Paul Johnson’s column, which is scheduled to appear in Sunday’s Denver Post, can be found on page 7B of today’s Journal-World.

“It’s an appeal for a broadened debate on what’s happening in agriculture and the true costs of this country’s so-called cheap food policies,” said Johnson, a longtime advocate for sustainable agriculture and a key player in Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance’s popular produce-by-subscription service.

In his commentary, Johnson argues that a true assessment of the benefits of today’s bigger-is-better approach to food production should — but usually doesn’t — include the costs of soil loss, decimation of the nation’s rural economies and the disappearing family farm, an over-reliance on chemicals, and the link between obesity and fast food.

His opinion page piece also questions state universities’ role in weighing the costs and benefits.

“I question whether we’re getting an independent analysis from our publicly funded universities,” Johnson said, noting that the universities’ research budgets often are beholden to major corporations.