In this twelfth video in the series “Peak Oil and a Changing Climate” from The Nation and On The Earth Productions, American farmer, lecturer and author Joel Salatin outlines the key issues America faces as its citizens increasingly rely on factory farms, concentrated animal feeding operations that require cheap energy in order to operate profitably. He condemns regulations that appear to be on the books to benefit animal factories and prevent individuals from farming sustainably.

Salatin calls this the “food inquisition.” The regulatory climate created by government, he says, makes it possible to “capriciously and arbitrarily exclude small local food producers, processors, canneries, cheesemakers, etc. from accessing the market.” Salatin advocates for the decentralization of food production and notes the US has thirty-five million acres of lawn, which should be much better utilized in order to prevent Americans from going hungry when peak oil begins to have a real impact.

He urges Americans to quit buying processed food and “get in touch with their kitchens.” He believes communities should fund their own food treasures and rediscover the domestic culinary arts.

Go here to learn more about “Peak Oil and a Changing Climate,” and to see the other videos in the series.

—Kevin Gosztola