Module 2: Changes in Our Food System Flashcards
How are food crises and health related?
food crisis corresponds to several food-related contemporary events such as “outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, food contamination, volatile food prices, food deserts, droughts and water shortages, soil depletion”
compare and contrast family and industrialized farms.
family farm: linked production, diverse animals, closed loop systems, multi-cropping, poly-cultures, resilient
industrial: delinked production, off farm resources, specialized production, mono cropping, hybrid/GMO seeds, efficient
What is the role of industrialization, technology, globalization in changing the food system?
intensifying agriculture & other components of the food system, such as processing, distributing, and retailing of food, all of which create abundance
our current industrialized model of food production is unsustainable for three main reasons:
1.intense use of fossil fuels
2. uses renewable resources such as groundwater and soil, unsustainably.
3. produces waste that pollutes the air, water, and soil.
What do trends about American health and food expenditure show as time progresses?
health expenditures have been steadily increasing while food expenditures have been decreasing
Explain how food insecurity has a “high cost”
impacts the physical and mental health of people that experience food insecurity & the healthcare system. People who are food insecure often rely on cheaper foods, which are often not the healthiest
What is Wallinga’s main point about the relationship between food and health?
food production affects nutrition, public health, the social health of rural communities, and the health of the agro-system; related to the socio-economic system – as there are many jobs and relationships associated with food: from seed to table
What is reinforcing the process of industrialization?
trade liberation policies- benefit and encourage production and exchange of commodities and economies of scale
What is virtual water?
hidden water cost embedded in producing consumer products- exporting these products means exporting our water supply
What are the main concerns around water usage?
- 80% freshwater used for agriculture/ irrigation-> could be used for drinking
- water for industrial agriculture is decreasing groundwater in parts of the world
- most of the water used in irrigation is for commodities (such as corn) that are exported - especially for poorer countries
4.water pollution from agriculture
animal manure is a source of…?
carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide
Define on farm resources
Resources originated in the farm, including the family as a source of labor, seeds saved from previous years, manure as fertilizers, animals for transportation, etc.
Define off farm resources
Resources that are external to the farm, such as fossil fuels used in machinery, and inorganic pesticides and fertilizers (also derived from fossil fuels).
Define diversified production
A production strategy where farms produce many different things, e.g. corn, oats, wheat, chickens, hogs, cows, milk.
Define linked production
A production strategy where crop and animal production take place concurrently in the same farm.
Define resilient production
A characteristic of a production system that allows it to succeed even in face of challenges, such as unexpected changes in crop prices, climate, labor etc.
What is emphasis on resiliency?
An approach to make a farm productive even in the face of challenges. This is associated with diversity: there may be issues (e.g., low prices, weather changes, sicknesses, pests) with one of the commodities (e.g., either crops or animals), but the other one could still be successful.
What is specialized production?
A production strategy where farms specialize in only one or two types of crops, or even specific processes. Specialization increases vulnerability. For instance, when crop prices are low, there are more risks for farmers because they produce only one or two commodities.
Define commodities
Items such as specialized crops like corn, soy, wheat, as well as cattle, and pork, that are exchanged in large quantities in the market, not only for food but also, energy, animal feed, industrial use etc.
Define delinked production
A production strategy where animal and crop production are separated. They do not take place in the same farm.
What is emphasis on efficiency?
An approach to make a farm obtain the highest possible profit with the lowest possible operating costs.
Define manure
A natural element used to improve the nutrients in the soil. Although animal waste is normally used, it is also possible to use crop waste to generate “green” manure
What is capital intensive farming?
A farm that requires a lot of investments in infrastructure, machinery, inputs, therefore being a, entry barrier for new farmers.
What is crop rotation?
An approach to use the same parcel of land for different purposes throughout a period of time, including different crop or animal production.
What is multi cropping?
A production strategy where several crops are produced in the same farm.
Define economies of scale
An approach to save money with the production of large quantities. See the chart below for a graphic representation.
Define monocropping.
A production strategy where only one crop is produced in the same farm, year after year.
define closed loop system
A type of system that uses outputs as inputs, such as the case of manure from animals being used as fertilizers for plants. On the other hand, working animals are fed on forage. Note that no significant waste is produced.
define open pollinated seeds
A type of seed “created when two of the same variety of plant are pollinated, usually by wind, birds, or insects producing offspring similar to their parents. All heirloom seeds are open pollinators
define hybrid seeds
A type of seed that is “a cross between genetic materials of two different but related plants to produce new, desirable traits that can’t be produced breeding two of the same plants”
define GMO seeds
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), produced by “combining or slicing together genes from different organisms in the lab through recombinant DNA technology”
Define polycultures
A production strategy where there are several living species being produced in the same farm, such as different crops and animals. Similar to multicropping
Define monocultures
A production strategy where only one species (crop or animal) is produced in the same farm, year after year. Similar to monocropping, but with the inclusion of animals.
Define integrated ecosystems
A type of system where multiple crops and animals are able to protect crops from natural enemies.
Define productionist mindset
An approach that considers that short term gains in quantity and yield are over all other priorities.
define trade liberalization
removal/reduction of restrictions/barriers on the free exchange of goods between nations; Economists often view easing/eradication of these restrictions as efforts to promote free trade
define the commons
The cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of a society, including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable earth. These resources are held in common, not owned privately
