Today, we are launching this new digest about food. Last night, President Obama gave a major speech to a joint session of Congress on health care reform. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. On top of these issues is a sputtering economy with rising unemployment and heated negotiations on how to address climate change. You may wonder if the policy space exists to talk about food.
That is the point of this digest. Discussions about children's health, national security, economic development, environmental protection and many other issues must include food. The policies, technologies and industries that drive what is on our dinner plate have a profound impact on our collective well-being. And the most important tenant for building a better food system is to create an abundance of Good Food, defined as food that is healthy, green, fair and affordable.
We also have to recognize that food is much more than a policy tool, but also a purveyor of culture and a centerpiece for many family and community gatherings. And of course, the story of the family farm, the institution that continues to be a crucial component of U.S. production and ingenuity, is a story deeply intertwined with food.
This first issue's theme is "Fresh Ideas." Each of the IATP Food and Society Fellows contributed an idea for making the food system work better. These remarkable ideas give us a greater appreciation for what is possible. The diversity of the fresh ideas also demonstrates the breadth of issues effected by food systems.
We are committed to providing thoughtful, readable commentary on the relationship between food and society. Digest well.
