3.9a Real Sustainable food

Question 1

Reasons why globalisation creates ethical concerns?

Answer 1

1. Industrial companies as well as transport companies are polluting (very high CO2 emissions)
2. Some workers can be exploited (not socially sustainable)
3. Corruption is normal in some countries
4. Sub-contracting causes weak governance e.g sweatshops
5. My have factories in developing countries hence health and safety laws may not always be met.

Question 2

Environmental problem of globalisation (number 1)

Answer 2

1.EU environmental regulations means negative externalities of production now shifted to the developing countries.

Question 3

Environmental problem of globalisation (number 2)

Answer 3

2. Increased exploitation and allow development of natural resource base of developing countries.
   (e. g. growth of palm-oil production in Indonesia or loss of orangutan habitats)

Question 4

Environmental problem of globalisation (number 3)

Answer 4

3. Less strict regulations lead to higher levels of pollution
   (e. g. Taipei in Taiwan has one of the world’s highest levels of air pollution.)

Question 5

Environmental problem of globalisation (number 4)

Answer 5

4.Increased length of production chain:each stage and transport between them can cause air/water/land pollution.

Question 6

Environmental problem of globalisation (number 5)

Answer 6

5. Pollution and damage to ecosystems may cause long-term problems to ecosystem and people’s health.
   (e. g. over 7000 factories in Mexico City=dangerous levels of air pollution 2 out of 3 =days)

Question 7

Case study Arabica Coffee Beans

Answer 7

Sun cultivation
-No forest canopy
-Fertilisers needed
-2.5million acres of forest lost
(not environmentally sustainable)

Question 8

Things to think about (part of our consumerist society)

Answer 8

• Why should you chose what you buy?
• Impacts locally and globally
• social, environment, and economical factors.

Question 9

Ways to be ethical…

Answer 9

• High prices paid to growers and roaster(in terms of coffee)
• Workers own the co-operative
• High overall cost to consumer
• All players working together positively
• fair trade
• Organic foods
• Recycled packaging used

Question 10

Benefits of buying locally

Answer 10

• Lower carbon footprint and lower food miles=reduced emissions=more sustainable
• Local food is often organic, don’t use pesticides, so it is good for the biodiversity
• Local farmers receive a raised income
• Consumers know where the food has come from

Question 11

Problems for consumers if they buy locally (problem 1)

Answer 11

Local food is not always available and is more expensive.

Question 12

Problems for consumers if they buy locally (problem 2)

Answer 12

Might have high environmental costs

e.g. heated greenhouse to meet required temperatures in the UK

Question 13

Problems for consumers if they buy locally (problem 3)

Answer 13

Consumers lose access to all-year supplies of seasonal food

Question 14

Problems for consumers if they buy locally (problem 4)

Answer 14

Food routed via depots so long journeys are still made

Question 15

Problems for consumers if they buy locally (problem 5)

Answer 15

Unrealistic for local farmers to be able to support large population of a city.

Question 16

Problems for producers if they buy locally (problem 1)

Answer 16

Poor farmers in Less developed countries lose trade and work.

Question 17

Problems for producers if they buy locally (problem 2)

Answer 17

Less sales creates surplus and prices can fluctuate

Question 18

Problems for producers if they buy locally (problem 3)

Answer 18

Even harder for poor farmers to access HIC (high income country)

Question 19

Fair trade ( in theory)

Answer 19

You can help the environment -often organic food (fewer pesticides, richer soil,cleaner water)

Question 20

Fair trade ( in theory)

Answer 20

You can help poorer farmers buy paying a little extra as a customer.

Question 21

Fair trade ( in theory)

Answer 21

You can show that you dislike multinational companies-buy locally

Question 22

Fair trade ( in reality)

Answer 22

Less intensive organic food requires much more land to grow equivalent amount of food

Question 23

Fair trade ( in reality )

Answer 23

Higher price fairtrade food leads to overproduction,depressing prices lower than originally

Question 24

Fair trade ( in reality )

Answer 24

1/2 of food transport is cars, so to local farmers is inefficient compared to big packed lorries