Robert Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed and sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services. This sprawling federal regulatory agency has authority over a wide variety of agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and others.
Kennedy, a long time skeptic of vaccines and promoter of conspiracy theories, has made it clear that he has plans for making changes in our food supply and the agricultural practices that produce it. In an on-line video, he promised to make changes in farm policy, “America’s ag policy is destroying America’s health.” Before a Senate committee hearing he stated, “There’s illness all over the farm community, and it’s undoubtedly related to the intensity of chemical pesticides.”
Statements like this have many in farm country worried.
Dr. Kevin Folta, professor at the University of Florida and nationally recognized advocate for science and biolecology, told Hoosier Ag Today that Kennedy’s appointment as HHS secretary is an abysmal choice.
“He has horrible ideas about food, horrible ideas about farming; he opposes genetically modified seeds; he is against the use of glyphosate, the use of seed oils. He is 100% wrong on all of these,” Folta stated.
Folta said Kennedy uses internet influencers and other non-science advisors when making his decisions. Kennedy has already pledged to impose regulations limiting access to “ultra processed foods.” Folta said, “When Michelle Obama tried to get people to eat healthy, the right called it ‘nanny state overreach.’ Now they’re saying this is ok with them.”
Folta said agriculture had better be prepared for a series of regulations and legislation that imposes strict limits on what we can eat and what we can grow,
“Everyone in farming had better have their elected official on speed dial because we are going to have to push back hard on some of this.” Folta expects that a ban on the use of Glyphosate will be forthcoming.
Farm groups are uneasy about Kennedy and his agenda. Speaking at its annual meeting last month, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said it’s important to engage with members of the new administration.
“Many of them are not familiar with agriculture. And some of them have ideas that could set back years of progress in modern farming and food security,” Duvall said. “How we engage with those skeptics of modern agriculture is tremendously important.”
CLICK BELOW to hear the complete conversation with Dr. Kevin Folta on the latest podcast episode of WTF? (What’s Threatening Farmers?) with Gary Truitt:
