User Reviews

A very watchable documentary suitable for all ages. We took our 3 kids (as young as 6) and they all got something out of it, even tho the content was serious.

Shows effectively how we are losing diversity in the seed / gene pool; that agricultural ownership is being concentrated in fewer hands; and that large conglomerates (such as Monsanto) are aggressively pushing genetically modified seed and chemical herbicide, as well as driving the family farmer out of business.

Like you'd expect in something like this there's a sort of relentless one-sidedness, and some of the scientific explanations seem a bit superficial. But well worth the time & price of admission.

There is probably nothing that we can do to change things as we have given up the oversight of our elected leaders by not voting or by voting on single issues at the direction of our preachers, but we should at least have some knowledge of what is being done to us by politicians and chemical companies in bed together.

97% of the varieties of vegetables that were available at the turn of the 20th century are gone. The food we now have - corn, soybeans, etc. - had been genetically modified so that there is only one or two varieties. There is no testing or oversight due to the negligence of the FDA and the US Dept. of Agriculture and the fact that members of both these organizations, as well as other politicians, including at least one on the Supreme Court, have been or are members of the boards or in the employ of of the chemical companies. In fact Monstanto said it didn't matter who won the 2000 election, they were covered.

The chemical companies have bought all the seed companies and now you buy from them or you do not plant. They have, with the help of the government and the courts, usurped private property to their benefit.

As I say, there is nothing that can be done, save buying organic or at farmer's markets; but this film contains information you should know, especially since as a taxpayer you are contributing $20 billion dollars a year to the chemical companies.

If the rest of the world does not accept our frankenfood, why should we?

I'm just curious as to why some of the negative reviewers sound like they may be working secretly for Archer Daniels Midland or Monsanto. Their bleating objections strike me as being pseudo defensive and very similar to those expressed by the tobacco industry when they're charged with deception and killing people with their product or when "An Inconvenient Truth" broke open the Global Warming debate and conservatives denied its veracity. Someone should check on those guys and how they earn a living. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed "The Future of Food" and felt it did us a great service by expressing another viewpoint OTHER than what we get from the big corporations and our government. I wish it were our government.

It's an important film and well worth seeing and further discussion.

This is arguably one of the best examples of a film that has the ability to simplify a very complicated subject tat I have seen since The Corporation. Debora Koons Garcia has strung together the most cohesive and informative series of interviews, historic footage, biographies and science animations that culminate in a clear comprehensive message about our food and what is being done with it. It should be built-in to every television sold today... its that good!

The film describes in detail the history of agriculture and then focuses on the problems associated with industrial agriculture and the introduction of Agri-Business in the 20th Century. It reveals the unethical business practices that have resulted from Argri-Corporations need to make profit regardless of their effects on humanity. Agribusiness; like it or hate it, you will learn information you didn't know from this film.

This movie was truly shocking. I had no idea what was really truly happening with our food supply, I mean I had an idea, but I didn't think it was this bad. Makes you wanna run out into the streets and shout. I agree with the previous previewer, it is totally watchable for kids, and actually this should be shown in schools, libraries, where ever you can get a group together to see it. This info has got to get out there. WOW! What do we do? How do we do it? What do you eat? Where do you shop? Think about those things. See the movie and then make some changes! Maybe plant your own garden, or join a local CSA... do something!

... and I mean EVERYONE... but most importantly by all Americans. Save the money from your next gorefest and buy a DVD of this movie and give it to a friend... ... for its a movie that deals with the most basic of human necessities... our need for food...

This film deal with the changes to the way farming is done (primarily in the United States) and how along with the methods, how farm produce has also changed. It tells about the effects this change has on people all around the world...

This documentary isn't all about the doom hanging over the United States, although as I sat there watching it I couldn't help but feel that Americans are dooming themselves... not because of greed or the intent to harm... but merely because of the absence of information... ... and information is what this film gives... make a truly informed decision, one that will help you, your family and your community

Every American needs to see this movie, I have purchased copies and given them away, I feel it's that important. Here on Oahu Monsanto has purchased an additional 2500 acres for genetic experiments on the food we eat. The information in this movie is suppressed in our country to say the least. If you say anything bad about genetically modified food in the press you are generally sued by Monsanto, and like some fox reporters fired for your story.The plight of those reporters is told in the movie as one of many events studied to give the viewer a picture of the conspiracy at hand. Although this film is becoming a bit outdated it is still a great foundation everyone should see about the corporate plot aimed at dominating and owning the world food supply at the cost of corrupting and polluting it forever.

