5 Things 'Alien: Romulus' Teaches Us About Ecosystem Collapse

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers from the new movie, “Alien: Romulus.”

It may seem strange to hear an organic food cooperative talking about xenomorphs and spaceships, but the themes presented in “Alien: Romulus” are much more applicable to Organic Valley than you think. It’s a story of a doomed planet, where sunsets are nonexistent, and the interests of big corporations outweigh the lives of the people working for it.

In the movie, workers are confined to mines, and thunderstorms rage throughout the atmosphere. It depicts what life could be like even here on planet Earth. It shows a future that Organic Valley does not want to be a part of — a future we are avoiding through green pastures and healthy practices on farms across the nation. While we likely won’t be battling alien life forms in the near future, we do remain privy to the threat of environmental destruction in the present. “Alien: Romulus” reminds us to care for our ecosystems so the future can be full of smiles, sunrises and sunsets — not desperation, smog and pollution.

1. Going Big Doesn’t Mean Going Better

The entire premise of the movie gives us a look into what a dystopian future could look like. The main character, Rain, works for a mining company on a planet ruined by said mining activity. And, in keeping with the Alien franchise universe, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation continues to wreak galaxy-wide havoc with its wicked genetic modification schemes.

The impact is clear: the miners have no say in the policies of the corporation, the profits are clearly not re-invested into the Jackson’s Star mining colony, and the future seems hopeless.

Contrast that to a company like Organic Valley. We’ve learned from our experiences in the 1980’s. Our small organic family farmers remain in control of the co-op — each farmer has a voice. No matter the size of the farm, our farmer-members each have one vote. Instead of “Going Big or Getting Out,” we’re committed to providing a means of survival for small organic family farms.

2. Once Gone, Ecosystems Are Hard to Bring Back

To make sure our landscapes don’t end up like Jackson’s Star, we take extra care in protecting where your food comes from. That means caring for the soil, air, trees and waterways. It means caring about the animals and the people that work with them.

Using grass-based farming systems is one of the ways that our farmers are helping protect the environment. Pasture is good for the planet! This living ecosystem gives animals the nutrition they need, and good grazing practices on organic pastures help increase carbon sequestration (a method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change). Pasture also provides a habitat for insects, birds and various plants.

Instead of the bleak situation Jackson’s Star residents face, our farmers work with nature, not against it.

3. Everything Is Connected; Every Bit Counts

Pastures are just one of the many variables our farmers consider when thinking about their impact on the environment. They need to think about their water consumption, soil health and emissions. But they’re taking the challenge head on. A number of Organic Valley’s 1,600 farms are working on carbon reduction and removal projects. Those programs include grazing improvements, manure management and solar energy installation, but one of the more innovative initiatives involves feed supplements.

Organic Valley partnered with Hawaiian seaweed feed company Symbrosia in 2023. But why seaweed? Well, feeding cows seaweed emissions has some very promising research to back it up. A University of California Davis study found that giving cows seaweed could reduce methane emissions by up to 82%. Many companies are becoming involved in the seaweed supplement industry, and it may be a long-term solution to high emissions.

Now, we’re not suggesting that feeding a xenomorph seaweed will make it go away. But maybe if the managers of Jackson’s Star had taken better care of the environment, its trapped workers wouldn’t be so desperate to tango with a xenomorph.

4. A World Without Pollinators Is Not a World Worth Living In

Something else that’s glaringly apparent when watching “Alien: Romulus” is the lack of wildlife. A bird can’t survive on Jackson’s Star. Butterflies can’t soar in a lightning storm.

Our approach to farming helps ensure a different future — one where pollinators can live freely and environments can thrive. Protecting where your food comes from doesn’t just mean pastures and barns, but flora, fauna and wildlife too. Our farmers are just as passionate about birds and soil as they are about cows and produce. Pollinators like monarchs, mice, and even mollusks can be key contributors to healthy farming. All members of the ecosystem play a part, and we’re here to make sure they have what they need to do so.

5. An Organic Cooperative Model Could Be the Antidote

In “Alien: Romulus” the power imbalance in the colony was clear; profits were siphoned off to benefit only the mining company. Organic Valley’s organic cooperative model imagines another future for our member-owners — one where small family farmers have a sustainable route to profitability and where the company is owned by these small family farms.

Unlike the band of desperate characters forced into dangerous circumstances to maintain agency in their lives, we envision a better future. We want one where farmers can do what’s best for their families, their farms and the environment. It seems to be working because we now have more than 1,600 farms in our organic cooperative!

Final Thoughts

At Organic Valley, we are helping to make sure that beautiful sunsets and sustainable environments aren’t galaxies away but rather in your backyard. Instead of being scared of the terrifying alien threat that is ecological uncertainty, we fight it together as a cooperative.

Though it may be difficult to uphold such high standards, time spent pursuing a worthy cause is never wasted. The mission that Organic Valley helps realize means that we can continue building strong environments for generations, protecting where your food comes from and taking care of the people who produce it.