globalisation of the food industry

Question 1

what issues does globalisation create for food insecurity?

Answer 1

food miles
inequality between TNCs + small suppliers
obesity
prices crises

Question 2

food miles

Answer 2

• a measure of how far food has travelled from producer to consumer -> globalisation = food transported over longer distances eg supermarket food travels an avg of 2400km before arriving on the shelves.
• due to broadening tastes by customers for year round supplies, fresh fruit + veg now have to be transported over vast distances eg apples from US to UK 10,133 miles
• the use of HGV’s has increased by 23% since 1978 which have a greater release of CO2 than other vehicles
• UK 25% of all miles covered is due to moving food, annually transporting food in the UK produces 19 million tonnes of CO2 estimated by DEFRA
• environmental affects = greenhouse gas emissions -> extreme weather eg drought, water becomes scarcer, needed for crop use

Question 3

inequality between TNCs + small suppliers

Answer 3

• production, distribution + consumption of food become dominated by TNCs, agribusinesses + larger food retailers.
• TNCs favour capital intensive operations (economies of scale) = small producers disadvantaged + marginalised. TNCs can control the terms of farmers due to their size.

eg in Brazil, India + S africa large TNCs decrease the power of nationals govt to regulate their own food system

Question 4

obesity

Answer 4

• as countries develop + affluence increases , consumption shifts from cereals towards foods that are more expensive eg meat + dairy
• Nauru has the largest % of obese adults at 61%
• China’s consumption of meat products has increased 6-fold in past 30 yrs due to the rising middle classes
• no. of fast food outlets increasing eg in Brazil. no. of McDonald’s grew 380% 1993-2002

Question 5

food crises

Answer 5

global food prices are volatile + vulnerable to price shocks. price increases may be due to sudden shortages in supply, transport issues, fuel costs or natural hazards

Question 6

what opportunities has globalisation led to?

Answer 6

technological innovation
short term food relief
consumer choice

Question 7

technological innovation

Answer 7

• modern biotechnology -> altering DNA in crops, GM crops will withstand harsh environmental conditions related to global warming. significant to nations suffering form desertification eg Kazakstan
• GM crops can make crops easier to grow + makes food cheaper, positive for consumer if lower income thus better access to food.

although remains challenge of ensuring that advances are equally shared between all farms + countries at varying stages of development

Question 8

consumer choice

Answer 8

global food trade has meant that many consumers now have access to wide range of products through outlets + online
eg Coca Cola
retail giants eg carrefour have extended choice through multinational locations

Question 9

short term aid

Answer 9

co-operation + co-ordination of food aid enhanced
international aid include bilateral, multilateral + non governmental
eg civil war in Syria 2011 4 mill people assisted