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January 22nd, 2018 
Awake Goy World Food Prize Should Become Voice Of Regenerative Agriculture
Above photo: Frank Cordaro speaking, from YouTube.
The Register’s recent article “Iowa to pay $50,000 in lawsuit settlement,” describing a lawsuit against the World Food Prize (WFP) and the state of Iowa by anti-GMO protesters, sheds light on the past manipulations of the WFP to guard its international image among fellow promoters of industrial agriculture.
As one of the lawsuit plaintiffs, I feel Iowa taxpayers need several additional facts to understand the motivation behind the lawsuit by last year’s demonstrators.
In 2017, the WFP awarded its $250,000 prize to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the head of the African Development Bank, who was quoted as saying his mission is to bring industrial agriculture to all of Africa. This is not the kind of agriculture we demonstrators want spread throughout the world. Heavy use of pesticides that support patented GMO seeds is not our idea of improving agriculture in lesser developed countries. It is a way for corporations to increase their profits.
As a result of the lawsuit, for the first time the WFP allowed protesters to assemble at an area near the Capitol entrance, not the usual 110 yards away. But it is important to note the WFP continued to commission a large marching band to play John Phillip Sousa music to blast away in the faces of demonstrators, essentially silencing us. They continue to hang three giant banners from the Capitol that spell out “World Food Prize” although signs are not allowed in or on the Capitol.
Iowa taxpayers paid the settlement to the plaintiffs on behalf of the WFP, but that is because Iowa taxpayers automatically give the WFP more than $1 million dollars a year to run its operation. This money is provided to an institution that had its start from a $10 million gift by John Ruan and continues to receive major support from large industrial ag corporations, among others. Where is the state money for those who speak on behalf of organic farmers, we ask?
The irony of it all is that Iowa is a perfect example of why demonstrators from Occupy the World Food Prize object to the WFP promotion of GMO farming practices. Our soils are dead, our drinking water contains toxic levels of nitrates, too many of our children are sick. Livestock confinement companies take their money out of state, leaving Iowa with the environmental destruction while outsiders profit.
Occupy the World Food Prize calls on the WFP to become the voice of regenerative agriculture for the world and to award only those who promote safe, healthy and organic food. That is the message of Occupy the World Food Prize and that is why we protest. Occupy the World Food Prize cries out against this ecological travesty. The WFP, benefiting from our tax money, could help change this reality.
Sharon Donovan of Clive is a member of the Occupy the World Food Prize Board.
Source Article from https://popularresistance.org/world-food-prize-should-become-voice-of-regenerative-agriculture/
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