The history of food is as old as history itself. Human life has been dependent on food in every stage of life. Nonetheless, the function of food has changed vastly throughout time to meet the needs of the people living in that era. Humans have undergone a transformation from relying on hunting and gathering to relying on industrial agriculture. Because of the state that we are in right now, society is heading into a capricious direction. We cannot predict the future state of food unless we make drastic changes as soon as possible.
For thousands of years, humans were hunter gatherers. They thrived because they utilized many resources lightly rather than depending on just a few resources. This made sure there was an abundance of all resources. Hunter gatherers would adapt to every climate and condition that they faced, as well as enjoying a diverse diet. Gender roles were about equal as women did most of the foraging and men did most of the hunting. Since they were constantly on the move, hunter gatherers could not develop an economic specialization. (Washington State University)
Around 10,000 years ago, agriculture emerged around river valleys, altering society for years to come. According to Richard Heinberg, a centuries long food crisis triggered by the over-hunting of mega fauna, which are large animals living in a certain period or area, led to the development of agriculture. This caused humans to settle down in communities and use the resources just in that vicinity, as well as domesticating animals and plants. Agriculture helped support larger and more sedentary populations by increasing food per unit of land productivity. Moreover, domesticated animals were being raised by humans and also assisted the growing of the field crops.
As beneficial as it was, agriculture entailed many consequences to society. Heinberg’s ‘50 million Farmers,’ manifested these changes.
“Plowing fields was men’s work; women were forced to stay at home and
lost social power. Larger seasonal surpluses required management as well
as protection from raiders; full-time managers and specialists in violence proliferated as a result. Societies became multi-layered: wealthy ruling
classes sat atop an economic pyramid that came to include scribes, soldiers, and
religious functionaries, and that was supported at its base by the vastly more numerous peasants…”
Hence, Sexism, social stratification and warfare resulted from agriculture. Obviously, agriculture was meant to be for the good of all people, but the conditions inherent with agriculture caused social problems that still exist today.
The food system remained this way for a long time without many major changes. The only major changes in agriculture leading up to the 20th century were to put more land into production and more effective tools of farming. Finally, the beginning of the 20th century brought cheap fossil fuel energy and high tech farm machinery. By the time World War 2 was over, pesticides and fertilizers were introduced. The United States began having an industrial food system and created an agriculture policy that began favoring larger farms and the exportation of U.S. products.
Today, agriculture accounts for about 17 percent of the U.S. annual energy budget and large farms are growing so much of the same crops that the prices of the crops have gone so low. It is without question that there is enough food in this world and that there are places to buy food at such low prices. The problem is that food isn’t being divided equally to everyone. According to chapter 6 of Omnivore’s Dilemma, “the number of people suffering from overnutrition—a billion—had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition—800 million”. This is largely due to the fact that many people are eating too much food high in calories and fat. Obesity and heart related diseases have become a huge health issue in the United States, whereas, starvation and natural diseases have become the biggest health issues in 3rd world countries.
As we prepare for the future, we have to cope with the problems that we have created ourselves by constructing an industrial civilization. We have used way too much fossil fuel and natural resources. In addition, our attempts to create biofuels such as ethanol are not enough. Furthermore, we have destroyed habitats and the soil to grow food. It is imperative to modify the industrial food system before our civilization collapses. How do we address this problem? We look at a neighbor that recently had a similar fate and was able to survive.
In the early 1990’s when the Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba lost its sources of cheap oil. The leaders had to devise ways to continue agriculture. Cuba broke up large, government owned farms, which are similar to the ones in the United States, and introduced small private farms and farmer markets. Urban gardens were encouraged and were a good way to ensure availability and accessibility to people living in cities. Universities quickly added courses on agronomy and many people were encouraged to move to the countryside. Permaculture and Biointensive farming were other techniques used. All of these farming methods required minimal energy.
The United States can follow this example by encouraging various farming methods, educating people about the crisis that we are in and how we can ameliorate our situation. It is critical for this country that we abandon large corporate farms, cheap commodities and fast food. Currently, only 1% of Americans are involved with farming. It is imperative that at least 25% of Americans engage in small farming methods and that these farmers are supported by the government so that they can grow fruits and vegetables, as well as raising meat and poultry. The soil will slowly replenish and rejuvenate but it is our responsibility to put aside millions of acres of land so that it can be enriched. Once we minimize the use of fossil fuel, the supply will slowly be able to increase again. The federal government needs to pass many laws to make all of this possible.
In conclusion, the food systems in our society are constantly changing and whatever we do to make sure there is enough food for ourselves; we must take care of the resources of the land because the resources are limited. It is important to change the current industrial food system for our society to survive.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Food Final Question 1
Some people say that food in our culture is one aspect of a larger nightmare. This essay mostly agrees with this statement. Our world today has become an Industrial Civilization where industry is the source of every aspect of production in society, including food. Furthermore, Corporations set standards for what to eat and convince people to eat at fast food restaurants and to purchase readymade food from supermarkets because it is cheaper. The federal government strongly supports this way of life by buttressing the industries with benefits and subsidies. However, many people maintain traditions such as vegetarianism, kosher dietary laws and ethnic traditions.