I worry about documentaries that get rave reviews but only show one side of the issue. And such was the case with THE FUTURE OF FOOD. Don't get me wrong, this film had some interesting information for viewers but it's very lopsided in presentation.

Its focus was on genetically engineered crops and how it affects everything from the seed to the dinner table. The film really goes after The Monsanto Corporation which is responsible for many lawsuits around the globe related to their patenting of a particular type of "Round-Up Ready" seed. What this means is that the crop itself becomes toxic to certain insects but not to humans. This gives it an advantage in that the crop becomes more sustainable with possible higher yields. The problem is that never before has something living been given a patent. And when seeds from adjoining Monsanto product fields accidentally blow into non-Monsanto fields, the law gets extremely convoluted. Now a farmer who has never bought a Monsanto product suddenly begins growing Round-Up Ready crops, and Monsanto wants their money.

The documentary would lead you to believe that Monsanto was out to destroy the small, independent farmer, and this is a possibility. Maybe a bit of a stretch but certainly not something beyond the Big Business approach in today's capitalist market. It is also where the documentary begins to show some logical leaks. Not once are we shown an interview with a Monsanto representative (or even an attempt to get one) which gives The Future of Food its aforementioned lopsided presentation. If film makers want to be taken seriously, they have to be willing to risk ridicule from "the other side." This gives viewers the chance to discuss and research the topic and not simply force-fed (no pun intended) the documentary-makers' opinion.

The other issue with the film is that there was a section dedicated to the molecular make-up of certain genetically modified seeds. Although interesting and important, it went too far into microbiology and genetics for the average person (I've actually studied science so it wasn't too far of a stretch, but the non-scientific mind might have quite a bit of difficulty with it).

The ending of the documentary was probably the most interesting part, showing how the organic farmers are reaching out to communities via farmers markets and appropriate labeling (something that genetically modified developers do not want).

All in all this was very much a scare tactic approach to shock the viewer into action. Although this isn't as horrible as it sounds, anyone with half a brain will most likely wonder what Monsanto and other GM farming groups think about the entire subject. Unfortunately, through this film, we'll never know.

I will say that if even a fraction of what was presented here is true, then watching the film is worth your while. But I'd recommend doing some research afterward so that you get the entire picture.

THE FUTURE OF FOOD (TFOF) skillfully takes on the task of describing the constellation of large, hard issues relating to modern food production. What a task! In its analysis TFOF correctly and importantly ties together the relationships among the 3 factors of production - land, labor, and capital - in getting at an accurate description of the modern enclosure movement at work in our fast food world.

TFOF's coverage extends to the many spatial and historical dimensions of farming, to the legal, intellectual property of "pharming," to some of the technical aspects of the genetic modification, and shows where we are headed.... But that's up to you!

TFOF compares to THE CORPORATION in its potential impact. It could be even bigger. My local store was selling it at the checkout counter yesterday - 12/6/2005!

I really wanted to like this film. It deals with a topic of great importance and generally propagates ideas that I agree with - like the dangers of corporate behavior, the threat to biodiversity that GM products pose and the absurdity of patenting life.

So what's the problem? Let me sum it up:

• most of the movie is comprised from old footage cuts accompanied by a rather dull commentary. Not very captivating.

• the commentary is badly written. It's repetitive and often fails to make a point. For instance, it cites three methods for genetic modification of a cell. Dramatic music, the 'expert' says that the procedure is very invasive to the cell and that it mimics the behavior of a virus and... nothing more. I wanted to know what problems can arise from the treatment but there was no explanation. Is it really surprising that overwriting the DNA is 'invasive' to a cell? Yet, this treacherous 'invasivness' is mentioned several times through the film (with no additional information).

• important information is left out. For example, the movie mentions the Supreme Court's decision on the Monsanto vs. Schmeisser trial but fails to mention the Court's reasoning that sheds a different light on the severity of the ruling. On top of it the court denied any compensation to Monsanto. This clearly didn't fit the film's agenda.

• the choice of the talking heads is poor. When compared to the respectable lineup that producers of other documentaries were able to accumulate (e.g. The Corporation, The Power of Nightmares) I can only assume the creators of The Future of Food just didn't make their homework. Where are (ex)employees of the bioengineering companies, politicians that took part in creating the regulations for GM and where are the representatives of the regulatory government bodies?

