Cameron Bruett Of JBS Challenges Food Activists By Standing Up For Food Choices

Animal agriculture has made remarkable progress in producing more protein with less resources. Cameron Bruett is the head of Corporate Affairs for JBS-USA, one of the major meat processors in the US and globally. He said one of the challenges is convincing those that have plenty to eat, that it’s alright to produce food with the latest technology. He believes Americans lack a realistic view of food production, because they spend a small portion of their income on food and they have never been without food. 

 

 

“So, they have a much different reality when it comes to their relationship with food and because of that, we don’t necessarily always take a holistic view of what global food production, scarcity, affordability challenges are in front of us," Bruett said.

 

There is a group of very active, passionate, ideological people that have views on how food should be grown. Brutt said some of their approaches to food sustainability actually further exacerbate our ability to meet this challenge of feeding the world. He believes it’s all about balance.

 

“I’m for all food and agriculture systems," Bruett said. "I think too often in agriculture we vilify one another in order to sell our own products. I think we should promote the attributes of what we do and the good things about what we do and not vilify our neighbors in the process. And that means that everybody, no matter what type of agricultural system you practice, you need to be improving, whether that’s an economic, social, or environmental practices. We all need to do better if we’re going to have any shot of feeding the world.”

 

There is a very vocal sector of the population that is driving the food conversation at the corporate level. Bruitt said a lot of these individuals aim to eliminate choices and options for their preferred model of food production. He respects their passion, but as an American he also believes in choice.

 

“I believe everyone has the right to express those views and to promote those views, but I don’t believe in eliminating choice,” Bruett said. “I think the diversity of the American agriculture system is its greatest strength. That we can provide all types of different products produced in various different systems for discerning consumers and anything that eliminates choice or hinders opportunity I’m opposed to. I’m against that.”