“Her presentation empowers agriculture to tell its story with credibility, respect, and impact. Michele helped me navigate tough conversations with compassion for the urbanites who have little connection to where their food comes from.”
- Jeannette Andrashewski, Canadian Canola Farmer
What drives Michele to write? ▶ Bridging the gap from farm to food with story and science.
"You are a gift to agriculture – you do an amazing job connecting non-ag folks to agriculture in a relatable and logical way that's welcoming and opens the door to a deeper understanding.”
- Lana Frantzen, PhD, RDN, DairyMAX
Minnesota hog farmer Wanda Patsche breaks down antibiotic use in pork, GMO crop science, and the real cost of fear-based food labeling — with practical insights for dietitians and agricultural organizations navigating food misinformation.
Dr. Folta emphasizes that technology has given us access to the safest, most abundant food supply in human history, and this access is worthy of appreciation – not fear. He wants dietitians to look for the evidence behind mRNA and genetics in food, rather than believing clickbait. As new technology continues to help strengthen our food system, communicating the science behind it will strengthen consumer trust.
Did you know hogs establish a hierarchy? Or that keeping farm animals in barns protect them from disease, predators and weather extremes? Wanda Patsche, a hog farmer in Minnesota, sat down to talk about pigs with Michele. Watch their video to learn more about animal welfare, bacon bullies, and why hog farmers do what they do.
Media outlets around the global have been in a frenzy with spreading fear about the flu, now known as H1N1. Pandemic is the best way to describe it – and I’m not talking about the sickness, but the sensationalism surrounding the mutated virus. You cannot get this virus from pork or pigs, contrary to misperceptons formed around the original name. More than 500,000 people around the world die annually from common season flu.