World On Your Plate is a gathering of people who care about where their food comes from. It’s also about what happens to it along the way. From GMOs to pesticides, our food is treated very differently than it has in the past. Even the news of Bayer purchasing Monsanto is a head turner. The $66 billion deal means that 90 percent of the world’s food production would be controlled by four multinational corporations. From the makers of Agent Orange, came Round Up weed killer and GMO seeds. The merger would certainly take advantage of Bayer’s trusted brand name moving forward. These are the serious issues that we are facing these days. While other countries are taking steps to ban GMOs, the US is still protecting companies via lax or non-existent labeling laws.
World On Your Plate gives us a way to learn, interact, and give back to the people and the environment by disseminating the benefits of progressive food initiatives. The event features workshops, vendors, informational tables and even entertainment. It’s a way to meet people in the region who care about food, health and environmental issues. After all, the strongest weapon that we have to fight the industry giants is knowledge. Another way to combat the big guns is to support the local farmers who have managed to somehow steer clear of the looming dangers. Instead of taking the easy way out, these farmers have dedicated their lives to doing what is right, even if that means they must work harder to achieve their goals.
If the farmers can stay sovereign… if the consumer can support the organic movement… if we can sway the politicians to do what is right for the people… only then will we be able to sit back and reap the rewards. In the meantime, the fight is on, and World On Your Plate is one way to arm ourselves for the battles to come.
13th Annual World On Your Plate
To create a table where all are welcome.
Friday, October 7 – Saturday, October 8
Daemen College, Wick Campus Center, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226
Conference Itinerary
Friday Evening
A light dinner will be served at 5 pm followed by the program. Elizabeth Henderson and Liana Hoodes of the of the Northeast Organic Farmer Association – NY(NOFA-NY) will lead a roundtable on the NY Organic Action Plan (NYOAP). NYOAP’s goal is to develop a food and farming system that is socially just, environmentally resilient, and ripe with economic opportunities. Prior to the roundtable, a panel discussion will be held, revolving around the importance of the farm to table movement – it’s more complicated than one might think…
- Jim Bittner, owner of Bittner-Singer Farms
- Tim Bartlett, General Manager of Lexington Coop
- Bridget O’Brien-Wood, Buffalo Public School Director of Food Service
- Erwin Rakoczy, board member of Clarence Hollow Farmer’s Market
- Tom Szulist of Singer Farms Naturals PANEL FACILITATOR
Saturday speakers
Matthew Goldfarb, farmer & co-founder of Fruition Seeds, will present the morning keynote.
“Resilient Seeds in a changing Climate” The topic of saving seeds is of particular importance today as agribusiness is gobbling up patents on seeds, adding snippets of genetic material to existing seeds, and generally taking away our inherent right and ability to save seeds, thereby also greatly diminishing our Biodiversity.
Frances Moore Lappe will present our afternoon keynote address: “The Solutions on Your Plate”.
She also spoke at the 2006 conference. Her recent books include: Democracy’s Edge, Getting a Grip, EcoMind and, most recently, World Hunger: 10 Myths. Currently, she is at work on a new book with Small Planet Institute Fellow Adam Eichen on Living Democracy, under the working title, The Thrill of Democracy!
Registration: Friday Evening: $10 preregistered, $15 at the door
Friday and Saturday or Saturday Only: $35 at the door, $30 pre-registered, all preregistered students (with id) are free – this includes school aged children and college students. Financial assistance is available.
For more information: www.worldonyourplate.org, info@worldonyourplate.org, or 716-741-8815.
Written correspondence and checks can be sent to WOYP, in care of Riverside-Salem UCC, POB 207, Grand Island, NY 14072.
Lead image: Farm Stand at Massachusetts Avenue Project in Buffalo NY