Kansas Rural Center Joins Public TV Panel on “FOOD INC.” on May 5

On Wednesday May 5, tune in to your local public television station in Kansas to see an evening devoted to the film “Food Inc” and a panel of Kansas agricultural leaders responding to the film.

The panel, “Taking Stock: Perspectives on Food Production in Kansas”, features Kansas agricultural leaders including the Kansas Rural Center’s Executive Director Dan Nagengast, responding to “Food Inc.” which took on corporate/industrial agriculture and the food system.

“Food Inc.” will be aired starting at 7 p.m. and runs about 90 minutes. On KTWU/Topeka it will be followed by a short locally produced program featuring related farm and food historical footage (also including KRC staff) at 8:30 p.m.  The panel discussion will begin at 9.pm.
 
“Food Inc.” has raised the hackles of some farm organizations and their members as being a  harsh criticism of the American farmer and rancher.  Others including consumers and sustainable agriculture advocates see it as a fair description of the corporate domination of an industry critical to everyone who eats, and that exploits the American farmer and rancher, as well as consumers.

The film, which was released in June 2009, criticizes our highly concentrated food and agriculture industry, where our nation’s food supply is controlled from seed to plate by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of safety and consumer health.  Public reaction to the film strikes the heart of the differences between industrial agriculture and a sustainable agriculture and food system.

Food Inc. was shown on public television stations across the state in late April including KTWU/Topeka, KPTS /Wichita and Smoky Hills Public Television stations.  To provide viewers with more information and discussion, KTWU/Topeka brought together several panelists to debate the claims of the documentary, including Josh Svaty, Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture; former Governor John Carlin and professor of political science at KSU, who also co-chaired the Pew Foundation’s Study on Confined Animal Feeding Operations; Mark Smith, president Kansas Livestock Association; Steve Baccus, president of Kansas Farm Bureau; Diana Endicott, Coordinator of Good Natured Family Farms;  and Dan  Nagengast, Director Kansas Rural Center.  WIBW/Kansas Agriculture Network Farm Director Kelly Lenz will moderate.

Tune in on Wednesday May 5 to your local PBS station!