Reading Response #1

So far in the readings of the Omnivores Dilemma Michael Pollan describes to us the domestication and industrialization of corn. He starts by telling us about the origin of corn and maize and how it came to be a part of American Agriculture. He then goes on to talk about how it affects the farmers that grow the corn. To illustrate this Pollan talks about a farmer from Iowa who grows corn and his personal story, along with this he shares with us the effects that advancing technology has on the industry. He points out that technology allows more corn to be grown then ever before, and because of this farmers produce to much which only decreases the price of corn. In the following chapters Pollan begins to discuss the consumers and how we are effected by the rise of corn. He explains that corn is a very energy dense food and that it is very cheap, due to it's very low price it made it's way into soft drinks and all of our food. Pollan suggests that it is because of this rise of corn that fast food and calories have become so cheap that America has gotten fat. By examining these two chapters together I have drawn the conclusion that because it is developing technology that has pushed corn to such a cheap price and because of that cheap price that is causing America to get fat, that ultimately it is technology that is causing America to get fat. It is because of this and the fact that technology is constantly improving and therefore making corn cheaper that I believe that America will continuously gain weight until type 2 diabetes achieves a higher mortality rate than lung cancer.