But one of the most notable consequences of his research was the attempt to suppress his conclusions by agricultural corporations. We know the answer is Yes. We don't need more ethnographic studies of local communities. Instead, anthropologists and other scholars should turn their attention to understanding how the leaders of the agribusiness world accrue power and manipulate or dismiss information about the negative consequences of industrial food production. The central nature of agriculture makes this more than just another case of influence peddling by big business.
Agriculture is also a leading cause of death and disabling injuries to U.S. workers.
Instead of focusing on those pressing issues, many anthropologists concentrate on marginal topics, presented in rhetoric that is inaccessible even to other members of our discipline. Unfortunately, postmodern cultural anthropologists are the discipline's most malnourished mouthtalkers. The real issue is not whether one subscribes to postmodernism or its kindred approaches. The real issue is whether anthropology is becoming part of a larger social problem. When we anthropologists allow ourselves to be distracted from the proper subjects of our research, such as the growing power of multinational corporations in agriculture, we help benefit the elites who have increasing control over the production and distribution of basic resources.