Food for Thought 1

In 2014, I spent the summer in Argentina, a country guilty of cultivating GMO crops. Second to the United States, 17.7% of farmed land is planted with genetically modified crops (Blatt, 2008). Monsanto (a multi million-dollar agribusiness) holds a heavy presence in Buenos Aires, standing tall in a high-rise in a prominent area of the city. In the three months I was present, I attended four anti- Monsanto marches, one of which all protesters were surrounded and held by police. Although areas around Buenos Aries are being exploited, it is nothing compared to the rural areas of Argentina. Although most areas in Argentina prohibit the use of agrochemicals around homes and schools, investigators found "many cases of soybeans planted just feet from homes and schools." (Argentina: the country that monsanto poisoned, 2014).   

I spent my summer, planting gardens in the much poorer villas surrounding the metropolis. One of the villas that I frequented was only 25 km away, but seemed 25 years behind. The goal was to plant an educational garden in one of the kindergartens in the villa. Unknowingly, this was a much greater task, as this particular area sat on a landfill. Down the street from the kindergarten, the community park shared the lot where neighbors burned and dumped their trash, while stray dogs and horses picked through it. Due to the contaminants found in the soil, in order to grow a small 4x8 garden a large trench needed to be dug first. Once empty, a layer of concrete (followed by a layer of brick) was then added to become the foundation of the bed. Compost from outside of the villa needed to be brought, as compost from the villa would likely contain contaminants. Once constructed, this garden would be used to feed the community—a small, 4x8 space.

With one part of the country directly controlled by large agribusiness and the other unable to cultivate their land, how do we make sure that every person gets a balanced plate--let alone a seat at the table?