What Doesn't Kill You

Kicking off the new fall season of What Doesn't Kill You, host Katy Keiffer is on the line with Ted Genoways, editor-at-large at OnEarth, the magazine of the Natural Resources Defense Fund. Discussing his August 15, 2015 article in The New Republic, "Corn Wars: The Farm by Farm Fight Between China and the United States to Dominate the Global Food Supply," conversation delves into an explanation of corn hybridization and how such technology has evolved, plus the roles past Secretaries of Agriculture have played in the transformation of farming concerning genetic engineering. Moreover, Katy gets to the bottom of the recently uncovered spy ring that saw a Chinese seed company stealing American corn seeds, or intellectual property worth millions developed by agricultural giants Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer and LG Seeds. Tune in for a fascinating episode that deliberates the idea of food being used as a weapon. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "If we put as much land as possible into production, we could over-produce our own corn needs and drive down international prices that would then undercut the Soviets, Chinese, and would give us as well a tool to use as a diplomatic point of leverage." [8:45] --Ted Genoways on What Doesn't Kill You

When Katy Keiffer and Tom Philpott talk about the pork industry, you better listen. This week on What Doesn't Kill You, the two discuss JBS's acquisition of Cargill pork production and the impact that exports have on the industry. Tom Philpott is the Food and Ag Correspondent for Mother Jones. He is also the cofounder of Maverick Farms, a center for sustainable food education in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. He was formerly a columnist and editor for the online environmental site Grist and his work on food politics has appeared in Newsweek, Gastronomica, and the Guardian. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "I can't think of a major meat deal in the last 25-30 years that's been shut down by anti-trust authorities." [09:00] "In 2000, pork exports were close to 0. it was not something we were doing a lot of exporting of." [18:00] "Do we want to be a hog farmer to the world?" [36:00] --Tom Philpott on What Doesn't Kill You

Water is one of the most important issues in the world right now. Access, supply, regulation, law... H20 is central in almost every agricultural conversation. Today on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer is joined by Brooke Barton, senior director of Ceres’ water program, directing the organization’s research and engagement with investors and corporations on the financial risks and opportunities related to water scarcity and quality. Brooke specializes in analyzing how large food and beverage companies are addressing water risks in their operations and agricultural supply chains. She is the author and co-author of numerous reports, including Feeding Ourselves Thirsty: How the Food Sector is Managing Global Water Risks, The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management, and Water & Climate Risks Facing U.S. Corn Production.. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery "You can't talk about agriculture without talking about water supply, water regulation and water law. The conversation is painfully lacking." [02:00] "There should be no election where people don't scrutinize the polling history of their wanna be elected representative on issues of environmentalism and social justice." 42:00 --Katy Keiffer on What Doesn't Kill You "There's growing competition for water everywhere you look." [07:00] --Brooke Barton on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer is joined by Matt Wadiak, co-founder and COO of Blue Apron, a subscription service that delivers ingredients, recipes, instructions and ready-to-cook meals to your home. Matthew Wadiak has been pursuing his passion for food for over 20 years. He began his career by cooking for chefs Charlie Trotter and Paul Bertolli and later spent several years sourcing and importing rare ingredients, such as white truffles, for chefs and food companies around the world. In 2004, Matthew founded Cooks’ Venture, a catering and events company. As Executive Chef, he and his team hosted and cooked for culinary events for a wide array of clientele including Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Matthew’s ideals of cooking have always been based on sustainability, local ingredients, and simple yet expertly prepared cuisine. Matthew is a graduate of The Culinary institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and believes that the best food is made at home. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "With the advent of the internet, everything changes." [08:00] "Our mission is to make great home cooking accessible to everyone." [24:00] "We're creating a marketing outlet for companies to sell their produce to and distribute to the country - for the first time." [26:00] --Matt Wadiak on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You host Katy Keiffer interviews Adam Eskin about the work he is doing at Dig Inn seasonal markets. Adam tells us about his transition from the business world to the food world, and why they are fairly similar. Katy and Adam then discuss Dig Inn's work with smaller scale producers and and how Dig Inn tries to do everything they can to help their efforts. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard and Winery. "We come to the table with a partnership approach, what can you do for us what can we do for you?" [13:00] -- Adam Eskin on What Doesn't Kill You

"Insects are the future, people!" This week on What Doesn't Kill You, host Katy Keiffer continues her innovation series, chatting with Andrew Brentano, co-founder and COO of Tiny Farms, Inc. He is working to improve the efficiency and commercial viability of insect farming with the application of modern technology and data analytics. Andrew explains that he is fascinated with technology, particularly the potential for human and technology interaction to enable humanity to solve its mundane and existential problems, like sustainable food sources. Throughout the show, Katy gets the scoop on his latest project, Open Bug Farm, and how exactly one farms insects and the differences between the input/output ratio of insect farming versus conventional animal, marine, and even tofu protein sources. After the break, Katy asks Andrew what's next for Tiny Farms, Inc. and if they might also venture into agricultural feed, providing for perhaps poultry and fish one day. Andrew certainly gives food for thought in this detailed interview - tune in for more! This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "There are almost 2000 documented species that humans consume around the world. There's every variety of ant, cricket, locust... but in the near term we're going to see more caterpillar species being eaten." "The big kicker is how much pro they [insects] have. Certain species are very high in healthy fats... and are high in vitamins and minerals." "For the aspiring insect farmer you really have two great markets: you've got your market for your actual insects and you've got your fertilizer market." --Andrew Brentano on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer returns from the Slow Meat Conference with a new friend and guest, Joe Oliva, who has plenty of insight to share on the show! Jose Oliva is Co-Director of the Food Chain Workers Alliance after starting as the Associate Director from August 2013 to December 2014. He is from Xelaju, Guatemala. Jose founded the Chicago Interfaith Workers’ Center in 2001 and then became the Coordinator of Interfaith Worker Justice’s National Workers' Centers Network. In 2008 he went on to run the Center for Community Change’s worker justice program. From 2009-2014, Jose held a number of leadership roles at Alliance member Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, the national organization of restaurant workers. He also served as Board Chair of the FCWA Board of Directors from 2010-2012. He is a member of the Chicago Food Policy Action Council. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "We see food as the central component of society - it's what makes us as individuals go and what makes the world go round." [04:00] "Good food is good food everywhere - it's not going to change." [17:00] "25% of all the groceries sold in the United States are sold at Wall-Mart." [20:00] "As long as there is a draw in this country for work - people will come here. That's the reality." [30:00] --Jose Oliva on What Doesn't Kill You

How do we make sure animals are being farmed safely and who has the main oversight in these areas? You might try asking Dr. Flora-Josephine Hagen Liste, the District Veterinary Officer of Western Iceland in the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority. Host Katy Kieffer interviews Dr. Flora-Josephine about her work in Iceland overseeing farm conditions, and maintaining animal safety. How do the US and the EU differ in animal food production, and what can the USDA learn from Iceland's practices? All this week on What Doesn't Kill You. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard and Winery. "I may have my own personal views...the only thing I am allowed to demand is what's in the regulations and the laws...it is a challenge to see things that you disagree with and not be able to change them." [14:00] "This outside inspection of the inspectors helps us do the right thing, and that is something I don't think the USDA has." [18:00] -- Dr. Flora-Josephine on What Doesn't Kill You

Dr. Marion Nestle is back on Heritage Radio! Tune in as she joins Katy Keiffer for a lively and spirited discussion on What Doesn't Kill You. Freshly back from visiting the USA Pavilion at the World's Fair in Milan, Marion has a new book, Soda Politics on the horizon and has lots to share on today's show. Hear about the power of the ethanol lobby, the need to bring agriculture and health policy together, and the continued failings of the US Congress. Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health (the department she chaired from 1988-2003) and Professor of Sociology at New York University. Her degrees include a Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition, both from the University of California, Berkeley. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "I think we need to bring agriculture and health policy together." [06:00] "The ethanol lobby has a lot of power in Congress." [14:00] "The soda industry is running scared these days." [33:00] "I'm enormously optimistic about what the food movement is doing. There's a lot going on. On an international basis food is being taken seriously in a way it never was before." [39:00] --Marion Nestle on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on a brand new season of What Doesn't Kill You, host Katy Keiffer welcomes writer Tom Philpott to discuss a plethora of inter-related topics, kicking off the show with a discussion on the California drought situation and its coinciding water politics, plus how almond and pistachio farmers are responding. Currently there are minimal regulations in California regarding ground water, and as Tom explains, the problem is that the legislation that is in place may not have an adequate chance to benefit anyone at the rate water sources are being depleted. Conversation turns to general precipitation amounts throughout the state and with numbers dwindling, Tom discusses the effect this will likely have on the economy as well as farm workers. After the break, Katy brings up Tom's writing on the impact of chemicals on field workers and gets his thoughts on exactly what's going on before delving deeper into labor conditions in the food industry. Tune in for another thought-provoking show! This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. "If we can 'de-Californify' the food supply while we push for better conditions for workers on factory farms then we can start to see a future that doesn't look quite so grim." [44:36] --Tom Philpott on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You Katy interviews professor Hod Lipson about his work with 3D printing, and how this process has recently intertwined into printing food. They start the show by discussing one of the first foods that people have been 3D printing, chocolate. They use chocolate as a framing device for discussing the almost limitless possibilities of 3D printing and how beef, candy, and synthetic mixtures may become the future of the food industry. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. "I see it as the ultimate kitchen appliance [3D Printer]." [12:00] "The sky is the limit, once you put all this information into a computer...its mind boggling." [15:00] "You aren't abandoning conventional foods, you are just using them in a different way." [17:00] -- Professor Hod Lipson on What Doesn't Kill You

