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Why the Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act will Fail to Curb Hunger

Senate bill sponsored by Senators Lugar and Casey called the Global Food Security Act (S. 384) sailed through committee two weeks ago. Members of the US Working Group agree that the bill presents failed solutions to the global food crisis and misguidedly advocates a leadership role for the United States in implementing failed food strategies in developing countries. Notably, developing nations have not been consulted about the wisdom of the strategies proposed in the bill, much less the farmers and consumers of those developing countries. Our colleagues at FoodFirst developed a Policy Brief, vetted by the US Working Group on the Food Crisis, that demonstrates how science and experience are being ignored by the strategists of the Lugar-Casey bill and why those strategies will fail to a address the global food crisis while exacerbating climate change. In addition, one of the primary strategies put forward in this bill stipulates that foreign assistance for agriculture shall include genetically modified (GM) technologies. This would be significant change in US policy and one that most of the scientists who worked on the UN sponsored IASTAAD Report would not support. In fact, our colleagues at the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report this week that speaks directly to that question. Their report called "Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops" shows that the claims of the biotechnology industry, promising better yields since the mid-1990s, do not hold up to scientific scrutiny. "Failure to Yield" documents that the industry has been carrying out gene field trials to increase yields for 20 years without significant results.

What can I do?

You can create more change together than alone.
You can:
• Connect with a local group about what you can do. LIKE US!
• Talk to friends and neighbors about the changes you want to see and what you can do together.
• Learn more about food issues. Read publications or watch videos with friends and discuss what you are learning.
• Share skills to help people learn to grow, preserve, or cook their own food.
• Ask local stores, schools, and institutions to provide healthy food from local and environmentally friendly farmers.
• Talk to local government do to help make good food available to everyone.

On your own, you and your family can:
• Eat good food. Your body will thank you, and you’ll feel better.
• Grow some of your own food in a home or community garden.
• Vote with your dollar. Support the types of farmers, stores, and organizations you believe in through your daily purchases.

What does it look like in action?

• Stores in every community sell healthy, high quality foods
• Local, environmentally friendly family farms are thriving, and their food is widely available through nearby stores and farmers’ markets.
• Schools and other institutions serve healthy and delicious meals that include food from local farms.
• Neighbors grow some of their own food in community and home gardens, and share food and their cultures with each other.
• Government policies support a healthy food system, and people have a voice.

What is Community Food Security About?

• Good food — food that’s fresh, delicious, and healthy!
• Everyone having access to good food—no matter where we live or how much money we have.
• Supporting local and independent farms and businesses that support our communities.
• Producing and distributing food in ways that protect our
planet and our climate.
• Taking charge of our communities by working together to create positive change.

Hello Everyone!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Greater Indianapolis Food Security Initiative!

Our Vision Statement:

The Indianapolis Food Security Initiative works to make Indianapolis a more food secure city through education, awareness, public programs, and connecting consumers to farmers.

We envision a food secure Indianapolis in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.

Our members include volunteer representatives from government, consumer, business, farm, multi-cultural, anti-hunger advocacy, faith and community development groups who are working together to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

Please check back as we will have updates soon!