Analysis of What Are People For Article by Berry Wendell - Assignment Example

Essay Assignment The increasing dependency on processed food is a concern around the world. It is therefore important to undertake a serious research into the health related risks associated with this trend. The central issue has been the ever decreasing nutritional contented of the processed food and people’s ignorance on the significance of agriculture. The main issue is the need to involve individuals on food production process so that they may have knowledge of the nutritional content. Food ethics emerge to be a critical concern in respect to uncensored consumption among many urban dwellers. Wendell Berry offers an insight into the importance of practicing some sort of agriculture to produce food. After critical evaluation of the existing trend in which people are increasing choosing food over the counter, he learns something. The contemporary society is characterized emphasis on service industry especially in urban center. In that respect, people tend to ignore the important fact of researching on the nutritional threshold of the food consumed (Wendell 146). The increasing campaign for industrialization has kept many people away from practicing simple gardening at the backyard to obtain pure and fresh food. Instead, eating has remained the only interest with absolute ignorance on the diet and suitability of such food. Besides, Berry recognize the immediate challenge of poor feeding habits and the transferred costs through medical attention over nutritional health related problems. The pleasure of eating according to Berry Wendell can only be derived from consuming fresh and nutritious food which one knows its source. This constitutes direct involvement in farming however small scale it may be and cooking the food before eating it. On contrary, most people have shifted the responsibility to food processing industries who serve their profit interest at the expense of consumer welfare. People have failed to understand that the groceries and food stores are health hazards filled with mere appearance of beauty. Such food production technology to feed the mass includes biotechnology which has already raised ethical concerns. The chemical content of the genetically modified food outweigh the bodily nutritional requirements. Individual consumers are partly to blame for this increasing technology due to overreliance on the food stores instead of embracing even small scale vegetable gardening at the backyard. Besides, people tend to give little attention to the significance of cooked food and hide behind limited time to consume ready-made food. Wendell is a great campaigner of maximizing the pleasure of eating through getting involved in the production process of what we eat (Wendell 1467). This is achievable even by having a direct link with a farmer close to one’s home and building trust in regard to food supply. This offers an experience of the credibility of food supplied and individual cooking would even boost the outcome. Wendell is quick to point out that observed failure of people to take up agriculture is a historic socio-economic and political issue. The agrarian revolution promoted mechanized food production to feed the expanding human population in urban centers. This made few people to take up agriculture whiles the majority pursued non-agricultural industrial jobs. The effect has led to food processing industry incorporating technology to produce quantity rather than quality hence less nutritional foods. The consequences of this trend have seen people becoming victims of food related health conditions like obesity. The work of Berry gain much support from like-minded scholars like Shiva. According to Shiva, food insecurity is not all about limited food supply. Instead, inadequate nutritional supply in food consumed amounts to food insecurity as it translates to malnourishment (Wendell 148). Taking the case of Indian women with who noted significant malnourishment despite constant food supply. This is reality of modern society especially in urban setting where people are preoccupied by other productive activities and trust food industry with their health. The ensuing manipulation of food processors is tantamount to food insecurity as people enjoy only fats and take in excess chemicals oblivious of the impending health risks. Business malpractices incorporated in biotechnology falls under the much talked about food ethics. Gray contributes to the same debate from the production process perspective and the labor input. United States has a history of slavery in its agricultural products supply and that has remained a concern in its present labor policies. Gray argues that consumers should enquire the labor conditions in which the food on the stores are made. They should ask if the exorbitant prices really reflect the wage rate assigned to the workers. This is due to the emerging research that shows significant exploitation of workers while they reap profits. This is a double loss to the society and carries significant level of guilt from the consumer side for their failure to stand up for the rights of plantation workers. This is another aspect of unethical aspect of food consumption. LaDuke contributes towards the same debate by recalling the human and land mutual relationship. The usefulness of land is multidimensional and even farming keep in active and protected. The environmental care concept is a factor of farming and this is a moral obligation of man. In this respect, Laduke emphasizes the relevance of farming as serving environmental welfare besides boosting the quality of food from natural farming. Williams offers an interesting turn of events in which urban landscape is becoming dotted with small gardens. People have begun to take up initiative to grow own food as the entire process is a fascinating experience. Just like any physical activity like sports, Williams provokes the need to embrace gardening in urban centers as it enhances the experience of eating own food. The beauty of such gardens and the nutritional content of the produce are worth the input (Wendell 150). Unless people take agriculture as integral part of life, the cost will go beyond monetary value but the social welfare of the society. Although Wendell has an admirable vision and exceptional ideas, he fails to note the demanding socio-economic environment of the industrialized society. Globalization is only achievable if more food is available to feed the growing population. The deteriorating climate and soil conditions prompt application of technology which partially justifies the biotechnology despite food ethics concerns. Work cited Wendell Berry. What are people for? North Point Press, San Francisco 1990 Read More