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According to Pollan, who primarily benefits from the US Farm bill that makes corn cheap to buy?

A) Small-scale farmers.
B) Consumers.
C) Agribusiness corporations.
D) Environmentalists.

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Agribusiness corporations primarily benefit from the US Farm Bill that makes corn inexpensive. This results in an abundance of cheap, subsidized corn, which is used in many industries, but leads to higher costs for taxpayers and consumers. Strong political support for these subsidies continues due to tradition and agribusiness lobbying.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Michael Pollan, the primary beneficiaries of the US Farm Bill that make corn cheap to buy are Agribusiness corporations (C). These policies, geared towards making corn-based products cheaper, incline farmers to grow more corn instead of other crops like fruits and vegetables, which do not receive the same level of subsidy and thus are relatively more expensive. The corn is used not just as food, but also for biofuels and as feed for livestock. The price floor established by the government benefits farmers to a certain extent but largely favors agribusinesses that process and utilize the cheap corn. Taxpayers and consumers bear the cost of these policies, as they pay for the subsidies through taxes, and while consumers might see lower prices for corn-based products, they may face higher prices for other, unsubsidized foods.

Despite the costs involved and various proposals to reduce such subsidies, political support for them remains strong in many countries, due to the traditional view of supporting a rural way of life or the powerful lobbying of the agribusiness sector.

User Gabriel Baker
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