Importance of Food and Sustainability

The food we consume may be a determinant of our health. The food that's available to us could also be having more harmful side effects than positive ones, both to our health also because the well-being of oceans and land providing it. Equally, climate variation contributes to extreme weather that threaten a secure food supply. Individual customers along side corporation employees make decisions every day regarding the food they buy. These decisions give them immense power to revamp the way they produce, process, distribute, and utilize food.there are numerous advantages of growing and consuming sustainable food, generally split into human health benefits also as environmental benefits.There are numerous advantages of growing and consuming sustainable food, generally categorized into human health benefits, as well as environmental benefits
A sustainable food system is a system in which there is production of enough food to feed the entire population involved. According to Lucifero and Nicola, sustainable farmers do not use pesticides and additives in their products, and they do not use chemicals to make fruits appear to be shiny so as to attract consumers (83). It is appraised that about two hundred and fifty thousand people die every year because of unsustainable food (Coleman-Jensen et al 156). Lower income families are the ones that are more affected as they lack enough money to purchase sustainable food. This makes these low-income populations consider buying fast foods, which have significantly increased obesity rates in the United States. Sustainable food is produced in a mode that conserves the reliability of the conventional systems upon which the said production depends (Abram, David and Charles 282). These natural systems include a favorable climate, biodiversity, soil fertility, water and air quality. On the other hand, an unsustainable foodstuff production system is a system in which integrity of the natural systems is inadequately protected (Coleman-Jensen et al 75). Moreover, such foods are poisoned, degraded, and have diminished the ability to continue producing reliable food. In this kind of a system, ultimately, the food needs of the population outpace the ability of the land to offer for those needs.Presently, given the demographic trends, climatic factors, as well as land dilapidation rates, nearly everyone in the world relies on unsustainable food production systems (Abram, David and Charles 281). The benefits accrued by those going for sustainable food production systems are that they would be able to avoid mass starvation, radical economic and political turmoil, as well as general societal fall that can arise as a result of food shortages, which would eventually take place due to unsustainable production.
There are many reasons why choosing to purchase and eat sustainable food can be a better choice for everyone. As farmers experience more climatic challenges, it is turning out to be difficult to find healthy organic food developed, harvested and sold with observance of sustainability (Abram, David and Charles 281). Nevertheless, the advantages of choosing sustainable foods and locally produced foods unquestionably outweigh the difficulties of finding such foods. According to Lucifero and Nicola, sustainable eating has a significant contribution to both individual and public health (90). Individually, eating minimally processed or unprocessed food like fresh produce, legumes, and whole grains, helps much in lowering cholesterol levels, increase colon function, decrease cancerous risks as well as contributing to greater intake of vital minerals and nutrients. Additionally, sustainable eating entails taking foods that heavily comprise of fruits and vegetables (Abram, David and Charles 284). High consumption of vegetables and fruits provide our bodies with plenty of nutrients, fiber, and vitamins. Fiber plays an important role in constipation prevention. According to Abram, David and Charles, if one consumes food with a high quantity of fiber, the individual will not have any problem with digestion (287). Notably, high intake of fresh carrots helps in the manufacture of carotene, which is essential in improving the sense of sight (Coleman-Jensen et al 99).what is more, sustainable farming has little or no exposure to chemicals such as herbicides, antibiotics, and pesticides. In light of this, the consumers are exposed to limited or no chemicals at all. This helps reduce exposure to the bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics or possible health problems and illness caused by these chemicals. Additionally, by supporting sustainable food production, individuals adopt food growing practices that do not cause danger to public health (FAO 78). Industrial food production involves the intense use of fertilizer and pesticides that pollute farming lands. Intensive use of chemicals in food production leads to the emergence of the bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics that in turn poses a threat to the public health.
Embracing sustainable food guarantees one of the freshness of the food. The reason is that these foods are often sold directly from the farm. For this reason, the chances of buying food that has gone bad are minimal. It is also advantageous to the farmer in that he/she will not have to incur the cost of preserving the food as most people prefer taking it in fresh form thus enabling the farmer to save on the cost of preservation (Coleman-Jensen et al 43). Furthermore, since sustainably produced crops are bought freshly and usually transported over short distances, they often reach consumer while still in raw form. The result is that such foods will have excellent taste (Finley 122). The good taste can make one eat more and more of this healthier food, while also encouraging buyers to keep purchasing sustainable food products.Over the last few years, spices, sugar, and herbs were used in enhancing food flavor. However, in the recent time, people have been corrupted to use industrial chemicals to add flavors to their diet (Abram, David and Charles 289). This has made individual forget the delicious taste that fresh food has as they have been possessed with foods polluted with preservatives as well as chemical additives. In light of this, it is imperative that all people adopt sustainable food so that they can discover its better taste.
