Promoting agricultural literacy is all about advancing knowledge of our food system, agricultural science and technology, sustainable farming practices, building healthy communities, and so much more. From 4-H library programs to food production initiatives, libraries can promote agricultural literacy in a multitude of ways. The most simple and effective way to get started, however, is through your library’s collection development. These five educational documentaries are perfect additions to your environmental film collection and would be excellent for public screenings in agricultural library programming.
Food for the Rest of Us
From director Caroline Cox, Food for the Rest of Us intertwines personal stories and educational agricultural narratives. The documentary highlights the role oil companies, big food corporations, and climate change play as obstacles to farmers in marginalized communities. It introduces us to agricultural educators, livestock raisers and butchers, and harvesters of community gardens. In addition to providing inspiring stories of resilience and food activism, this informative film promotes awareness of current issues when it comes to sustainable food production.
Read our review of Food for the Rest of Us. The documentary is available to purchase as a DVD with public performance rights.
Kiss the Ground
Rebecca and Joshua Tickell’s Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground is all about sustainable agriculture: specifically addressing how we can cure our soil to produce healthier plants and a healthier environment. Students of agriculture will come away from the film with a greater understanding of carbon-capturing farming practices. Primarily concerned with providing practical solutions to the climate crisis, Kiss the Ground will make viewers aware of environmental issues while providing hope for actionable, positive change.
Read our review of Kiss the Ground. The educational documentary is available to stream on Netflix or for purchase on DVD/Blu-ray with public performance rights.
Fruits of Labor
For a more intimate picture of life in agriculture, director Emily Cohen Ibañez’s Fruits of Labor is a compelling watch. The 15-year-old child of immigrants, Ashley Solis Pavon, guides us through how she juggles high school and family responsibilities with her work in the strawberry fields of California’s central coast. Ashley’s food security work in her community shows us that students concerned with sustainability and environmental change can begin in their own town.
Fruits of Labor is a valuable documentary for agricultural library programs. It depicts agriculture as more than the companies and technologies that bring food to our table. It is also people like Ashley—one of many teenagers and children of immigrants in fieldwork—who are responsible for thriving farming enterprises.
Read our review of Fruits of Labor. The film is available to stream on PBS or purchase as a DVD with public performance rights.
Before the Plate
A celebration of food and farmers, Sagi Kahane-Rapport’s Before the Plate follows Canadian chef John Horne as he tracks the diverse origins—both rural and urban—of our food. In exploring the process of how ingredients get to our plates, Horne also uncovers a host of issues facing today's farmers. In watching this cinematic documentary, viewers will not only be inclined to ask more questions about the food they eat; they will come away with a greater appreciation of farmers who strive for healthy food production.
Before the Plate is available to stream for free on Tubi or to purchase as a DVD.
Meat the Future
Liz Marshall directs Meat the Future, an informative documentary that details the advent of Upside Foods, a “clean-meat” startup company. CEO Dr. Uma Valeti and other food and technology experts guide us through their research, as they pursue the goal of taking butchering completely out of the meat-making process. As this fascinating film unfolds, it becomes clearer that the future of sustainable agriculture is closer than we think.
Meat the Future is available for purchase on Youtube and Amazon Prime Video.