Next to automobiles, food production uses more fossil fuel than any other part of our economy, including energy production. Some studies put farm consumption as high as 40 percent of America’s total fossil fuel use.
The major use of fossil fuel is in transportation and distribution. Gas-powered farming equipment; chemical fertilizers made from natural gas; pesticides made from petroleum; gas-powered food processing machines and oil based packaging materials consume the rest.
An additional issue, chronic obesity in adults, and particularly in children, has been needlessly on the rise for years and has put a strain on our medical system. Sadly, our economy is linked to agri-business’ dependence on oil and pharmaceuticals for the cheap production what we now think of as food but what are actually food-like substances. Think Happy Meals; they aren’t really that happy.
Dr. Barry Sears, author of the bestseller, The Zone, blames ongoing government subsidies to the corn and soy for the rise in obesity related disease saying, “The problem lies with America's continually subsidizing of corn and soybean production that has resulted an oversupply of cheap refined carbohydrates and cheap vegetable oils that when combined give rise to increased diet-induced inflammation.” This inflamation, Dr Seals maintains activates a gene in those already predisposed to gain weight easily.
Dr Sears’ concerns have also been raised in recent public reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying nearly one third of Americans are obese, and the Trust for America's Health that stated "adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year (2008).
So, when these two facts are taken together the message is clear. America is badly in need of an overhaul of how, and perhaps more importantly, where we grow food and most of us need to take a close look at our diet. Dr Sear recommends a diet composed of one gram of fat for every two grams of protein and three grams of carbohydrates to control insulin levels which play a critical role in the development of dietary-induced inflammation.
In the interest of full disclosure, Dr Sears is a legitimate and noted authority on nutrition. He holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University and has done post-doctoral work at the University of Virginia Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Boston University Medical School, Department of Medicine. Foods following his prescription are market by a company known as Medwell. Dr Sears appears to be at least the primary owner of Medwell.