4 Two - On The Farm
Chapter 5 Three - America's Cornucopia
Chapter 6 Four - How We Got Fat, Part I
Chapter 7 Five - The American Diet
Chapter 8 Six - How We Got Fat, Part II
Chapter 9 Seven - HFCS and Health
Chapter 10 Eight - Big Food, Meet Big Tobacco
Chapter 11 Nine - Lessons from the Pyramid
Chapter 12 Ten - The Case for Reform
Chapter 13 Eleven - Fixing the System
Chapter 14 Twelve - Local, Regional, National
Chapter 15 Thirteen - Getting It Right at W&M
Chapter 16 Fourteen - Summary and Conclusion
Part 17 Appendix
Part 18 References

What People are Saying About This

William M. Rivera

"Hopefully the challenges put forward by concerned professionals such as D. Patrick Johnson in his lively Cornucopia will further challenge American politicians and food industry business people, as well as consumers, to consider the impact of food and food products on our nation's health." ---William M. Rivera, retired professor, University of Maryland

Editorial Reviews

Hopefully the challenges put forward by concerned professionals such as D. Patrick Johnson in his lively Cornucopia will further challenge American politicians and food industry business people, as well as consumers, to consider the impact of food and food products on our nation's health.

William M. Rivera

Patrick's book smartly detassles the important facts from fiction about corn, big farming and agriculture policy in America. His nuanced view on the complicated topic draws from a consultant's view of policy. The book also benefits from his experience growing up in corn country, right down to recipe recommendations at the end.

Paul Glader

Patrick's book smartly detassles the important facts from fiction about corn, big farming and agriculture policy in America. His nuanced view on the complicated topic draws from a consultant's view of policy. The book also benefits from his experience growing up in corn country, right down to recipe recommendations at the end.--Paul Glader, reporter for The Wall Street Journal

Hopefully the challenges put forward by concerned professionals such as D. Patrick Johnson in his lively Cornucopia will further challenge American politicians and food industry business people, as well as consumers, to consider the impact of food and food products on our nation's health.--William M. Rivera, retired professor, University of Maryland

From the Publisher

"Patrick's book smartly unravels facts from fiction about corn, big farming and ag policy in America. His nuanced view on the complicated topic draws from a consultant's view of policy and also benefits from his experience growing up in corn country, right down to recipe recommendations at the end." --(Paul Glader)

The Wall Street Journal