Certified Angus Beef, 100% Angus Beef, Organic Laura’s Lean Beef.  Just a five minute walk down the meat counter of your local grocery store can leave you baffled by the many labels and classifications of beef products.  Obviously, you want the safest, most affordable product for your family but the question remains: which one is it?  This is the problem facing thousands of American consumers not only at the meat counter, but down every aisle of their grocery store.  Today’s consumer is more concerned than ever about the safety of their food.  This presents a new challenge to the entire agriculture industry.

The greatest job falls to each and every member of the agriculture industry: Educating the public.  9 times out of 10, the consumer is totally oblivious to the fact that they are uneducated on a decision we all make 3 times daily- what to eat.  This huge gap in agricultural literacy comes from a rather humble origin: the public is not well informed. 

Most consumers rely on the information they receive from the urban media and celebrities.  These sources are “story seekers”, reporting in a manner that sparks the biggest scandal and draws the greatest audience.  Now I might be mistaken, but I would think that Mike Johannes, US Secretary of Agriculture, knows a little more about the safety of genetically modified crops than Angelina Jolie, the Black Eyed Peas, or Katie Couric.  But who do you see on the nightly news?  The agriculture industry must overcome these influences and publicize the facts on our American food supply.

Every little bit helps.  Networks like RFDTV and programs like Kentucky’s Gee Whiz in Agriculture series may target different audiences but are still making a difference.  RFDTV is especially effective because it brings many different aspects of the agriculture industry into the homes of millions.  KET programs like the Gee Whiz series are used by teachers and educators across the commonwealth in the classroom, educating the consumers of tomorrow.

So what are the facts about the safety of our food? Let’s refer back to the beef industry for instance.  Today, American beef is the safest in the world.  American cattle are fed American grain products, and processed in American facilities.  Catching the common denominator?  Our beef is quite literally, made in America.  American policies, regulations, and inspectors are there every step of the way; in the USDA and FDA.  The same goes for almost every industry, with the exception of seafood.  Seafood can be imported with no inspections, provided it is labeled as a product of China, the Philippines, etc… 

The basics of political science tell us that the informed public can ultimately change politics.  By creating an informed public, we can easily put such policy in place.  An increase in agriculture literacy will not only create this group but, ultimately change the face of American agriculture.

In order to insure the safety of our food supply, producers must cooperate to increase agriculture literacy in their specific industry.  Let’s use the seafood industry.  American shrimpers and aquaculturalists must band together and create this informed public so that consumers can make educated decisions on their seafood purchases.  By pushing for everything from advertising campaigns to new import regulations, this coalition of producers can better insure the safety of our food supply.  Who knows, we could soon see an American Shrimp campaign or a ban on Chinese seafood.