GLP podcast: Will Trump let RFK, Jr. ‘go wild on the food’? A farmer forecasts the future of US agriculture

Tew Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has never hesitated to attack modern agriculture. Though most infamous for his opposition to vaccines, the career trial lawyer and environmental activist has played a pivotal role in litigation against Bayer alleging that its weedkiller Roundup causes cancer, spurring thousands of lawsuits against the company and costing it billions of dollars. Kennedy has also argued that the introduction of genetically engineered crops “vastly increased” the use of chemicals in agriculture, a long-debunked myth that wrongly maligns American farmers and deceives the public about the safety of their food.

As HHS secretary, RFK, Jr. wields significant influence over food safety regulation—a realization that has many scientists worried. But the situation is complicated by the fact that Kennedy is surprisingly popular on the political right, including among farmers, despite his reputation as a lifelong progressive with a history of attacking their profession.

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On this episode Facts and Fallacies, Cameron English is joined by special guest (and former co-host) Dr. Kevin Folta, a farmer and longtime plant geneticist at the University of Florida. Folta breaks down his recent GLP story, New Health and Human Services Secretary RFK, Jr. — America’s health, food and farming nightmare begins, and anticipates Kennedy’s impact on US agriculture. While the HHS secretary could create a lot of trouble, it’s possible he may run into some powerful roadblocks in Washington that could stall his plans.

Kevin M. Folta is a farmer and professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. Twitter: @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish