ABSTRACT
In this chapter we look at recent policy changes related to the food and finance issues discussed in previous chapters. We begin with a brief historical survey to see how policy has evolved over time. US agriculture policy was shaped by a farm crisis which preceded the Great Depression, and the policies established in the 1930s to stabilize farm income did not change dramatically, until recently. A new farm bill passed in 2014 takes a fairly significant departure from previous policy. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are also in the final stages of discussions, and battle lines are being drawn over a recommendation to incorporate environmental sustainability. There is also heated debate over two trade bills the Obama administration is trying to “fast-track” through Congress, and, despite passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, speculative position limit rules are still under review. Policy food fights in the US invariably pit public interest against corporate interest, and the current debates are no different. The important question posed: can ordinary citizens overcome the regulatory capture by corporate interests?