I first became aware of things not being quite right when I developed an allergic reaction to various products. So now I started looking at the labels of all the products I consumed - from soap to toothpaste to food. What I discovered was that the American food diet is a slow death sentence. E.g. after brushing my teeth, my stomach would ache and I did not know why. I finally read the label of my toothpaste for the first time in my life. It warns you that if you swallow too much of it, you should call the local Poison Control Center. I was slowly poisoning myself, and it is sold over the counter - it contains bleach! I switched to Tom's of Maine and no longer have those stomach problems. I then saw the movie "Supersize Me." It confirms that the American "fast-food" food industry is a slow death sentence. Then I saw "King Corn" and it confirms that the corn being grown in the US is inedible - unless it gets "processed" at a plant! Now comes "The Future of Food" and ... I am depressed. I apologize to every single organic food grower, and consumer for ever thinking you guys were "full of it." The irony is of course that I was the one full of "it." Please let others know what is going on - tell everyone you know to see this movie ... and BUY ORGANIC! That's my plan. If we stop buying their sewage then they lose profit. If they lose profit, THEN we get their attention. may God richly bless you and yours, in Jesus' name, amen.

SOON -- and that they comments, seeing as there are only ~5!

Very Interesting that even though Amazon.com sells it, IMDb has no hyper-link for/to it (up in the right-hand corner of its title page there) like they do virtually all other films (and/or the/an official website link!! What the hell's w/ that??

Anyway, Y'all can also get this most-excellent DVD at peaceproject.com , I'm quite sure. It's really disturbing -- also re: so many other fine film documentaries -- that so few people have seen and are (apparently) unaware of its existence! If people don't get their act together, we're REALLY in a LOT of trouble, Y'all -- and i don't mean only re: food/s!!

it's time people understand about the destruction of our planet.... this film is an informative way to jump-start that awakening.

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This documentary is a terrifying eye opener that every American should watch. The future of our food truly depends on the educating of American citizens. Our food is being tampered with in an unnatural way and the long term ramifications are unknown. We deserve to know what is in our food and it is our job to DEMAND it! This film opens your eyes to the risks of GMO's in our food, the corruption that is our food industry, the injustices small farmers face at the hands of corporations, and the danger of tampering with mother nature. If we don't fight for the complete elimination of GMO foods we may wipe out any indigenous agriculture we have left. Please watch this and any other informative documentaries on food. Tell your friends and loved ones. Sign every petition you can, and contact your local legislature to share your voice!

This documentary is an essential crash-course on GMOs. It's an honest, accurate exploration of how GMOs are threatening the world's healthy food supply. You also learn everything you need to know about Monsanto's plot to control all our food and witness the death-squeeze the company is putting on American farmers--especially farmers who are remarkably courageous to stand up to this cold-blooded corporation. What Monsanto is doing to farmers is just criminal. Boycott Monsanto products.

Deborah Koons Garcia, the widow of Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, directed this film. You can even view it for free at http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food .

An excellent companion piece to the widely recognised Food, Inc. The Future of Food focuses more on the scientific breakthroughs of the last 20 years. It shows how the genetically modified seeds have crossed with those that are harvested by farmers that wish to have no part in this corporate game. These farmers are not to be sued for having patented crops they never wanted in the first place. It's a rich and complex issue, as the dream of cheap and healthy food for all has evolved into a sickening game of chase the cash. Yet another damning of the capitalist nature of America, it preaches for a more simplified world or organic farming. Heavy on the science and low on the sentiment, this is an educational documentary that opens the eyes.

This type of propaganda doesn't do anything for the debate. The agriculture community has been talking about the monoculture issue for years. Is it a potential problem? Yes. Do dramatic films that twist data do anything to truly inform people? No. From "Feed Grains, Soybeans and the World Trade Organization" by Albert Allen, Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University "Although scientists agree that GMO products are safe, consumer groups, environmentalists, political leaders, doctors,and others are increasingly debating the health, environmental and ethical issues surrounding these products. In European countries, governments have delayed the acceptance of corn varieties that are GMO enhanced. This could lead to world wide delays in the marketing of these products to consumers." So, "scientific consensus" is good enough for global warming but not for GMO's. Interesting.

This film is a glaringly one-sided propaganda piece. At no point during the film is anyone interviewed that would present a viewpoint that is contrary to the prevailing attitude of the film. The science is presented inaccurately and, of course, slanted toward the anti-technology, Luddite view that is obviously held by the film-makers. In addition to the manipulative, preachy quality of the film, it was also exceptionally boring and ugly to look at. It had the feel of a very amateur production. I find it very disturbing that so many people have reviewed this film favorably and claim that it is extremely important and a must-view, etc... Obviously there are many people out there who are willing to go along with such propaganda unquestioningly and do not even care to hear alternative viewpoints or rebuttals from the vilified parties. This, to me, is much more frightening than the "threat" to our food presented in this film.