“Recipe for America” Author Discusses National “Food Crisis” in Lawrence University Address

APPLETON, WIS. — Author and food activist Jill Richardson discusses the impact of agribusiness and corporate farms on America’s food system and the importance of sustainable agriculture in the Lawrence University presentation “The Global Food Crisis.”

The address, Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Wriston Art Center auditorium, is free and open to the public.

Richardson is the author of the 2009 book “Recipe for America: Why Our Food System is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It.” In her book, Richardson highlights conditions at America’s “factory farms” and argues that sustainable agriculture — where local farms raise food that is healthy for consumers and animals with minimal environment impact — offers the only solution to America’s food crisis. She also discusses the rising grassroots food movement, which is creating an agricultural system that allows people to eat sustainably, locally and seasonally.

A member of the advisory board of the Organic Consumers Association, Richardson is the founder of the blog La Vida Locavore and also writes about food issues for the Web site Daily Kos.

Richardson’s appearance is supported by Green Roots, a two-year long environmental initiative to “green” the Lawrence campus and cultivate ecological habits of mind and disposition, and the Mojmir Povolny Lectureship in International Studies. Named in honor of long-time Lawrence government professor Mojmir Povolny, the lectureship promotes interest and discussion on issues of moral significance and ethical dimensions.