THE FOOD INDUSTRY DILEMMA

Do you know how the food we eat gets to a plate?

Food is the backbone of life, and hence its production. The world is facing a serious challenge of malfunction in the food industry. The demand for food has increased in recent decades, the food habits are changing rapidly. But have you ever wondered about the climatic and environmental out-turns of it?

The quandary of the food industry:

Food production is more complex than it ever was, thanks to globalization.

The current situation has given us time to think about our food industry and its unsustainability.

To meet the demands of the 7.5 billion population, the explication of the food industry has changed. The use of pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals may escalate the crop yield but it not only humiliates the environment but is also detrimental to health through bio-accumulation. Chemical intensive agriculture contributes to land and water pollution.

Apart from unsustainable practices in farming, food industries have started using inorganic methods, the rate of adulteration has come to its worst. Instead of using inorganic food, we can shift to nutrient-rich organic food which is beneficial for both environment and health.

The exponential rise in the animal industry is one of the major causes of environmental degradation. A large group of people is part of a meat-based diet, the consequences of which are dangerous. It demands increased use of land and water, hence causing deforestation. 70% of deforestation is due to meat-based farming. Switching to a plant-based diet, abolishing the use of dairy products and meat can create a huge difference.

Greenhouse gas emissions have also increased due to food production. For instance, earlier people relied on local food products but now they have gone global, hence increasing the carbon footprint. 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions is due to food production. When we can have food locally then why go global?

And the environment is harmed one last time through food waste. It includes food scraps, discarded food, and uneaten food. Food is wasted at every stage of the production chain, from farm to fork. At least we can avoid food wastage at the consumer level.

As food is important, so is the environment. There are small steps that can create a big difference. It is our responsibility that food is sustainably sourced and consumed. If adequate measures are not taken soon, the foundation of life will become the demolition of the future.

“WE ARE WHAT WE EAT” -Hippocrates