The mood around Washington DC on Inauguration Day may have been one of celebration and overwhelming optimism, but those hoping the change in president will bring an overhaul of the country’s agricultural policies are less than impressed.
Indeed, despite the historic change in the White House, some organic campaigners fear more of the same under President Barack Obama.
They point to the Monsanto advisers on his team as evidence he was less inclined to listen to the grass roots than his rhetoric might have led some to believe.
And they believe the charismatic 44th President showed his hand even further, when he announced former Iowa Governor, Tom Vilsack, as his choice for Secretary of Agriculture.
As rumours grew that Vilsack was the hot favourite for the job, a petition began circulating opposing his appointment.
Critics claim he is a friend to biotechnology (he was the industry’s governor of the year back in 2001) and is unlikely to promote a change in national food policy.
Rather, he has a record of supporting the likes of Monsanto in its bid to control seed production and push the development of GM crops.
Oddly enough, “Big Organic”, along with some NGOs and other activists started a counter campaign in support of Obama’s man.
Even those who don’t necessarily believe he is the worst choice Obama could have made, however, don’t see him as a force for change.
“Vilsack isn’t likely to lead U.S. food/agriculture policy in new, more sustainable and socially just directions, wrote commentator Tom Philpott on environmental site Gristmill in the midst of the debate. “At least not without a real push from below… he has been a fervent booster of the genetically modified seed and biofuel industries – both of which proffer what I think are dead-end “solutions” to environmental problems and offer little to any but the largest-scale and most commodity-oriented farmers.”
His appointment was officially confirmed just hours after Obama took the oath of office.
In the lead-up to Obama’s big day, there were many prominent voices calling on him to take food more seriously. Leading commentator Michael Pollan wrote an open letter to the incoming president, urging him to act as “Farmer in Chief”, while foodie Alice Waters led a campaign for a “Kitchen Cabinet”, asking the White House to lead the way on healthy, sustainable cooking.
Then there is the much publicised push to get the new president to set up an organic garden at the White House.
All dreams that few now believe will become a reality, despite reports the new First Lady favours organic produce.
Perhaps the election of an African-American to the highest office in the land was shock enough. Organic farming as the way of farming might be a step too far.
