There wouldn’t be much food in the world if we didn’t have farms. But who should own them? Learn more in this episode.
Slow dialog: 1:08
Explanations: 2:55
Fast dialog: 18:18
Brad: Is this your first visit to this area?
Irene: It is and I’m surprised to see so many farms. I thought farming was a dying industry.
Brad: Family farms and small-scale farming are disappearing, but agribusiness is alive and well, thanks to government subsidies.
Irene: Are they lucrative?
Brad: They can be, but the subsidies were originally given to protect the livelihood of farmers.
Irene: And that’s not what’s happening?
Brad: Well, agribusiness has edged out small-scale farms because output is the name of the game. A lot of small-scale farmers have thrown in the towel.
Irene: That’s a shame, but the subsidies are still used to protect domestic food production, right?
Brad: That may be, but we’re losing a way of life. I come from a long line of farmers.
Irene: And you’re not farming?
Brad: Nope.
Irene: What do you do?
Brad: I work for the government agency that gives out subsidies to the very farms that put us out of business.
Irene: That’s quite a twist of fate.
Brad: You said it.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse