UPDATE: And the debate over donor influence at universities rages on. More than 1,300 people showed up at yesterday's panel discussion with Michael Pollan, where he called the actions of Harris Ranch chairman David Wood a "threat to academic freedom."
The Bee's story takes a deeper look at this issue. The L.A. Times calls Cal Poly's choice of a panel discussion "a shameful breach of academic freedom," while the San Luis Obispo Tribune defends Pollan's "right to present his views."
Thoughts?
ORIGINAL POST: A clash between Harris Ranch and conventional agriculture critic Michael Pollan played out today at Cal Poly.
Here's a quick version of the story: Pollan originally was slated to give a talk at Cal Poly today, but Harris Ranch chairman David E. Wood objected in a letter to the university. He disagreed with Pollan's views and threatened to pull funding for Cal Poly's new meat-processing facility.
In response, the university changed the event into a panel discussion, seating Pollan with Gary Smith, a Colorado State University professor who supports conventional farming, as well as Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm, the nation's biggest organic farm.
The beef between Pollan and Harris Ranch isn't just a fight between conventional and sustainable agriculture. It also brings up questions about education at universities, especially during a time of budget crunches.
Some fear the watering-down of Cal Poly's conventional ag instruction. In addition to Pollan's appearance, they cite the reduction of Cal Poly's dairy herd. And Wood's letter, seen here, objects to the sustainable agriculture ideas taught by Rob Rutherford, an animal science professor at Cal Poly.
This isn't the first time Pollan's views and visits have sparked controversy at universities. Here's what happened at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at Washington State University.
So, what are your views about this food fight? And did any of you attend the Cal Poly event today? Let us know in the comments.
[photo source: Michael Pollan]
I've heard Pollan on KFCF. He's very interesting. As the son of a farmer, I find it hard to believe that you get healthy beef from having 10,000 cows standing in their own waste 24/7. What he has to say also dovetails with a book I recently read that argues that industrial farming is not necessarily the most efficient. Book made the argument that farms under 50 acres would be more profitable if they reverted to work horses and scrapped the tractors. Tractors took over farming after WWII because of surplus industrial capacity from WWII. Many farmers went into hock in a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses fashion by buying expensive tractors when the horse worked just fine, reproduced itself AND provided fertilizer. As fuel prices climb, the use of tractors on small farms makes less and less sense. Of course, on an industrial farm, a few people get very rich and everyone else gets minimum wage. What a country!
I am curious ...of the elitist that have commented oN this thread ...how many of you are white, upper-class individuals with disposable incomes above the poverty line? The simple fact of the matter is, those of you that have drank the liberal kool-aid, i.e., Pollan's vision of "sustainable" agriculture are in reality racists!
Pollan commented at Poly that food is "TOO CHEAP". He would have those struggling to survive in thsese economically challenging times pay an additonal 10% of their disposable income on food (organic, etc). Obviously, this would have a significant impact on those on the lower side of today's social-economic scale, typically those NOT white, and epecially not spoiled college student (many of who are trust babies). Get a life. If you are so convinced that Pollan is right, how about working one summer at a farm? You spoiled individuals will soon understand that Pollan has it ALL WRONG ...and then, and ONLY THEN will elitists like those that swallow Pollan's views hook-line-and-sinker actually understand what it is like to be beholding to foreign suppliers of food. If you like foreign oil, you are going to love "foreign food"! Simple fact of the matter is, Pollan and anyone who follows him are elitists ...and yes, you are defacto a racists! Shame on you!
Walk a mile in the shoes of a farmer or rancher before you spout off your politically correct, yet economically unsustainable views!
Mike Smith
Cal Poly should be embarrassed being strong-armed by one deep-pocketed donor. I understand the need for donors, especially in these lean economic times, but if academic integrity is being sacrificed the students aren't being educated but indoctrinated by monied, industrial interests, seeking only self-preservation.
Let them hear various ideas/approaches and let them decide for themselves, no? They get the agribusiness/factory farm approach every day in class, and if this one lecture from one man on one night in October sets them against what they're being taught for four years, what does that say about what they're being taught? Isn't this the whole point of college?
Lots of issues here. First, Harris Ranch has every right to target their donations. However, they have no right at all to say Thing One about what Cal Poly faculty think is best for their students to study. If Harris Ranch doesn't like what Cal Poly faculty think is important, they can give their money to Upper Idaho A & M, or whomever.
Second, Michael Pollan is right. Industrial agriculture is harmful by whatever measure one uses. In terms of Harris Ranch beef, it is bereft in the micronutrients that are present in 100% grass-fed beef or bison. Just the facts. Harris Ranch beef is also full of fat due to the cornfed CAFO finishing of their cows. Cholesterol, anyone? They have worked hard to brand and market their beef as high-quality, but Pollan has blown that out of the water. Read his books. Would you rather get your nutrition information from the advertising agencies, or the nutritionists?
"However, they have no right at all to say Thing One about what Cal Poly faculty think is best for their students to study."
Don't think it is solely up to profs to decide speakers or forums. That's what's wrong with public education. Why don't you babies buy the school and turn it private. Cal schools are far from universities---what a joke!! Cal Poly, Fresno??? PURE JOKE material.
What's the difference between donating money to a political candidate and donating to a university? you expect something in return. In regard to Pollan I just have one question. Who gets to decide who eats?
Poly alum is right. Big ag can target donations and we as consumers can target our purchases. No big ag beef for me, thank you very much.
As a Poly alum, I am ashamed of my school. They shouldn't bow down to Harris Ranch because of the money--it's called academic freedom, and they sacrifice their reputation (which is pretty great right now) if they let that get away.
Being at Cornell now for grad school, we certainly have conflicts of interests with our donors and the things we do on campus. Our endowment is filled with donations of rich New Englanders and the big boys on Wall Street (hello Goldman Sachs). But does that stop us from having a great academic discourse about issues such as the greed of Wall Street in relation to the financial crisis? Absolutely not. In many of my classes you have a variety of opinions from across the political spectrum and it can be uncomfortable at times, class discussions often become heated debates.
But that's the beauty of the academy; through the tension and dialogue the best solutions are to be found.
Cal Poly needs to stand up for academic freedom. If they can't, I hope the students will do it for themselves.