Ignorance in regard to the economics of organics and other ecologically preferable alternatives is based on a successful information vacuum in the mainstream media on the subsidization of industrial agriculture and other products where petroleum is a major input (e.g. highways, suburban real estate development, etc). Most citizens are unaware of the fact that much of the food produced by agribusiness is so dependent on petroleum inputs at all points of production and distribution and would not be viable in its absence. The carbon footprint involved in creating, packaging, distributing and selling a fast food hamburger is as much as 6.8 pounds per burger (cheese of course) according to openthefuture.com.
Production of 1/4 pound of beef requires nearly two pounds of grain (itself using almost a ton of water and nearly a gallon of fuel to grow). The fast food cheeseburger requires cheap fuel to be affordable to anyone who can't afford organic. The average citizen needs to know that the bulk of the price of their burger was paid by them on April 15 to the tax collector.
Michael Pollan expects that when energy prices permanently increase, it will be easier for organic food to compete because organic fertilizer will be less expensive. It will also be less expensive to buy local food since the energy input from transport will not be included. We should be working hard to support local food initiatives. But we must also be savvy and catch and expose the propaganda and PR that makes a bogey of environmentalists who prevent "cheap" food and fuel due to their "obstructionism".
Fighting back with real data and rational arguments is crucial but also is passion and constant vigilance. Part of this could include posting a comment on the Times website in response to this article. Are you with me?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article4474202.ece
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