The Major noticed the rise of cancer in school children and researched the science linking it to pesticides used by local farmers. He then decided to transition funding from pesticide spraying farmers to schools to buy organic school lunch food. The farmers that were spraying chemicals realized they had to switch to organic practices, so they did. The farmers received payment from the schools for organic food, and the school received organic food. The health of the children in that region was protected.
Could we dare to imagine such a sensible act taken by our government? In 2020 (during school shutdowns), our government provided $13.87 billion dollars of food to our school systems every year. This $5 billion difference is a decline from the previous year when $18.75 billion was spent. What if the money that was not spent on school lunches in 2020 was spent on the transition to organic food in schools? Perhaps the development of organic school gardens? Hiring staff to head up local school to farmer collaboration?
This endeavor is no small task. Five billion low-cost or free (mostly GMO, mostly toxic) school lunches are served every year to our children; 31 million children are served per day. Lunches primarily made up of commodity crops such as corn, soy, and wheat (all sprayed with glyphosate herbicides), cost $1.30 each, less than is commonly allocated for homemade dog food. Efforts have been made to add fruits and vegetables to school lunches, but if they are not organic, for example, according to the Pesticide Action Network, apples can have up to 47 pesticides on them. Are our children’s health and learning abilities being supported by being exposed to these kinds of toxins, including neurotoxins, daily?
Policy changes can transform the food system and health in America within a short time. Do we dare to speak up for the most vulnerable of our population to have organic food as a solution to transforming the entire food industry? Do we dare insist that our elected officials take action to protect the future of our nation?
Moms Across America could not think of a more urgent, reasonable, and feasible than this proposal:
Transition the GMO farming subsidies to the school lunch budgets, earmarked for organic food with an emphasis on local. Put our children, their health, and their education first.
Support the transition of American farmers to regenerative organic farming and put the security of our farmer’s employment, the quality of the soil, and our nation’s health first.