110th Meskwaki Powwow kicks off with visit from Secretary of Ag candidate Chris Jones
Chris Jones, a candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, proposed a one-year statewide moratorium on data center development during a campaign stop at the Meskwaki Powwow. He argued that data centers are a poor use of valuable agricultural land and expressed concerns about corporate influence over local governments. Jones believes there is widespread, bipartisan opposition to data centers among the public.
Chris Jones, the Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, attended the 110th annual Meskwaki Powwow in Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa. During his visit, Jones highlighted the Meskwaki Nation's food sovereignty program as a potential model for the entire state, emphasizing local food production, reduced pesticide use, and combating high cancer rates in Iowa by increasing fruit and vegetable cultivation.
Jones, a former University of Iowa research scientist, criticized the current agricultural system, arguing for a shift away from the "Corn-soy-CAFO-ethanol" model towards more sustainable and integrated farming practices, including the reintroduction of oats, food crops, and pasture-fed cattle. He proposed using public funds to support this transition while imposing regulations on current polluting practices.
Regarding data centers, Jones advocated for a one-year statewide moratorium, asserting that such facilities are a poor use of land, especially given Iowa's agricultural importance. He expressed concern that large companies are gaining undue influence over local governments and that citizens often learn about data center projects when they are already "a done deal," calling for a "timeout" to assess the situation. He noted widespread, bipartisan opposition to data centers among the public.