Sustainable Food

Sustainable Food Systems

[Name of Student]

Sustainable food systems

Introduction

There are various aspects of what constitutes a 'sustainable' food system, and what falls within the scope of the term 'sustainability'. Strictly speaking sustainability implies the use of resources at rates that do not exceed the capacity of the Earth to replace them (Hingley et.al, 2012). For food, a sustainable system might be seen as encompassing a range of issues such as security of the supply of food, health, safety, affordability, quality, a strong food industry in terms of jobs and growth and, at the same time, environmental sustainability, in terms of issues such as climate change, biodiversity, water and soil quality. In the questionnaire, you will be invited to give your perspective on this issue.

Background of the Issue

During the last fifty years, our diet has changed: we consume more animal protein, especially in the form of meat, the food we eat often travel many miles before reaching our plates, production in greenhouses or on the other side of the earth has blurred the concept of season, more and more intermediaries are involved, and contacts with fewer producers, the food we eat is increasingly packaged contain too. Too many products and are often refined or processed. Our power mode tends to spread to other cultures. It shows that China and India, meat consumption is increasing (Hingley et.al, 340-356.). Now we face another challenge: the growing world population. How to feed 9 billion people in 2050, especially if everyone gets to eat meat?

We also face a problem of resource depletion: fossil fuels, especially oil and gas, are more difficult to extract, intensive agriculture depletes the soil need more fertilizer and the water is a critical issue within the next few decades. Deforestation for palm oil fish, and loss of biodiversity. The groundwater pollution by manure, fertilizers, pesticides also (Raftery, & Miner, 2012). Fewer and fewer farmers and large specialized farms instead of small diversified farms. Health consequences and social costs: Overweight, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer.

Discussion

Sustainable Food System

A sustainable food system guarantees the right to food, respect the principle of food sovereignty, allows anyone, anywhere in the world to have a healthy and sufficient food at an affordable price, and to ensure that the price final product reflects not only the total cost of production but also internalize all external social and environmental costs. It uses raw materials and resources (including labour and natural resources such as soil, water and biodiversity) "At Their rate of recovery" and respects the different facets of the food culture. All actors in the food chain and the authorities should contribute to achieving such a sustainable food system (Verain et.al, 2012).

Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, the sprawl, loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats, loss of income for farmers. They are some of the most obvious changes to facing agriculture today, but in fact they are only the tip of the iceberg: in addition a wide range of social, environmental and economic factors affecting our food system, including farmers' continuous ...