As President-elect Obama prepares to choose a secretary of agriculture, New York Times Op-Ed columnist Nicholas Kristof has proposed the renaming of the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Food.  This call to shift from wasteful factory farms and outdated, unhealthy subsidies to a more sustainable and economically viable food policy is strongly reinforced by a circulating petition from Food Democracy Now.

The petition, addressed to Obama, proposes six sustainable choices for the Secretary of Agriculture, individuals who would help refocus the nation’s priorities to protect our health, the environment, our food supply and the economy, as well as supporting independent family farmers and a clean energy future.  Supporters of the bill include chefs, writers, farmers, including the likes of Michael Pollan, Wendell Berry, Marion Nestle, Alice Waters, and many more.

The concerns of this petition touch on an array of challenges that face the country now, including health care, the economy, climate change and energy independence; issues that cannot be ignored.  If Obama is to make good on his promises for change, food and agriculture are two of the most influential places to begin.
takepart by signing the petition and help guide Obama to a more sustainable future on the farm.