Food Politics
In her article “The Climate Crisis at the End of Our Fork”, Anne Lappe tries to make a connection between food production and the environment. Lappe argues that food production and distribution methods significantly affect the planet. In another article, “Why Bother?” by Michael Pollan, the author gives us reasons why people should be involved in the efforts to stop global warming. Pollan says that food production and food distribution play a significant role in increasing the levels of global warming. In order to eliminate global warming, people have to contribute as a group rather than as individuals. Changing the methods of food production and food distribution can help decrease the adverse effects of global warming (Lappe, 78). Food production contributes to climatic change eutrophication, depletion of biodiversity, and acid rain.
Increased use of organic fertilizers has led to diverse impacts on the environment, such as increased emission of greenhouse gases and deterioration of the quality of water. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers contaminates both surface and groundwater. The process of food manufacturing and food distribution also involves the burning of fossil fuels, which also emit greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases have a significant effect on global warming and climate deterioration.
Food production also involves the use of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides which contain environmental contaminants. When the pollutants reach pollution levels, they can lead to deterioration of water, air, and the soil (Lappe, 51). Pollution of the water, air, and soil can have adverse effects on humans, wildlife, and aquatic life. Agricultural activities also contribute to the emission of gases which lead to degradation of the quality of air. Some gases such as ammonia, methane, reduced sulfur, and nitrous oxide are emitted from various agricultural activities such as decomposition and fermentation of organic materials.
Food production also involves clearing of forests to get land that will be used for the production of food. Clearing of land could lead to loss of natural habitats for wildlife species, which eventually leads to the extinction of some species. Cutting of trees to make space for farmland is referred to as ‘land-use change.’ Land-use change significantly contributes to climatic change because clearing trees leads to a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Livestock farming also contributes to climatic change through the emission of methane, which is one of the major greenhouse gases. Farm animals like cows produce methane gas from their digestive tracks. Farm animals also excrete solid waste, which can as well contribute to the pollution of water and land. Livestock animals also consume a lot of plant-based foods that can be consumed by humans (Prospects for the Environment). Farming also requires significant amounts of water for consumption and irrigation of plant-based foods. The current climatic changes threaten to alleviate drought conditions. Therefore, excessive water use on the farm is draining water reserves at a very high rate.
Agricultural equipment used in the farm uses fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases when burned. Some equipment like tractors and food harvesters which emit dangerous gases to the atmosphere; thus, contributing to further degradation of the environment. Transportation of the foods produced also involves great use of fossil fuels in the transportation vessels that contribute to further deterioration of the environment.
Food waste also harms the environment in that by-product of agriculture, discarded, and spoiled food is deposited to the environment; thus, causing air, water, and land pollution. Food waste is also incinerated, therefore, releasing more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Lappe, 46). The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can have adverse effects on the ozone as well as on human beings and wildlife.
Food production also puts pressure on biodiversity because more land and resources are being used for agriculture. Deforestation, reduction of field margins, and drainage of wetland to give space for farming reduce the natural habitats of wildlife. Some agricultural activities, like the use of pesticides and herbicides, kill animals, insects, and other plants. Destruction of insects, unwanted plants, and animals reduces the food supply for wild animals. Insects are important crop pollinators and soil nutrient recyclers.
Anne Lappe and Michael Pollan propose that changing the way food is produced and distributed across the globe could significantly reduce the rates of global warming and climatic change. Using traditional methods of food production and distribution will help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Consumers and farmers will also have healthier food choices. Pollan says that every stakeholder in the food production sector and other sectors that contribute to food production should make efforts to reduce activities that lead to global warming and climatic degradation (Pollan). Representatives of organic farming, vegetarians, advocates of meat consumption lifestyles, and multi-national agribusiness organizations should be involved in the food politics debate. The individuals and organizations need to be educated about strategies to slow down global warming.
In conclusion, food production and distribution contribute to global warming and climatic in various ways. Agricultural chemicals used in food production produce greenhouse gases and substances that pollute the environment. Fossil fuels burned during food production and distribution also contribute to global warming. Livestock animals also produce methane gas, which is a major greenhouse gas. Traditional food production and distribution methods should be adopted to reduce the levels of global warming. People should contribute to the stopping of global warming as groups rather than individuals.
Works Cited
“Prospects for the Environment: Agriculture and the environment.” http://www.fao.org/3/y3557e/y3557e11.htm
Lappé, Anna. Diet for a hot planet: the climate crisis at the end of your fork and what you can do about it. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2011.
Pollan, Michael. “Why bother?.” New York Times Magazine (2008).