Coronavirus — Not On America’s Grocery List Thanks To Modern Agriculture
According to the Chinese calendar, 2020 is the year of the rat. Perhaps, more appropriately it should be called the year of the infected bat, sick civet, or flu - afflicted fowl.
I say this because China’s live-animal food markets (the same primitive food system that gave us SARS in 2003) has given the world another deadly virus. It’s a coronavirus that transmitted from critters to people.
This outbreak comes after last year’s spread of African Swine Fever. AFS killed half of China’s hog herd. It has now spread to more than 40 countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe. Ironically bad fortune for the global hog industry given that last year was the Year of the Pig per the Chinese Zodiac.
As China gives the world its latest strain of flu, you can bet on three things:
Health organizations will scramble to contain the virus while simultaneously warning the public (we hope without alarming it!).
Economic swings and stock market jitters.
Absolutely no credit whatsoever will be given to modern Agriculture for NOT being the source of this global virus.
I guarantee each of these outcomes but I’ll double my bet on number three. Why? Because well-fed consumers in the U.S. have been trained by activist groups to bite the hand that feeds them. Or at least to not give our amazing, safe, and abundant modern food system the credit it deserves.
Flu: From Farm to Table
The Wuhan Coronavirus originated in Chinese “wet” markets. That’s where rural vendors bring live animals to slaughter and sell to urban residents. Many of these animals are raised on small, backyard operations with no livestock health or handling protocols in place. Some of the animals brought to market are actually farm-raised wild species. My research included looking up civet, which is one such (diseased) delicacy.
Absent from these operations are such modern Agricultural practices as medication, veterinary oversight, scientifically formulated livestock rations, proper sanitation, FDA regulation, and USDA-inspected slaughter facilities.
In short, the Chinese equivalent of Old McDonald’s Farms and the province of Hubei’s farmers’ markets created this coronavirus.
Sickness Isn’t On the Grocery List
When you hear activists malign modern food production as “factory farming,” realize this: We in the United States have the safest, most abundant, least expensive food on the planet. Activist fundraising organizations charge that our food system is “broken.” Yet, the meat counter at Kroger or Whole Foods has never been the source of hundreds of deaths. Thankfully, we’re not quarantining cities due to a faulty food system.
As news, fear, and the coronavirus spreads, please give the credit due to America’s food system for providing the variety you want, minus the illness you don’t want.
Damian Mason is an Agriculturalist, Podcaster, Author, Businessman, and Speaker. For speaking engagements or to order his latest book Food Fear - How Fear is Ruining Your Dinner and Why You Should Celebrate Eating go to www.damianmason.com .
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