The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

“Let Them Eat Less”

November 18, 2014

Vivenne Westwood channeled her
inner Marie Antoinette:
“Let them eat less!”

The story is well known (and completely fictional) and it went a little like this: Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, hosted a lavish party at the palace, which was unfortunately ill-timed to coincide with one of the worst economic times in the country. Peasants were unable to afford even the main staple of their diet – bread. When a 18th century reporter informed the Queen that the peasants were starving while she was hosting her grand party, she allegedly quipped, “Let them eat cake!”

As all things go around, this time the witty response came from Vivienne Westwood, a millionaire fashion designer from Great Britain. While attending a protest of GMOs on Downing Street in London, the designer responded that people who could not afford to purchase organic foods should simply “eat less.”

According to Telegraph:

When a BBC Radio 5 Live interviewer suggested that “not everybody can afford to eat organic food”, Dame Vivienne replied: “Eat less!”

Told that many people in Britain are visiting food banks because they don’t have enough to put on their tables, so “to eat less isn’t an option”, Dame Vivienne was dismissive.

“They don’t have any choice – this is the point, isn’t it,” she said.

I suppose that’s one way to get around organic’s poor yield problem – just let poor people starve!

Ms. Westwood went on to say:

“If there was a movement to produce more organic food and less of the horrible food, then organic food would obviously be a good value price, wouldn’t it?”

No, it wouldn’t. The problem with organic production is that it does not yield as much food as conventional production. Considerably less – a study published in Nature found that organic foods yield 34% less than comparable conventional crops. Switching to an all organic production system would mean we have less food with the same demand that we have now. Even an elementary economics lesson demonstrates that food prices would rise (lower supplies + high demand = higher prices).

That means if we want to switch to all organic production we have two options: convert more land for agricultural use or stop feeding 34% of people that are eating now (read: “Let them starve!”). Even that might not be enough, especially because the study found that in organic wheat, which makes up a large part of most people’s diet, yields are particularly poor.

Of course, creating more farms isn’t all that easy either, and it is definitely against the trend. Between 2002 and 2007, the United States lost over 4 million acres of farmland to development. Urban sprawl has been literally confiscating our fields. If we’re serious about switching to all organic production and still feeding everyone, we need to find a way to reverse that trend and find somewhere to get more farmland. Unfortunately, that would mean that we are going end up destroying more forests and encroaching on land that is currently left its natural state. That is certainly not an environmentally sustainable way to grow our agricultural sector. Besides, why take such an approach when there are technological advances that are completely safe?

Ms. Westwood obviously prefers just letting people starve. And why not? She’s a millionaire and probably never had to worry about where her next meal was coming from. If only the wealthy can afford enough food, then she’ll be perfectly full and content.

You know what? I have an even better idea.

Let’s have farmers focus on being really sustainable. That is, producing as much food for any many people as possible while working to protect the environment and our natural resources. To me, that is exactly the goal that conventional farmers strive for when making production choices. We are implementing new technologies, production methods, and ideas to keep our fields in good condition, our yields high, and our food nutritious. In that way, everyone can have healthy, affordable, and nutritious food.

Ms. Westwood is now denying that she made such a statement (but of course!) and claims she was taken out of context. Unfortunately for her, the BBC reporter recorded the statement for his radio show, and the recording clearly says otherwise. (You can hear it for yourself here. Beware: she’s full of lots of rubbish.)

Ms. Westwood, who I’m quite sure has probably never stepped foot on a farm, should shut her fashionable trap about agriculture and other issues she’s ignorant on.

Or, as I should say:”Let her shut up!“

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: celebrities, city folk, consumers, GMO, organic, technology

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    Bravo. Unfortunately the reality is the anti-GM gangstas are basically adopting this posture in the case of Golden Rice. Their holistic food Utopia is essentially Shangri La. That is, it ain't real and never will be–while there's a real possibility that kids will be malnourished as a result. It's unconscionable and despicable.

