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How Did We Get Here?
The Development of the “Modern” Food System

Session 5

Summary
What are the origins of today’s agricultural system? Learners map the geographic origins of common foods and evaluate how changes in food-related technologies impact their eating habits. Then, learners read short selections about historic points in agriculture and create a timeline of significant global “food events” such as Columbus' voyage, the introduction of synthetic fertilizers, and the “green” revolution.

Guiding Questions

  • How did today’s food system develop?
  • What are the key historical events?
  • How are these historical events related?
  • What is technology? How has it developed in relation to agriculture?

Big Ideas

  • Technology related to food has changed over time, and this has impacted the overall food system.
  • Key points in “food history” include the agricultural revolution, Columbus’ voyage, the Scientific Revolution, the “green revolution,” the development of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and the “gene revolution.”
  • Each of these developments created changes in how food was produced and consumed.  Each development was also driven by specific assumptions about the meaning of “progress.”

Session 5 Materials:

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"I wish I could fast forward the camera to see what agriculture would be like in twenty years. There are so many grass-roots movements out there, so many people that want to turn things around . . . so how can the higher power not bring us all together and give us some sort of vision on how to do this. I believe that each of us in doing what we are doing, already are making a difference, a huge difference."

Judy Hageman, Paoli, Wisconsin - Dane County from Voices of Wisconsin Farm Women by Cynthia Vagnetti, 2003.