On Wednesday, October 15th, the Sustainability Speaker Series featured Dr. Dell deChant, an instructor in the Department of Religious Studies at the 91社区. Dr. deChant also leads the USF Food Sovereignty Group and works closely with the New Port Richey FarmNet, where he promotes sustainable, community-based food practices. His presentation, 鈥淪peaking on Industrial Agriculture鈥檚 Consumption of Worlds,鈥� examined the ecological, social, and ethical consequences of modern industrial agriculture. The discussion aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, emphasizing the need to strengthen local food systems, foster resilience, and reconnect communities with the sources of their nourishment.
Dr. deChant traced the origins of industrial agriculture to global colonialism, noting
how early cash crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton were cultivated not for sustenance
but for profit. He explained that this system of exploitation laid the foundation
for today鈥檚 global food networks, which continue to prioritize economic gain over
ecological balance and social well-
being. Through advancements like synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and the mechanization
of farming in the early 20th century, agriculture became increasingly industrialized,
separating people from the land and disrupting natural nutrient cycles.
Dr. deChant speaking at Speaker Series to PCGS students
Today, food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to table, controlled by only
a few major corporations. This distance, both physical and cultural, has weakened
community resilience and increased vulnerability within food systems. Dr. deChant
called for a return to food sovereignty, where individuals and communities take active
roles in growing their own food, supporting local
farmers, and restoring ecological harmony. He emphasized that building sustainable
cities and communities begins with understanding the true cost of our food and reclaiming
responsibility for how it is produced.
The speaker reminded attendees that meaningful change begins at the local level. By
reimagining our relationship with food and embracing community-based practices, each
of us can play a role in transforming an extractive system into one rooted in care,
balance, and reciprocity. His message resonated with the Patel College鈥檚 mission to
inspire action through education, innovation, and sustainability leadership.