As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, food and agriculture are at the forefront of people’s minds. Below are some of this week’s best articles on Thanksgiving, agriculture, and food security:

Giving Thanks for Our Messy Food System—and for the Chance to Fix It, Grist
This Thanksgiving, it might be an interesting experiment to try to thank everyone who brought you that food, if only from afar. This would include someone who sold the food, and the farmworkers, but also many more. Don’t forget the people who transported your food, the people at the distribution hub, the government inspectors who work to keep it safe, the breeders who provide the seeds, and the nearby animal-farm owner who provides the manure for fertilizer. When I try this experiment I find that everyone I imagine in this food chain is a good person trying to bring us healthful and delicious meals. The food system has its problems, but they are structural, and just about everyone in it wants to correct those problems.
 
My Wish for Thanksgiving? Know Who Norman Borlaug Is, ONE Campaign
Even though he changed the world and helped feed countless people, the average American isn’t familiar with Norman Borlaug. Norman Borlaug is one of the most impressive Americans who has ever lived. And for Thanksgiving, the only thing I beg of you is this: Please, do yourself a favor and get to know him. During this season of gratitude and abundance, it’s time to say “thanks” to Norman.
 
Nine Ways to a Food Waste-Free Thanksgiving, Food Tank
Thanksgiving is a good time to remember to be grateful for farmers, farm laborers, cooks, and food service workers. Unfortunately, while we are giving thanks for the harvest, we are also wasting massive amounts of food. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, the United States will waste about five million tons of food. But there are solutions to this dilemma. Here’s how you can cut down on food waste while enjoying your holiday favorites.
 
The Ghost of Thanksgiving Future, Agri-Pulse
An abundant Thanksgiving 2014 is almost upon us. But like Ebenezer Scrooge, we'll need a dramatic change in our beliefs if we're to have a plenitude of healthful food not just for us, but for all of the 9 or so billion expected at the global dinner table on Thanksgiving 2050. The beliefs and narratives that need rethinking are those around GMOs and organic food.