Industrial civilization is civilization based on machinery and fossil fuels, which includes natural gas, coal and oil. Products of industrial civilization are mass produced in very large factories. Fast, mass production ensures large profits for corporations, which allows them to reduce the prices for the products, which subsequently attracts even more consumers. The government supports this practice because these corporations greatly help the economy and the GDP (gross domestic product). It can also be argued that unemployment is alleviated because many people are required to keep the factories going. Of course, there are many consequences of working in a factory such as unsanitary conditions, dangerous machinery and a low pay
Fossil fuels are quickly being used up by corporations and this is poses an important dilemma for the world. Oil is used for various purposes such as manufacturing products, the machinery itself, the production of food, and as gasoline for vehicles. The dilemma is that we are approaching or have passed peak oil. The theory of peak oil is that the extraction of oil will meet its maximum point, at the time where half of the oil will be exhausted. The United States reached peak oil in the 1970’s, and has since imported oil from all around the world. We are devouring our oil reserves and this has contributed to worldwide peak oil and record gasoline prices.
Not having enough natural resources such as oil is a scary thought, yet there are more things to worry about. Through immense advertising and the tens of thousands of fast food locations across the United States, the fast food industry has soared over the past few decades. Some of the most profitable public and private corporations today are fast food corporations, or prepare food for fast food corporations. The list includes McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Cargill and ADM. In addition, the people that run the franchisees for the fast food chains, struggle to get money for themselves. This is illustrated in the 4th chapter of Fast Food Nation. “It costs about $100,000 to open a subway restaurant, the lowest investment required by any of the major fast food chains. The annual royalty Subway takes from its franchisees—8 perfect of total revenues—is among the highest.” According to the 7th chapter of Omnivore’s Dilemma, fast food is directly linked to obesity Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Yet, one out of every three children eats fast food every single day. And to note, fast food isn’t only purchased at fast food chains, it can be purchases as readymade, microwaveable food at a supermarket.
Food is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there are still many people who go against the large corporations by conforming to different ways of eating. For instance, vegetarians refuse to eat the meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, which are mass produced, and kosher dietary laws force some to slow the process of producing in order to follow the laws that are necessary. In addition, many ethnic groups prefer to cook their own food every day and to eat together as a family. This definitely does not support the fast food industry. As for corporations other than food corporations, some car manufacturers are now making Hybrid cars that have much more mileage per gallon. This at least attempts to conserve the use of oil.
Hence, we are living in an industrial civilization where corporations dominate our way of life, accumulate huge profits, and mass produce with the use of fossil fuels and machinery. Food in our culture is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there is still hope to change this lifestyle.
Industrial civilization is civilization based on machinery and fossil fuels, which includes natural gas, coal and oil. Products of industrial civilization are mass produced in very large factories. Fast, mass production ensures large profits for corporations, which allows them to reduce the prices for the products, which subsequently attracts even more consumers. The government supports this practice because these corporations greatly help the economy and the GDP (gross domestic product). It can also be argued that unemployment is alleviated because many people are required to keep the factories going. Of course, there are many consequences of working in a factory such as unsanitary conditions, dangerous machinery and a low pay
Fossil fuels are quickly being used up by corporations and this is poses an important dilemma for the world. Oil is used for various purposes such as manufacturing products, the machinery itself, the production of food, and as gasoline for vehicles. The dilemma is that we are approaching or have passed peak oil. The theory of peak oil is that the extraction of oil will meet its maximum point, at the time where half of the oil will be exhausted. The United States reached peak oil in the 1970’s, and has since imported oil from all around the world. We are devouring our oil reserves and this has contributed to worldwide peak oil and record gasoline prices.
Not having enough natural resources such as oil is a scary thought, yet there are more things to worry about. Through immense advertising and the tens of thousands of fast food locations across the United States, the fast food industry has soared over the past few decades. Some of the most profitable public and private corporations today are fast food corporations, or prepare food for fast food corporations. The list includes McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Cargill and ADM. In addition, the people that run the franchisees for the fast food chains, struggle to get money for themselves. This is illustrated in the 4th chapter of Fast Food Nation. “It costs about $100,000 to open a subway restaurant, the lowest investment required by any of the major fast food chains. The annual royalty Subway takes from its franchisees—8 perfect of total revenues—is among the highest.” According to the 7th chapter of Omnivore’s Dilemma, fast food is directly linked to obesity Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Yet, one out of every three children eats fast food every single day. And to note, fast food isn’t only purchased at fast food chains, it can be purchases as readymade, microwaveable food at a supermarket.
Food is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there are still many people who go against the large corporations by conforming to different ways of eating. For instance, vegetarians refuse to eat the meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, which are mass produced, and kosher dietary laws force some to slow the process of producing in order to follow the laws that are necessary. In addition, many ethnic groups prefer to cook their own food every day and to eat together as a family. This definitely does not support the fast food industry. As for corporations other than food corporations, some car manufacturers are now making Hybrid cars that have much more mileage per gallon. This at least attempts to conserve the use of oil.
Hence, we are living in an industrial civilization where corporations dominate our way of life, accumulate huge profits, and mass produce with the use of fossil fuels and machinery. Food in our culture is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there is still hope to change this lifestyle.
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