The Chaos of America's Food System

A vital investigation of the economic and environmental instability of America's food system, from the agricultural issues we face - soil loss, water depletion, climate change, pesticide use - to the community of leaders who are determined to fix it. Sustainable is a film about the land, the people who work it, and what must be done to sustain it for future generations.

Director : Matt Wechsler
Script : Matt Wechsler
Cast : Marty Travis, Dan Barber, Rick Bayless
Year : 2016
Documentary, historic
Full documentary

[devishakulasekaran]

The best documentary I watched in a long time. I have a very high respect for our farmers. I wish this documentary would be shown to middle schoolers nationwide.

[donnamays]

Every American needs to watch this documentary…there are corporations that are literally patenting certain foods that make it illegal for individuals to grow…that’s a problem! Being disconnected from where your food comes from is a disaster! Blessings

[WendellBurkhart-gv]

This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. I really respect these people and hope they continue this amazing journey and God Bless Everyone of Them.

[scottsmith]

I feel so obligated to also comment that this regenerative model of farming would drastically cut into the big chemical companies pockets. They donate millions to political campaigns. Also discussing growing your own seeds, most people aren't aware THAT'S NOT LEGAL, a literal CRIME with most major seed companies, has been for decades. Today's farmers do not OWN the seeds they buy. They're just using them to produce a crop. They can not use any of their crop for future seeds. I met a very elderly man in Alabama that was arrested and jailed for refusing to follow this. Again, like virtually every aspect of agriculture, the mega wealthy CONTROL nearly every aspect of it. Until we can have major campaign finance reform, and break up the very few agriculture and chemical producers that are clearly monopolies, nothing will ever change. Both political parties are equally liable for allowing this atrocity.

[loiscutting]

This video is the kind of life I grew up with. We did not use commercial fertilizers and no herbicides that poisons the soil. Instead, we rotated crops with wheat, hay, corn, different kinds of beans and oats. We also planted half acre of buckwheat for the bees to work in later in the summer. All the farmers around us used all the poisons and planted corn in the same field for twenty years. If you don't rotate crops, the corn bores will damage the ears on the corn. What one crops puts in the soil the next crop needs to grow. We had cattle and used the manure for fertilizer with no meds used in the cattle as others do. The restaurants in and around Chicago are fortunate to have farmers to bring in nutritious food. I have read where much of the food in the grocery stores have glyphosate in them, so people are consuming poison, no wonder cancer is so prevalent.

[scottsmith]

What an amazing documentary. I too grew up in a small Illinois farm much like those. I'm maybe 10 minutes from the end of this video, and the elephant in the room with this entire situation, is the massive donations the 4 major food producers pay to our politicians on both sides, to keep the regulations, and subsidies where they are. Only THEY get wealthy. Only their shareholders are making record profits, while the consumers are being squeezed more and more. I also agree one of the best documentaries I've seen in a very long time. Thank you.

[FarmingFuture-wq]

"This is hands down one of the best documentaries I've ever watched. I have deep respect for these incredible people and wish them all the best on their journey. God bless each and every one of them."

[valerieneal]

Excellent documentary !
Keep up the good work❤😊

[marycalderon]

I’ve lived in Iowa a long time, and when I see the fields, I always wonder, why don’t they grow something people can eat.

[gabriellacordova]

If you have any critique of this video, go back to the very beginning of it and see how every civilization before ours has doomed itself by destroying the soil. Do not let history repeat itself. We have a choice right now.

[petereldracher]

Phenomenal video. Make this a mandatory part of school curriculums across the country.

[DJJonPattrsn]

What a marvelous, educational & inspirational presentation!!!

Thank you SO much!

[mauertal]

2024 Einkorn was culitvated on more than 1000 Hektar (2.500 acres) in Germany alone. In France, Switzerland it is also a common variety and u can buy "einkorn-flavour" or "einkorn-pasta" on several online-shops!

[TheMighty_T]

The big shock is going to be (already started in some places around the world) when our ability to produce food at the industrial scales we currently do, starts to break down.

At this point anyone is going to be happy they spent some time and thought on how to produce some of thier own food. You can do it in a city Scape (many projects already exist if you check around your locality), so don't need to be deep in the countryside.

[Keiphton]

In all honesty I needed this video after so many other videos that highlight the aspects of what’s wrong without solutions. This is informative, wholesome, and part of the solution. For health and community. Simply fabulous and bravo to those farming and to those filming. Appreciate what you’re doing and what you’ve done.

[cindybatka]

EVERY American needs to watch this. Phenomenal!

[estadoanarquista]

Aqui no Brasil o movimento nas direções apontadas pelo documentário são cada vez mais fortes.

[Rafael-oidj]

The thing that pests me is that fruits in the supermarkets, like pears, apricots, peaches & their likes, are always hard as billiard balls & will stay that way even if you boil them, their smell is gone & a sign like "fruits" would look rather out of place
The most scary symptom is that flies, that love fruits, are nowhere to be found

[emermbiemeri]

politika amerikane. 100 probleme. shtepija e bardhe. shum bukur.

[Ryanrobi]

As a farmer and a person that has a large garden and grows most of my own food I personally understand wanting the connection but most people couldn't care less and romanticizing local and small farmers who produce almost none of the food doest help. Food is and has to be a commodity to create the right incentives to feed 8 plus billion people without that you would quite literally have 3 billion people starve and that's much worse than being disconnected from your food. Gardening is the most popular hoppy in America so many people do grown some small % of their food.

If you went 50 years back to many more small inefficient farmers you would need the cost of food to more than triple and people are already very angry for food to go up 30% or so in 4 years. The cost of the average Americans food as a % of their income is the lowest in history and of any country it's about 5 % and even Canada pays about double that at 10% most people in developing countrys pay more that 60% plus. Global foods are commodities so if we held back on production global prices would skyrocket around the world. It's not even close to worry it to starve a few billion people so we feel more connected with our food. If you want to feel more connected move out of the city and have a house in the country and have a large garden and grow your own food.