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I
do not like tomatoes. I like catsup, but I do not like tomatoes. It’s
just me….part of who I am. If they put tomatoes on my sandwich or
hamburger, you can have them because I am not going to eat them. So what
does that have to do with anything? Very simply, we live in a country
where I can be choosy about what I eat. The abundance and safety of our
food supply allows me to be discriminating about what I eat without
giving it much of a second thought. I do, however, give it a second
thought when I hear people talk about the citizens of poor third-world
countries. It seems the main goal in life for much of the world’s
population is to get enough to eat for them and their families to live
another day. The United States is the greatest country in the world for
many reasons; our ability to eat well ranks high in those reasons.
We
mostly eat three meals a day (and snacks) and seldom think about what
would happen if a link in the food chain were to be broken. If you have
not been vacationing in some place where you were unable to keep up with
world events, you are aware rising rice prices in many countries have
caused the threat of instability. Think about it. Before we are able to
do anything very well, we have to eat. Taking a backseat only to oxygen
and water, food allows us to participate…in anything. A good
nutritional plan is necessary to educate our children, to service
society’s needs (that is to go to work and produce every day) and to
protect ourselves.
Meat
inspection, livestock and poultry industries, and the veterinary
diagnostic laboratory system are under my umbrella at the Alabama
Department of Agriculture and Industries. Our main mission is ultimately
to protect the ability to produce animal protein in Alabama. Now that’s
not our only mission, but it occupies most of our time.
And,
no, I do not have anything to do with making sure tomatoes can be
produced in Alabama. But I do have colleagues here at the Department who
see after plant protection. I am grateful Commissioner Ron Sparks has
made a commitment to securing our food supply in Alabama.
Most
of you have never heard of Presidential Directive Number Nine. It is the
document in which President Bush recognized agriculture as part of the
United States’ "Critical Infrastructure." That directive
recognized agriculture was at least of equal importance to the power
grid, the interstate and transportation system, and the military. I
would argue, if we have a full stomach, then we can fix the other
deficits; but without food, we will not be able to do anything else for
very long. The directive made it mandatory to take measures to protect
the food supply. It also provided some funding to work in that
direction.
We
live in a country where the food supply and food safety is nearly taken
for granted. We have zero-tolerance for contaminated or adulterated
food, and we expect to have an abundance of supply and choice. On the
other side of the coin, there are those who know any disruption of the
food supply would have devastating effects on modern society. Not only
do they know how disruptive it would be, they are likely looking for
ways to do just that—disrupt the food supply. I am not trying cause
panic in the streets or to be one of those who constantly think the sky
is falling. I just realize we are not wise if we do not continue to look
at ways to secure our food supply, therefore securing our country’s
interest.
It
does not take a large disruption to cause a great ripple effect that
could be very far reaching. Any of you who remember the cyanide put into
Tylenol capsules back in 1982 will remember it caused extreme changes in
how over-the-counter products are sold. That was the result of less than
10 cases in the Chicago area. A number of polls have indicated if we
have a disease like avian influenza or foot and mouth disease, a high
percent of the population would stop eating meat, even though there is
not a threat of illness from eating it. Anyway, meat from diseased
animals would not even enter the food chain. Still, there is enough
misinformation circulating out there that many people would tend to err
on the side of caution.
Any
threat to the food supply, either real or perceived, could have
far-reaching effects on our economy. If parents thought the food supply
were in peril, many would keep their kids home from school. If they keep
their kids home, many would stay home from work to look after their
kids. And from there, the domino effect begins. There was an occasion in
Oregon when a group tried to affect the outcome of a local election by
contaminating a local salad bar. I’m not sure if they actually
affected the outcome but, I do know no matter how patriotic you are, a
good case of explosive diarrhea could keep you away from the polling
place. Even the ability of our military to function is affected by a
safe and abundant food supply. Throughout history, armies have been
weakened by lack of food and high rates of dysentery.
It
is essential we continue to develop our plan to protect agriculture and
exercise the plan. It is also important we educate consumers (that would
be all of us) about food security. It continues to be an evolving
process we are committed to. In the meantime, "…hold the
tomatoes, but I will take extra catsup with the fries." |
