Topic: Corn Crop

A discussion on climate policy highlights the unintended consequences of the U.S. ethanol mandate, which diverted a third of the corn crop to fuel production. This shift caused global food prices to double, leading to riots in Mexico and hindering relief agencies trying to feed the poor in Africa. The segment argues that while stewardship of the earth is a shared value, poorly planned carbon reduction strategies can cause immediate human suffering.

A severe freeze in Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. has decimated produce crops, leading to a doubling or tripling of prices for tomatoes and zucchini. In the wake of this agricultural disaster, Monsanto is reportedly pushing for the adoption of frost-resistant genetically modified (GMO) seeds. The hosts suggest that environmental crises are often leveraged by biotech companies to bypass regulations on engineered crops.