Wheat! An Exploration of Cultural Expression with Scholars and Chefs in 3 Webinars

Everyone needs to eat, but what we eat, how we grow it, and how we prepare it is driven by culture, access to labor, climate, soil, markets, and more. The National Agricultural Library is hosting a three-part webinar series to explore the intersection between food, agriculture, and society, as a bridge to learning about world cultures.  Along the way, we hope to inspire the audience to try new flavors and wheat recipes. 

Resources:  Biographies | Recipes  | Bibliography

The events were live-streamed and captioned.

Program

Session Moderator: Scott Hanscom, Deputy Director of the USDA, National Agricultural Library

Drs. Felix Baquedano (international food security) and Andrew Sowell (domestic and international wheat markets), USDA-ERS 

The team will discuss the global importance of wheat in markets and international food security. View the slides [PDF, 580.5KB, 19 pages]

Dr. Matt Rouse, USDA-ARS

2018 Borlaug Field Award – World Food Prize Foundation

To discuss his work in Africa combatting the UG99 wheat stem rust crisis.

Selected Recipe 

University of Illinois Extension, “Pumpkin Pancakes,” available on Nutrition.gov, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Collection Highlight

Small Agriculture: A National Agricultural Library Digital Exhibit, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Program

Session Moderator: Paul Wester, Director of the USDA, National Agricultural Library

Rachel Laudan, Food Historian and Author of the Award Winning and Highly Acclaimed Book, Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History. To discuss wheat as the central grain in global cuisine and to serve as the chair for the chef panel.

Rachel Laudan – A Historian's Take on Food and Food Politics [rachellaudan.com]

Chef Panel

• Sanaa Abourezk -- a Syrian chef and restauranteur based in South Dakota Meet Sanaa — Sanaa's Gourmet [sanaacooks.com]
• Kevin Mitchell -- South Carolina Chef Ambassador 2020-2021, faculty member of the Culinary Institute of Charleston Meet Kevin Mitchell, South Carolina Chef Ambassador [SCPRT.com]
• Andrea Nguyen -- author, freelance writer, cooking teacher, consultant and force behind the Viet World Food Kitchen About Andrea Nguyen [vietworldkitchen.com]

Selected Recipe

University of Massachusetts, Extension Nutrition Education Program, “5 A Day Bulgur Wheat,” available on MyPlate.gov, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Collection Highlight

From the Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection -- T.W. Wood & Sons Fall Catalogue, August 1899. Grass & Clover Seeds, Seed Wheat, Oats, Rye & Barley, Vegetable & Flower Seeds.  Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilies, etc., available through the USDA National Agricultural Library Collection on the Internet Archive.

Program

Session Moderator: Paul Wester, Director, USDA, National Agricultural Library

Sarah Wassberg Johnson, Food Historian, Educator, and Blogger

About The Food Historian [foodhistorian.com]

To discuss the role of women in the Women’s Land Army during World Wars I and II an under told story which saved wheat for our Allies and the troops.

Thomas Talhelm, Associate Professor of Behavioral Science, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

To discuss his research on the impact of agricultural production practices on human societies viewing the differences between rice (collectivistic) versus wheat (individualistic) production in China.

Selected Recipe

Produce for Better Health Foundation, “Herbed Garden Pizza,” available on MyPlate.gov, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Collection Highlight

Special Collections Exhibit -- War Food Administration. Women’s Land Army Posters, available through the USDA National Agricultural Library Special Collections.