This graphic is from Oxfam America. The implications of our farm bill on other countries, and small farmers in the US and the developing world is often overlooked, especially by us American small farm advocates.
What it comes down to though, is that the 2012 Farm Bill can benefit:
1. Consumers: make healthy foods more affordable than corn and sugar
2. Our healthcare system: reduce obesity and diabetes and the costs associated with those diseases
3. Small Farmers: give small farmers the same government subsidies and support that huge farms are receiving for commodity crops now
4. International development: help developing countries feed themselves instead of shipping our food to them
5. Aid inefficiency: both in terms of the cost, and in the very high carbon footprint associated with transporting food around the world
6. International relations: the U.S. can provide farmer support instead of food support - and really make a difference in the lives of people around the world instead of continuing to protect and support Big Ag.
Read Oxfam's entire report: Saving Money and Lives: The Human Side of U.S. Food Aid Reform
Best,
Kristiane
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