I. Sustainable Agriculture Protect environment and family farms Use pubic policy to preserve soil, water, biodiversity Promote economically secure family farms and rural communities Less chemical and energy intensive farming practices Reducing time, distance, and resources to move food from production to consumption

II. Free Trade Deliver crops and livestock to processors and industrial buyers at lowest possible price “Externalize” social, environmental, and health costs Scale back price supports, supply management, and environmental protection

II. Free Trade (cont.) Open state and national borders to unlimited and deregulated imports and exports Heavily promoted by agribusiness corporations (low prices) and producers of farm inputs (chemicals, fertilizers)

History in U.S. Depression (govt. establishes annual minimum price) Nixon Compromise (target price) 1980s (drop in guaranteed price) Farmers response (intensification of production, surplus of cheap US grain)

Effects Abroad Increase in US imports of oil, fertilizer, tires, which become more costly (trade deficit) Debtor nations dependant on food exports for hard currency need to lower prices and boost volume in response Farmers wiped out or turn to environmentally unfriendly intensification Chemical input production moved overseas

Prevention of Backlash Discussion kept in arena of trade talks, away from open and political negotiations “Fast Track” prohibits amendments GATT prevents limits to volume of raw material and agricultural imports Environmental regulations challenged as unfair

Long term Environmental Effects Increased oil and gas use Massive immigration to cities