Episode 113: A Small Word After All

The agriculture industry, including both U.S. farms and agribusiness, has been undergoing widespread and persistent consolidation for decades. And yet, family farms continue to account for most U.S. food production. Those are among the conclusions of "Three Decades of Consolidation in U.S. Agriculture," a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS). At the same time, three mega-mergers between agricultural chemical and seed producers have been underway, which some believe will have major affects on global food production. Jim MacDonald, Chief of the Structure, Technology, and Productivity branch of ERS - and co-author of the department's new report on consolidation - joins Host Jenna Liut to provide further context about these industry changes and the likely repercussions for farmers, consumers, and our broader food system. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.