Should Michael Pollan Be Secretary of Agriculture?

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The coverage of Barack Obama's diet on the presidential campaign trail portrayed the President-elect as a foodie who prefers organic goods and avoids overindulgence.

Now people are wondering how those preferences might affect his choice for secretary of agriculture. A petition has cropped up in support of Michael Pollan as a nominee. Pollan spoke to WNYC's Brian Lehrer this morning and joked that while he fears the vetting process, he's flattered by all the buzz.

Pollan, who recently wrote about his suggestions for changing food policy to make healthy foods more affordable, explained that our current policy discourages farmers from growing healthy food. Farmers are encouraged to grow commodity crops, especially soy and corn, and to use lots of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the process.

These crops are the basis of fast food (corn is fed to the animals who become the meat and is used to create high fructose corn syrup, found in soda) and hydrogenated soy oil. So it's completely rational right now to feed your family with the unhealthiest food, since you'll get the most calorie bang for your buck.

Pollan suggested that the person who does get the job has got to understand how our food policy affects so many other issues.

While we're talking about reforming health care, we're subsidizing the unhealthiest kinds of food. The next secretary of agriculture is going to have to connect these dots.

Who else might be considered? Sites such as La Vida Locavore and the Yale Sustainable Food Project list some possible other names for the position.

Fortunately, Pollan left the interview by saying that he is optimistic about the Obama administration tackling food policy. He sees him as someone interested in the issue, who understands the link between agriculture and energy and agriculture and health. He hopes Obama will start by planting an organic garden at the White House.

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