The Buddhist concept of interbeing – the inter-relatedness of all things – can sometimes seem abstract. But when you hear Michael Dimock, president of Roots of Change, talk about our food systems, you can see the world in an apple—and become inspired to work towards  a food system that’s as sustainable for the eater as it is for the farmer and the planet itself.

During the course of an hour-long presentation in San Francisco, Dimock addressed topics ranging from appropriate uses of agricultural technology to food waste and the Farm Bill.

His overarching theme: We need to work with the relationships inherent in nature. Instead of intervening, destroying, or creating from thin air, we must pay attention, facilitate natural processes, and capitalize upon opportunities for mutual prosperity.

“We have to get our relationship with food right,” Dimock asserts.

“We must consider our interaction with the earth, atmosphere, animals and plants; our food is not a fuel supply. Once we begin to discover this connection, we will understand that food production is not an industrial function, but a biological one.

“There is a fusion between humans and the planet when we eat. If we understood this connection in depth, we wouldn’t use poison in any way.”

Roots of Change aims to establish a sustainable food system in California by 2030, by supporting a network of leaders and institutions committed to changing our thinking, markets, and policies around food.

In this video, Michael speaks to the mission & vision of Roots of Change.:

What do you think of their proposed solutions?