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The Future of Food offers an in-depth exploration of several
important developments in agriculture today including the diminishment of biodiversity,
patenting of life, loss of family farms, consolidation of seed companies and
the globalization of our food system. Using genetically engineered crops as
a primary cause and result of these new developments, the film delves into the
disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods
that have quietly filled the world’s grocery stores for the past decade.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico,
The Future of Food gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have
been negatively impacted by new, patented GMO seeds. The film uses animation
to explain the process of recombinant DNA technology which allows “genetic
engineering”, the movement of DNA from one species to another. The legal
foundations for, and consequences of, patenting life are explored in depth.
The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization
are presented as some of the reasons why many people are alarmed by the takeover
of our food supply by corporations and their genetically engineered crops. The
global battle over agricultural genetic engineering is as fierce now as ever.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and contrasting local trends
with global realities, The Future of Food examines the complex web of market
and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations
seek to control the world’s food system. The film also explores alternatives
to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture
as real solutions to the farm crisis.
This 2-Disc Educational Edition DVD features a stunningly
comprehensive University level Curriculum, tailored for use in a variety of
course settings and durations, as well as numerous bonus features and action
resources. The curriculum was created by Dr. Joshua Muldavin who has put into
this course the wisdom and knowledge gained over 25 years of international fieldwork
and teaching about food and agricultural issues.
DISC 1 includes The Future of Food feature presentation as
well as a supplemental web-enabled toolkit on DVD ROM, which provides the viewer
with a wealth of information and educational utilities: essays, bibliographies,
web resources, charts, tables, lesson plans, discussion questions, even nearly
an hour of additional video content comprised of interviews with scientists.
DISC 2 is a treasure chest of special features; including
a series of short films about family farmers, CSA’s, seed saving, farmer’s
markets, and food in schools. Also included is Michael Pollan, award-winning
author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, speaking about the true cost of food,
plus a series of GE-free recipes from renowned chefs and a DVD-ROM Take Action
toolkit.
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