Chapter 16 Lecture Chapter 16: Food Equity, Sustainability, and Quality: The Challenge of "Good" Food © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Global Food Insecurity • Food insecurity: unreliable access to a sufficient supply of nourishing food and inequities in agriculture and food-service employment • • Global and domestic disparities in infant mortality and life expectancy United Nations estimates one in nine people in the world is chronically undernourished, 98% live in developing nations © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Food Insecurity in U.S • In 2013,14% (about 75 million households) of U.S households experienced food insecurity • During the year, household members were uncertain of of having, or unable to acquire enough food to meet their needs • Over 5% of U.S households (6.8 million households) had very low food insecurity • One or more household members had to reduce the quality, variety, or desirability of their food choices, and the amount © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Food Insecurity Risk Factors • Households with incomes below 185% of the U.S poverty threshold, single parents, African American households, and Hispanic households • Physical, psychological, or social factors • • • • • © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Chronic disease Disability Depression Alcohol and drug addiction Divorce (especially for women) Malnutrition • • • Malnutrition takes different forms Undernutrition: results from not getting enough to eat Overnutrition: results from excessive consumption of energy-dense foods along with inadequate physical activity © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Food Shortages • • Acute food shortages may be caused by weather events and wars Famine: a severe food shortage affecting a large percentage of the population in a limited area at a particular time © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Chronic Hunger • • The major cause of chronic hunger is unequal food distribution Overpopulation occurs when resources are insufficient to support the number of people living in an area Improving food supply: â 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Slowing population growth can improve food supply Educating girls and women can reduce birthrates Increase food production and import foods Chronic Hunger – Agricultural Practices • • • • Deforestation Overgrazing Crop rotation Use of agricultural land for cash crops (cotton, coffee, tobacco) replaces subsistence crops (sorghum and corn) â 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Used for industry and livestock feed Less food available for local consumption Chronic Hunger – Lack of Infrastructure • • • • • • • Roads and transportation Electricity and refrigeration Water management: irrigation, safe drinking water, sewage systems Sanitation services Communication systems Healthcare delivery system Public education © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Fetal Undernourishment • Mother's poor nutritional status can affect offspring in utero as well as throughout childhood into adulthood • • "Fetal origins theory" Effects can be passed on to future generations and may need four generations of improved conditions to overcome risk for short stature and overweight © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Equity in Food Production and Sales • Working conditions in America's agricultural and food service industries are "grossly inequitable" • Contributing factors: • • © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Farm labor is dangerous and poorly paid Food service maintains the working poor Farm Labor • Much of farm labor is "contingent work": little job security, no healthcare insurance, no sick leave or vacation leave, no retirement benefits, and low wages • • "Migrant workers" move from one region to another with changing harvest times Trend for contingent farm work in agriculture is increasing © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Farm Labor (cont.) • Migrant workers face hazardous conditions • • • • • • • © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Majority live below the poverty line Children as young as 12 years can work on farms No breaks for rest or meals Only 17% have healthcare insurance High fatality rate Long-term exposure to pesticides and UV rays Housing is substandard Food Service Work • • • Over million food service workers; many work at or below the minimum wage Majority of foodservice workers live below the poverty line 30% receive Medicaid and 14% receive SNAP benefits, which means American taxpayers are subsidizing food service companies • Many have no paid sick leave, and may work while sick © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Sustainability • Sustainability: the ability to satisfy humanity's basic needs now and in the future without undermining the natural resource base and environmental quality of which life depends • Sustainable practices can reduce pollution of air, soil, and water and preserve resources for future generations © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Sustainability of Food Supply • • Industrial agriculture has increased food security but threatens the environment Green Revolution: a program that has led to improved seed quality, fertilizers, pesticides, and farming techniques to boost crop yields â 2017 Pearson Education, Inc High-yield varieties (HYV) of rice, wheat, corn, beans and other crops Industrial Techniques • Total number of livestock and poultry farms has decreased, but much larger operations increased • Cattle, pigs, and chickens are raised in confined animal-feeding operations (CAFOs) • • • Movement is restricted Animal is fattened with high-energy feed, often containing growth hormones Increased global food supply and improved nutrition for millions © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Environmental Costs • • • • • • Loss of topsoil due to erosion, pollution of soils Depletion of fossil fuels and ground water Development of insecticide-resistant insects and herbicide-resistant weeds Increased release of greenhouse gases Deforestation Inefficiency of eating grain-fed meat for resources required—contributes to global warming and resource depletion © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Monopolization of Agriculture • • Industrial agriculture reduces food diversity Food supply monopolized by large-scale industrial agriculture which produces a few subsidized crops (corn, soybeans, wheat and rice) • • "Monoculture" requires larger amounts of stronger pesticides Global loss in variety with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, threatening food security © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Food Industry's Influence • Livestock industries and large food companies donate and spend millions of dollars to influence the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American diet • The U.S food industry produces about twice as many Calories per capita per year than Americans require; to make a profit, the industry encourages consumers to overeat © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Addressing the Challenges of "Good Food" • International programs • • • • © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc WHO and UNICEF breastfeeding initiatives Micronutrient Initiative Deworming and mosquito control Food assistance programs Addressing the Challenges of "Good Food" • National and local programs • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) • • • • © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc National School Lunch and Breakfast programs USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program CDC's Healthy Corner Store initiative Local soup kitchens and food pantries Sustainable Agriculture • • • • • • • Crop rotation to control soil erosion Organic farming Family farms Community supported agriculture Farmers markets School gardens Slow food © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Promoting "Good" Food • • • • Support food security Purchase fair trade goods Choose foods that are healthful and good for the environment Reduce meat consumption © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc ... reduce the quality, variety, or desirability of their food choices, and the amount © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc Food Insecurity Risk Factors • Households with incomes below 185% of the U.S... experienced food insecurity • During the year, household members were uncertain of of having, or unable to acquire enough food to meet their needs • Over 5% of U.S households (6.8 million households)... (especially for women) Malnutrition • • • Malnutrition takes different forms Undernutrition: results from not getting enough to eat Overnutrition: results from excessive consumption of energy-dense foods