  2. Chuck Lasker says

    November 19, 2014 at 4:24 am

    Get down deep into what these people believe and you'll learn they believe people SHOULD starve because there are too many people who are using up the earth's resources. After all, starvation is 100% natural. And I don't mean they casually think this – I have had many antis tell me, deep into a conversation, that feeding the hungry in poverty-stricken areas is "unnatural" and only makes overpopulation worse. I have always asked, but never gotten a "yes," if they would please volunteer to be one of the people who starve. Funny how that works.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

2 days ago
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

The Silver Lining in This Year’s Dirty Dozen List t.co/qD3kFSYmtE

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
March 2, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Right-to-Repair Challenges Continue t.co/sOTL8t7fPx

  • Reply
  • Retweet 3
  • Like 3
March 1, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Soil Erosion t.co/gvugi5W3DK

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 2

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

1 day ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I no longer want to live on this planet. Can we start a new planet somewhere else?

... See MoreSee Less

Gates invests $4.8 million into 'smart' gas masks for cows | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

The Gates' foundation awarded $4.8 million this month to ZELP, a Zero Emissions Livestock Project dedicated to reducing emissions by "harnessing" cow burps.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

This year's Dirty Dozen list was still a dirty lie, but there was something hidden in the press release that you may have missed.

... See MoreSee Less

The Silver Lining in This Year's Dirty Dozen List - The Farmer's Daughter USA

thefarmersdaughterusa.com

EWG's 2023 Dirty Dozen list included a little silver lining for its critics. Is this finally an admission the list is bull?

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

4 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Things I didn't miss while on vacation:❌ watching the news❌ hours scrolling on my phone❌ stress about creating new content❌ hours in front of the tv❌ worry about billable hours❌ always being connected❌ my to-do listIsn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞 I hope you're having a good week! 💜

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I almost feel bad for Kroger. Almost. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Kroger learns hard lesson about aligning with ag extremists | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Mercy for Animals goes for the kill shot against Kroger after the grocer loosened its approach to selling only cage-free eggs.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Things I didn't miss while on vacation: ❌ watch Things I didn't miss while on vacation:

❌ watching the news
❌ hours scrolling on my phone
❌ stress about creating new content
❌ hours in front of the tv
❌ worry about billable hours
❌ always being connected
❌ my to-do list

Isn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.
Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDa Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.

We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞

 I hope you're having a good week! 💜
I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on th I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on this Monday morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineer Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineered crops?

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #be #bioengineered
Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the fe Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the feels right now.

"When they pave all the dirt roads and John Deeres are dinosaurs

When the last back forty gets sold and young boys don't open doors

When you can't hunt a white tail and keep what you reel in

Well, I hope I'm in Heaven by then

Oh, I don't wanna go today, but I don't wanna live

Down here at a place that thinks that that place don't exist

If there comes a day this country's somewhere country don't fit in

Hell, I hope I'm in Heaven by then."

"Heaven By Then," Brantley Gilbert & Blake Shelton

#countrymusic #country #heavenbythen #faith #rurallife #countrylife #farmlife #myhome myhome
Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰 #Mischa #doggie Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰

#Mischa #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #dogs #furmom #furbaby #sundayvibes #sundayfunday
U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft and becoming better at their jobs. These types of statistics prove it.

#usagriculture #agriculture #soybeans #soy #soyproduction #soilhealth #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainablefarms #sustainablefarming #healthysoils
Did you know this about the organic label? If yo Did you know this about the organic label? 

If you want to buy certified organic products, that's totally your choice! But you should also know what you're buying and what it actually means. Often that reality is different than organic marketing.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #organic #organicfood #organiclabel
Now that's efficiency! #dairy #dairygood #milk # Now that's efficiency! 

#dairy #dairygood #milk #farms #sustainableag #agriculture #food #milkglass #dairycows #dairyfarm #dairyfarming #dairyindustry #drinkmilk #chocolatemilk #farmfact #farmsfacts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version