Barry Estabrook joins Katy Keiffer for this week's episode of What Doesn't Kill You to discuss his latest book, Pig Tales: An Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat -- an eye-opening investigation of the commercial pork industry and an inspiring alternative to the way pigs are raised and consumed in America. Barry Estabrook, author of the New York Times bestseller Tomatoland and a writer of “great skill and compassion” (Eric Schlosser), now explores the dark side of the American pork industry. Drawing on his personal experiences raising pigs as well as his keen investigative reporting, Estabrook shows how these immensely intelligent creatures are too often subjected to lives of suffering, sustained on a drug-laced diet just long enough to reach slaughter weight, then killed on mechanized disassembly lines. It doesn’t have to be this way, and Pig Tales presents a lively portrait of those farmers who are taking an alternative approach, proving that it is possible to raise pigs responsibly and respectfully in a way that is good for producers, consumers, and some of the top chefs in America. Provocative and richly informed, Pig Tales is bound to generate conversation at dinner tables across America. This program was brought to you by EscapeMaker.com. "97 percent of pigs raised in this country live in these horrific crammed confinement buildings where their feet never touch the ground and they never breathe fresh air or see sunshine." [15:00] "Gestation crates will be relics of past -- they will be goners." [44:00] --Barry Estabrook on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer is talking about one of her favorite topics - fecal engineering! She's joined by Craig Scott of Bion Environmental Technologies, a provider of comprehensive livestock waste treatment technology. They discuss anaerobic digesters, Pennsylvania Senate Bill # 994, livestock production, TMDL regulations and much much more.This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "Anaerobic digestion is focused on recovering renewable energy from the waste stream - it's not an environmental solution" [03:00] --Craig Scott on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You, Katy Keiffer launches a series of shows that will spotlight innovative new businesses dealing with the challenges we face in feeding our burgeoning population. On this episode, she's talking with Jason Drew, an international business leader and serial entrepreneur turned environmentalist and author. His most recent endeavor is Agriprotein, a revolutionary concept in feed for industrialized fish and poultry farming. He is a passionate environmentalist, visionary, and capitalist. His books are The Protein Crunch: Civilization on the Brink and The Story of the Fly and How it Can Save the World. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. "Our ancestors grew up on the insects of the land!" [31:00] --Jason Drew on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You Katy has no guest and decides to interview herself. She begins the show by addressing some of the major food issues that she has covered before the mainstream media began to cover them such as fracking, or HIMP. Her discussion jumps from topics of unfair payment for food workers, the pork industry, farm worker strife, and food stamps. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard and Winery. "Nothing is for free, if it seems to good to be true, thats usually the fact." [8:00] "We must pay more attention to who we're voting for to maintain some state of sanity." [15:00] -- Katy Keiffer on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You Katy interviews two-time James-Beard-award winning author of Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit , Barry Estabrook. Barry and Katy discuss the topic of slave labor in the Thai shrimp industry. The two focus on various issues such as the root causes of this problem as well as US companies that participate in the industry. This program was sponsored by Underground Meats.

This week on What Doesn't Kill You Katy interviews contributing editor to Popular Science and award winning author Catherine Price. The two discuss Catherine's recent book, Vitamania, which focuses on the worlds vitamin and dietary supplement market. The conversation turns to what foods we should grow and eat to make sure children get the vital nutrients they need to prevent disease and other similar health issues. Catherine informs us on the specifics of how losing certain vitamins can affect us negatively and important foods to include in our daily lives. This program was sponsored by Bi-Rite Market. "When you take all the nutrients off of a grain of wheat, you don't know what you are losing that helps you process those nutrients." [13:00] "If you have a cupcake that has vitamins in it, or chia seeds in it, its still a cupcake." [14:00] -- Catherine Price on What Doesn't Kill You

Get a deep look at the state of antibiotic use in the livestock industry on this weeks episode of What Doesn't Kill You. Host Katy Keiffer is joined by Sasha Stashwick, senior advocate at National Resources Defense Council's food and agriculture program, which works on reforming the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry. This program was brought to you by Cain Vineyard & Winery. "This problem isn't exclusive to the livestock industry. Antibiotic misuse and overuse in human medicine is a big problem as well." [20:00] "Our goal is to make this a product [antibiotic free chicken] that's accessible to all Americans and all consumers, not just an elite few." [25:00] "We can vote with our wallets and these big buyers will respond." [41:00] --Sasha Stashwick on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You , award winning journalist Michael Moss deconstructs his recent NY Times story on abused animals at the hands of USDA researchers. This program was sponsored by Route 11 potato chips. "There is a huge difference between research to promote the beef industry, and research to improve consumer safety." [22:30] "It is becoming increasingly hard for me to go to a restaurant and blindly eat meat without knowing who raised it." [29:00] --Michael Moss on What Doesn't Kill You

This week on What Doesn't Kill You, whistle blower Amanda Hitt returns to talk about the latest news on HIMP, a new meat inspection model heavily touted by industry, and heavily protested by former and current meat inspectors. This program was sponsored by Bi-rite Market