In many ways, Iowa is ground zero for large-scale industrial agriculture in the US. Millions of acres of chemical-intensive, genetically engineered monocrops embody the erosion of local ecosystems and the loss of rural communities. The transition from diversified family farms to industrial monocultures has been facilitated by economic policies that make it impossible for farmers to sustain a livelihood while doing right by the land.
Within the sea of uniformity, George and Patti Naylor represent a beacon of hope. Their organic farm is the product of a long history of agricultural organizing, tracing back to the American Agriculture Movement and the U.S. Farmers Association. George Naylor has placed parity (fair prices for farmers) at the center of political struggle for decades. Patti Naylor has worked to connect US efforts to peasant and Indigenous communities worldwide, building global solidarity. Together, they uplift the principle that food is political, and that the fight for justice is essential.
