We are all now being manipulated by corn . . . [The idea of ethanol] is the final triumph of corn over good sense. It is part of corn’s scheme for world domination. And you will see, the amount of corn planted this year will be up dramatically from last year and there’ll be that much more habitat because we’ve decided because’ we’ve that ethanol’s going to help us. — Michael Pollan, TEDTalks 2007
If you look at nature as a system where one species attempts to manipulate others in order to impose its will, then you quickly realize that the greatest example of dominion of one species over another is the agricultural revolution, where plants — food plants, specifically, followed by flowers — figured out that the best way to become superior to their competition (other plants) was to entice humans to start planting and eating them. More habitat is therefore created for those plant species. In fact, they’re so good at it, they’ve gotten us to wipe out entire forests in order to help them propagate. And, of course, the kings of these are wheat, rice, and corn. All hail our old plant overlords?
