Mark Bittman: A Food Manifesto for the Future

Here are some ideas — frequently discussed, but sadly not yet implemented — that would make the growing, preparation and consumption of food healthier, saner, more productive, less damaging and more enduring. In no particular order:

  • End government subsidies to processed food.
  • Begin subsidies to those who produce and sell actual food for direct consumption.
  • Break up the U.S. Department of Agriculture and empower theFood and Drug Administration.
  • Outlaw concentrated animal feeding operations and encourage the development of sustainable animal husbandry.
  • Encourage and subsidize home cooking. 
  • Tax the marketing and sale of unhealthful foods.
  • Reduce waste and encourage recycling.
  • Mandate truth in labeling. Nearly everything labeled “healthy” or “natural” is not.
  • Reinvest in research geared toward leading a global movement in sustainable agriculture, combining technology and tradition to create a new and meaningful Green Revolution.

Mark Bittman: A Food Manifesto for the Future