Why a basic income would make our food systems (and societies) more sustainable

Farm workers in Salinas Valley, California. Photo by Patrick Cavanaugh

Food is expensive. Heck, life is expensive. If they tell us anything, the results of the 2024 US Presidential election tell us that people are feeling an economic crunch that doesn’t show up in large-scale economic indicators like employment and inflation. Food prices and price gouging were a regular talking point for canidates from both parties, and people clearly want to see these prices come down.

However, our food is arguab...