Agriculture History and Policy

Agriculture Policy Is Health Policy

The Farm Bill is meant to supplement and secure farm incomes, ensure a stable food supply, and support the American farm economy. Over time, however, it has evolved into a system that creates substantial health impacts, both directly and indirectly. By generating more profit for food producers and less for family farmers; by effectively subsidizing the production of lower-cost fats, sugars, and...

Sustainable Agriculture and Public Policy

History of the Rial and Foreign Exchange Policy in Iran

Through the history and since 1933, the Iranian rial has declined from 11.2 rials per dollar to almost 8600 rials per dollar today in the parallel or black market. At the same time the official rate has been kept at artificial level most of the time, not consistent with other macro conditions of the country. Historically, however, the Central bank has adjusted the official rate and brought it i...

History of zinc in agriculture.

Zinc was established as essential for green plants in 1926 and for mammals in 1934. However, >20 y would pass before the first descriptions of zinc deficiencies in farm animals appeared. In 1955, it was reported that zinc supplementation would cure parakeratosis in swine. In 1958, it was reported that zinc deficiency induced poor growth, leg abnormalities, poor feathering, and parakeratosis in ...

Beyond nutrition and agriculture policy: collaborating for a food policy.

Global interest in food policy is emerging in parallel with mounting challenges to the food supply and the rising prevalence of diet-related chronic health conditions. Some of the foundational elements of food policies are agricultural practices, finite resources, as well as economic burdens associated with a growing and ageing population. At the intersection of these interests is the need for ...