Educational Media Reviews Online

King Corn is a food documentary in the vein of We Feed the World or books such as Kurlansky’s Salt or Cod. Unlike We Feed the World, though, King Corn focuses specifically on the development and impact that corn has in American society. The idea for this documentary came from an epiphany that the two main characters (Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis) had shortly after graduating from college. Their generation, born during the 1980s, may have a shorter lifespan than that of their parents due to their diet.

They start by keeping a food journal but quickly realize that they need more definitive answers. During a visit with Professor Steve Macko at the University of Virginia, Cheney and Ellis have their hair analyzed (hair is a record of diet) and find out that they are primarily made of corn. Cheney and Ellis decide to investigate corn from beginning to end to see how corn permeates our diet.

They lease one acre of land from farmer Chuck Pyatt in Green, Iowa, moving there in January. Cheney and Ellis thought it would be a straightforward journey of discovery—plant and grow the corn, sell the corn and follow it through the food processing. What they discovered is the influence that the corn industry has in America. As they talk with the townspeople of Greene, IA, they learn about government agricultural policies and subsidies (historical and current), agricultural methods (fertilizers, farming equipment), agribusiness (corporate farming vs. the small family farm) and long lost family connections.

The film is in chronological order, following Cheney and Ellis from lab to farm, to cattle lots and fructose manufacturing plants, weaving in interviews and history at appropriate moments. They learn how to apply for government subsidies, and explore the history of government agricultural policies. They include archival film clips of Earl Butz, (Secretary of Agriculture in the 1970s) who completely changed the direction of US Agricultural policies during his tenure, as well as a recent interview with him. The goal of US agricultural policy now is yield. Corn has been genetically modified to allow it to grow closer together, resist herbicides and produce a kernel that is primarily starch—and inedible. This high starch value has little to no nutritional value but is used directly or indirectly in many processed foods and animal feed.

An interview with a local farmer discusses the history and changes in the farming culture in Greene IA—specifically the loss of the small farmer and the growth of industrial agriculture. This echoes the European farmers and fishermen in the DVD We Feed the World, who also say that the small operator can no longer compete against the industrial food corporations.

When they start investigating where the corn goes, the discover that 32% of the corn is exported or turned into ethanol, 50% goes for animal feed, producing meat higher in saturated fats, and the remainder goes to make corn fructose, a cheap artificial sweetener using in all types of commercial food and beverage processing.

Cheney and Ellis head out to Colorado where the largest cattle feedlots are located. Historically, cattle grazed on pasture, taking 2-3 years to get up to full slaughter weight. With the advent of corn for cattle feed, cattle are now kept in huge feedlots, fed large amounts of grain and are ready for slaughter in 120-150 days. Unfortunately, a cow’s digestive system is not adapted to such high amounts of grain and many develop ulcers before they reach slaughter weight. And because cattle are living so close together, disease is always a worry, so beef cattle also consume 70% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. When someone eats beef today, they are essentially eating genetically modified corn and antibiotics.

Our two main characters also try to get into a fructose manufacturing plant but are refused because of security concerns. Stymied by the commercial manufacturers, they make fructose at home and discover all the unappetizing ingredients that go into the processing of fructose.

There is so much information in this documentary—history, science, socioeconomic trends, diet and nutrition information—that it will be useful to a variety of disciplines. Its length could be a drawback for a classroom viewing, but it is a well written, well produced documentary that is packed with information. The cinematography is somewhat uneven, but the soundtrack and the subtitles are excellent. The story flows along, with the related aspects expertly woven into the main theme and giving viewer both the micro and macroscopic picture of the influence of corn in our life, our diet and our society today. The DVD includes a Research and Action guide. The King Corn website and the PBS Independent Lens website have information on how to take action.