Sustainable food helps protect the environment. Abram, David and Charles contend that a farmer embracing sustainable agriculture will use animal wastes in making compost manure that will benefit him, unlike those not embracing sustainable agriculture, who will let these wastes to be exposed to the air, thus polluting the surrounding water and air (289). Additionally, in sustainable agriculture, the system of crop growing is intercropping and rotational cropping that does not expose the land to soil erosion and mostly does not rely on fertilizers and pesticides (Finley 82). Alongside that, the farms will not harbor pests that after some time would be difficult to control. Sustainable ranchers and farmers have high value for a natural world (Abram, David and Charles 281). These farmers use less fossil fuel, they produce less greenhouse gas, and habitually depend on human labor and not energy concentrated technology and chemicals. Sustainable farms support biodiversity, safeguard limited water resources, while also building healthy soil using techniques akin to composting besides growing cover plants (Hautier et al 336).Sustainable ranchers hoist a reasonable number of animals, which do not exceed the land capacity and frequently rotate the animals in the pasture to reduce their impact on the environment. This rotational grazing is the best natural way that a farmer can use to control animal parasites. Environmentally friendly food extends the boundaries of the farm.The reason is that manufacturers and factories too have a role to play. For instance, they can green their businesses by use of sustainable ingredients, locally grown crops, waste-free packaging and energy saving production practices
In addition to health and environmental benefits, sustainable foods have numerous economic benefits. First, buying these locally grown foods boosts the farmer financially, while also boosting the local economy at large. According to Coleman-Jensen et al, the money acquired from this purchase enables the farmer to hire local laborers who can get something to sustain their families (78). Secondly, the farmer saves a lot of money that he/she would have used to buy chemicals to treat the crops. The reason is that the farmer utilizes locally available manure in the farm practices. The farmers also save on the transportation cost that would be incurred to take their crops to the market. In so doing, they increase their profit thus boosting their morale to continue with the sustainable food production activity.
Through sustainable food production, family farms are saved as rural communities are supported and protected. Through eating sustainably, one would be supporting a true American custom, the independent, small family farmer. These farmers are often forced out of business at a frightening rate. According to statistics, it is projected that more than an acre of land in America is converted into development in each minute (Abram, David and Charles 281). This has resulted in the reduction of farm lands by five million acres when compared to the situation in the 1930’s (Abram, David and Charles 281). In addition to that, there is a decrease in the number of young farmers as the average age of an American farmer stands at fifty-five years. Furthermore, rural communities are protected by sustainable food production. The reason is that sustainable farms are an important part of the local economy that promotes investment in the community, thereby creating new jobs. Notably, the government is encouraging people to participate more in organic farming (Lucifero and Nicola 79). This is the initiative that is seeing farmers’plantations being protected from exploitation by those people interested in industrialization. These farmers have a ready market for their produce, as now many people prefer food produced organically. What is more, patients with special needs are encouraged to take chemical free food to boost their immunity and improve their health.
It is an obligation of everyone to have more understanding of sustainability as it affects our day to day endeavors. The time everyone will understand the difference between industrialization and sustainability, their lifestyles as well as what they consume, will change significantly (Hautier 337). Notably, many people in the world buy and eat food that is not fit for consumption. Majority of these people buy fast foods and fruits produced in industrialized farms. These foods are full of toxic substances thus not fit for human consumption. Animals reared in industrialized farms are injected with steroids that make them bigger while also fastening their growth (FAO 67). These animals live and suffer under horrible conditions in that they get abused as they do not get enough sunlight or even grass. The entrepreneurs only focus on the profits that they want to get from these animals at the shortest time possible. It is for this reason that the best diet they are kept on is more of chemicals. These animals also are overcrowded in cages. As a result, they do not have enough allowance to move until the time they are slaughtered ant sold for people to eat (Lucifero and Nicola 92). There are many issues that raise concern with this regard. First, these animals are kept in unhygienic conditions where they are later sold to the public ((Hautier et al 340). This does not mean or suggests that people go vegetarian. The main point is that people are to be highly concerned about what they buy in grocery shops. There have been several videos circulating on the internet showing how animals are reared (Lucifero and Nicola 92). It amuses people when they find out that what they value as big and tasty meat is produced in total unhygienic conditions and full of chemicals. The whole scenario shows how ignorant the unsustainable farmers are, concerning the consumers' health (Hautier 340). The enlightened population now has begun being cautious with the food they buy many of them encouraging others to shun products from unsustainable farmers. The emergence of farmers who chose to go organic in the food production reassures Americans of return of better days when chemicals could not be used in food production.
In summary, there are numerous advantages of growing and consuming sustainable food, generally split into human health benefits as well as environmental benefits. Regarding people's health, the crops that are grown and animals that are reared through sustainable agriculture are healthy for human consumption. Since sustainable farming does not entail the use of fertilizers and chemical pesticides, people do not consume synthetic materials, as they are not exposed to such inorganic materials. This minimizes the risk of people falling ill and developing complicated malfunctions as they are not exposed to chemicals. Moreover, crops grown using sustainable farming are more nutritious since by, and large, the plants and animals are more natural and healthier. The environment is also impacted positively by sustainable agriculture. The most notable environmental benefit is that sustainable agriculture utilizes thirty percent less power per unit of the harvest yield compared to mechanized farming. This minimized reliance on chemicals and fossil fuels lead to reduced pollution and chemicals released to the environment. Soil quality is also maintained by sustainable agriculture, minimizing land degradation, saving water and reducing soil erosion. In addition to that, sustainable agriculture increases the biodiversity of a given area through the provision of a multiplicity of organisms with the natural and healthy environment to live in.Work Cited
Abram, David, and Charles Altieri. "Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness. New York: Ballantine." Sustainable Poetry: Four American Ecopoets 23 (2015): 281.
Coleman-Jensen, A., et al. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2010.; 2011." Google Scholar (2011
FAO, IFAD. "WFP (2015) The state of food insecurity in the world 2015." Meeting the. 2015.
Finley, Ron. "A guerilla gardener in South Central LA." TED, available at http://www.ted. com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la (2013).
Hautier, Yann, et al. "Anthropogenic environmental changes affect ecosystem stability via biodiversity." Science 348.6232 (2015): 336-340.
Lucifero, Nicola. "Wildlife damage to agriculture." Aestimum 66 (2015): 79-96.).