$3.8 Million in Grants from USDA to Develop and Promote Nanotech in FoodBy Cassius Methyl and Nick Bernabe Despite research existing on the potential concerns over health and safety of nanotech in food, the USDA wants to push forward with nanotech in full force.This agency of the government is known for itsrevolving door relationship with Big Food. A statement from the Center for Food Safety sums up the health concerns well: So what is this nanotechnology exactly? Thats a complicated question. According to the USDA, These intentionally created nanomaterials have been in use in the US food supply for over ten years mostly in packaging and processing. According to UnderstandingNano.com, Nanotech is increasingly being pursued for use directly in the food we eat, rather than just in the packaging. According to Popular Mechanics: There has been a 1000% increase in nanotech used for food since 2008 and is now being deployed by major companies including Kraft, General Mills, Hershey, Nestle, Mars, Unilever, Smuckers and Albertsons. This is where the $3.8 million in USDA grants come in. According to the PDF released by the USDA, the grants entail; The Rutgers University grant reveals that the USDA will be funding market research to directly benefit the businesses seeking to manufacture and market nanotechnology for food. What are the real implications of this? Theres one thing for sure; the element of power is a very necessary thing to consider. With all technology like this, monopolization and hierarchical structures are a potential problem. The USDA and other health oversight agencies have a long track record of approving controversial practices used in our food that later turn out to have deadly health and environmental impacts. Understanding the current players in the agro-tech business including Monsanto and Syngenta, you can see how this could end badly. The implications of this are significant for the future of Agorism, sustainable food, independent agricultural business, monopolization of food, the health of the people consuming this food, and much more. No one is saying that nanotech in food is inherently bad (actually this article does, and so does this one Ed.), but with the history of the organizations funding this technology, people are naturally suspicious. More research is needed and concerns must be addressed before nanotech in our food becomes our next big mistake. Please share this with as many people as possible. It is relevant to everyone. Cassius Methlyl and Nick Bernabe write for TheAntiMedia.org, where this first appeared, Tune in! The Anti-Media radio show airs Monday through Friday @ 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. Image credit: National Cancer Institute. Help us fix our typos: edits@theantimedia.org. 